These attacks have always been happening, it's just society's [sp?] new found love of paranoia and all things dreadful.
Like you said, when a person was bitten years ago, no one bothered, because people back then had common sense and realised that a dog is a dog, not a human. Essentially, it still has those wild instincts from its ancestors and will occasionally act by these.
People now like to bubble wrap themselves and their children, things are being banned left, right and centre because they are "too dangerous".
And before I am lectured for talking about "the good old days" I am only 16 =]
In my primary school any game involving physical contact or chasing was banned in case anyone was injured. No tig, no hide and seek, no races, no tag team rugby.
Basically we were stripped of all the most popular childhood games, and now kids are being brought up to be afraid of dogs.
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