Pet owners who fail to stop and help after their animal is involved in a dog attack would be slapped with a hefty fine under new laws proposed by the South Australian Government.

Legislation will be introduced to amend the Dog and Cat Management Act, in an effort to address an increase in dog attacks in recent years.

The changes would make it illegal to leave the scene of a dog attack without assisting the injured person or animal.

It would also be an offence to leave the scene without providing contact details.

Dog owner Paula Donohoe said when her dog Cooper was a puppy, it was bitten on the neck and stomach by an adult German Shepherd.

"I said to the [other dog owner] 'you need to come get your dog', and he actually abused me," she said.

"I asked for his name and everything because at that stage Cooper was bleeding, but he refused ... kept swearing at me ... and walked off."

In 2015-16, more than 1,450 dog attacks were reported to SA councils. ( ABC News: Isabel Dayman )

The penalty for those who commit the new offences would be a fine of up to $5,000.

There were 391 people hospitalised after dog attacks in the 2016-17 financial year — an increase of more than 85 per cent compared with figures from 2012-13.

"This is about sending a message to irresponsible dog owners," Environment Minister Ian Hunter said, speaking at the West Torrens Dog Park at Marleston.

"Making sure your animal should be taken to dog classes, should be socialised appropriately and you should learn how to handle a dog and you should be respectful when you're out in public."

Animal Welfare League says reforms 'a no brainer'

Premier Jay Weatherill said the changes were designed to "target negligent dog owners" and make them more accountable for the way they trained and managed their animals.

"There's an alarming number of people that are presenting to our hospitals now with injuries sustained [in] dog attacks [and] chillingly children are also being caught up in these dog attacks," he said.

"[This] can be scarring, not just physically but mentally, for many years to come.

"People have certain responsibilities if they're the owner of a dog."

Cooper might look tough, but was the victim of a dog attack when he was a puppy. ( ABC News: Isabel Dayman )

Mr Weatherill said the legislation built on measures already in effect, including "fines for people that don't register their dogs, fines for people that set upon other dogs almost using their dogs as a weapon, and fines for people who have their dogs running the streets without being restrained".

Pet owners will need to abide by mandatory de-sexing and microchipping laws from July 2018.

Animal Welfare League chief executive Richard Mussell said he hoped the laws would pass through Parliament, because they represented a "good welfare outcome" for dogs.

"Situations like this are highly stressful for dogs," he said.

"Responsible pet ownership generally leads through to better welfare.

"It's a bit of a no brainer for us."