Dogs have attacked 379 times in the last year, according to government figures, in the worst instances killing other animals and causing serious injuries to people ranging from shock to deep cuts and puncture wounds requiring hospital treatment.

Two dog owners have cases before court and the Territory government is considering handing out harsher penalties to Canberrans whose dogs attack.

The majority of the attacks – 257 of them – were on other animals and the remaining 122 were on people.

A spokesman for the ACT's Territory and Municiple Services said 22 dogs had been destroyed in the 2013-14 financial year as a result of the attacks.

"This is a result of the owner surrendering the dog or the dog not being claimed and not being assessed as suitable for re-homing,'' he said. "Generally dogs surrendered under these circumstances are not suitable for re-homing.''

The figure for 2013-14 is significantly higher than the ACT's annual average of 260 attacks a year.

TAMS Minister Shane Rattenbury has introduced a Domestic Animals Amendment Bill, currently before the Legislative Assembly, which would mean owners of dogs that caused serious injury in the ACT could face $14,000 in fines or up to a year in prison.

However, increased penalties of up to $70,000 or five years in prison would come into force for the owners of dogs that have been declared dangerous but go on to cause serious harm.

Under current laws, dog owners can face a $7000 fine if their animal harasses by barking at or scaring a person or animal. The same penalty is in place for owners of dogs that viciously maul a person or animal. The maximum penalty for dog harassment and minor attack offences will remain at $7000.

Even though 379 dog attacks were reported to authorities last year, a TAMS spokesman said only 87 infringements relating to attack or harass had been issued.

The majority of attacks occurred in public places.