Östergötland's county veterinarian: "Increase in unaccustomed dog owners"

- I see an increase and we have seen a clear increase during the year.

It was on Christmas Eve that the police were called to the Hageby district in Norrköping, due to a large loose dog attacking three people who were taken to hospital.

Around 150 notifications per year

According to Helen Haaranen Loor, it is extremely unusual for dogs to attack and bite people, but stray dogs that bite other dogs are reported annually to the county administration.

Each year, around 150 notifications are made to the authority, relating to a lack of supervision.

- It is usually about a dog that has escaped and runs loose, or that has bitten another dog or that has come out onto the road and caused a traffic accident, says Helen Haaranen Loor.

However, she sees an increase in more people who are not used to animals getting dogs, which can lead to consequences.

- We have seen a lot of dogs that are relocated several times, she says.

Hear her comment on the dog attack in Norrköping in the clip above.