Police breeding dog attacks woman

The dog was part of the force's puppy-breeding programme

A German Shepherd that West Yorkshire Police had used to breed police dogs has been put down after biting a woman as she took a walk near Dewsbury.

West Yorkshire Police said the woman was walking her own dog at West Ardsley Reservoir in Tingley when the incident happened on Tuesday morning.

The victim was taken to hospital in Dewsbury and treated for a leg wound.

The three-year-old German Shepherd, which had been part of the police puppy training programme, was later put down.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Police were called to a report of a woman being bitten by a dog shortly after 11.30am on Tuesday at the West Ardsley Reservoir, just off Haigh Moor Road in Tingley.

"The woman had been walking her dog when a German Shepherd dog that was off the lead approached her dog and bit it. As she intervened, she was bitten on the leg by the dog."

New owner

Ch Supt Dick Rothwell said: "Whilst on the breeding programme, the dog was cared for by one of our staff.

"She has never been trained as a police dog or used on patrol, she was used solely for breeding purposes.

"The person who took her on had been interested in rehoming her for a while and her history was fully explained to him. Ownership was transferred on Tuesday morning.

"Police advised the new owner to take the dog back home and to let her settle into her new surroundings.

"Given the circumstances of what has happened today, police have taken the dog back and a decision has been taken to put her down."

The incident happened just a few miles from where 13-month-old Archie-Lee Hirst was mauled to death by his grandparents' Rottweiler in Wakefield on Friday.