A FATAL dog fight in Barton has prompted a new Dog Awareness campaign by police on the estate.

Officers said an increase in the amount of dog fights, both organised and incidental, and attacks on people, had led them to organise a community day at the weekend.

The event will be held at the police office next to the Neighbourhood Centre, in Underhill Circus, on Saturday.

Between 1pm and 4pm, residents will be able to discuss any issues regarding either their dogs or other dogs on the estate with the neighbourhood policing team, street wardens and RSPCA officers.

Pc Zoe Eele said the most recent dog attack, where an Alsatian killed a Jack Russell terrier, made officers realise something needed to be done.

She said: “We will be offering advice to people on how to look after their dogs, and people will be able to benefit from reduced price electronic chipping.

“We’ll also be giving advice to people about what to do if their dog is out of control, if they see a dog attack, or if they are attacked by a dog.”

In 2007-8 there were 17 dog attacks across Oxford, but that number rose to 28 between 2008 and last year.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said he was unable to calculate exactly how many of the figure had been reported in Barton.

But he said that in the six months to January there had been four cases in the area.

In one of them, three dogs attacked a 37-year-old woman.

She suffered bite wounds on her left arm, scratches and bruising to the left side of her stomach.

Pc Eele said the official figures were unlikely to be a true reflection and labelled the situation “a bit of a nightmare”.

She said: “We imagine there to be many more incidents that we haven’t been informed about.

“We hope the day will raise awareness, and give the community a chance to ask us any questions they have or let us know about any concerns they have.”

For more information on the event, call the Barton neighbourhood policing team on 08458 505505.