Update on further support attempts locally

Today I contacted two more local charities in the North East,  to understand why support for victims of dog attacks is so limited. What I learned was really eye opening.

Both organisations explained that the age restrictions aren’t based on need - they’re based on funding rules.

• One charity can only support young people aged 5–18.
• Another can support children as young as 4, but only if the trauma is domestic‑related.

Because of these boundaries, neither organisation is allowed to offer support to victims of dog attacks, even when the impact is severe.

What struck me most was that both staff members were genuinely shocked to hear there is no direct support pathway for dog attack victims at all. They completely understood why this petition exists and agreed that this gap in support needs to be addressed.

This isn’t about one incident,  it’s about a system that leaves people without help simply because their trauma doesn’t fit into a category.
That’s exactly why this petition matters.

Thank you to everyone who has signed so far. Your support is helping highlight a problem that professionals themselves recognise needs urgent change.