Attacks by people and dogs put danger from foxes into perspective

Published: 23 June, 2011

• IN terms of risk to children from possible fox attacks, we could be in danger of losing all sense of perspective (Graham Norton’s letter, Reports of attacks by foxes, June 16). 

More children are harmed by household pets as well as the other more apparent dangers, being killed on roads and knife crime, etc. 

Dog bites are a major child health problem in the UK, exceeding the total combined number of cases of measles, whooping cough and mumps – in London 127 children needed hospital treatment in 2007 compared with 58 in 2003. 

On average, every week in England and Wales at least one child is killed at the hands of another person. 

Attacks from foxes are much rarer than attacks from pets that people welcome into their homes and all the other horrors that vulnerable children endure from out-of-control people. 

SIAN WHITEHEAD 
Sandstone Place
N19