There are calls for dogs to be kept on leads after a fatal attack saw a dog mauled to death on Barry Island.
It comes after a Dachshund called Frank was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier on Whitmore Bay last week.
Frank’s owner Josie Smith posted on social media to say he “died in her arms” after what she described as a “traumatising and heartbreaking attack”.
She posted a number of videos of Frank enjoying the beach moments before the incident.
Her Facebook post explaining the attack was shared more than 4,500 times and was flooded with comments from concerned dog walkers wanting to find a way to help.
Some people suggested a solution to prevent attacks like this was that all dogs on the beach should be kept on a lead.
A BBC investigation found that dog attacks in Wales and England rose to a record 21% in 2024, with this figure likely to go up again in 2025.
Plaid Cymru Councillor for Barry, Nic Hodges, told CJS News he is “worried” about this increase.
He is backing calls for all dogs to be kept on leads to protect both people and pets.
“There’s got to be restrictions on this because dog attacks are becoming more frequent. Many people in this town know the dachshund who died, and to hear what happened to him is just devastating.”
“We don’t want dogs running on the beach as it’s unsafe for families and pets. If a dog is deemed to be unsafe, shouldn’t be on the beach. All others, should be on a lead”.
Dog walker Zoe Hodgkinson walks her Cockerpoo Mabel on Whitmore Bay every day. She told CJS News it would be a “great idea” to have a lead rule for dogs:
“It would make the beach a safer space, we wouldn’t be worried trying to get your dog on the lead if you see other dogs running wild. You never know when a dog could turn”.
“They need freedom”
But two brothers from Barry, Paul and Dave Furnish, have said if a rule was brought in, it would stop them from going to their local beach:
“If they have a rule like that on the beach, I would have to find somewhere else to let my dog run. They need freedom, that’s what keeps them fit.”
Local dog trainer and walker, Emma Taylor, said it is the owner’s responsibility to have their dogs under control and a lead rule wouldn’t work. She said, “The day after Frank was attacked I had multiple owners contact me asking whether they should have their dogs on lead from now on to keep them safe”.
“If you have a dog that doesn’t have good recall then yes, keep them on a lead. If you’re worried about your dog, get them muzzle trained. But an entire rule on Barry’s dog owners to have their pets on a lead isn’t fair or reliable.”
The Vale of Glamorgan Council have been approached for comment.