A man has died after being attacked by a dog which police returned to its owner last week despite concerns it was dangerous.

West Yorkshire police were called to a house in the Sheepridge area of Huddersfield at 9.48am on Monday, where they found the 52-year-old victim, David Ellam. The man was treated by paramedics and taken to Huddersfield Royal infirmary, where he was pronounced dead at 9pm.

Police seized the dog, a female bull terrier, in June following complaints from members of the public that it was dangerous. It was determined the animal was not a pit bull terrier, a breed banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act, and it was returned to its owner on 8 August.

The dog’s owner, a 29-year-old man who is thought to be the victim’s neighbour, was arrested in connection with the incident and has been released on police bail pending further inquiries. His dog has been detained in police kennels.

A referral has been made to the Independent Police Complaints Commission about the incident, and it is deciding whether or not to launch an investigation into the decision to return the dog to its owner.

DCI Mark Swift of West Yorkshire police’s homicide and major inquiry team, who is leading the investigation, said: “Clearly our thoughts go out to the family at this tragic time. They are understandably devastated by what has happened and are being supported by specially trained officers.

“Our investigation is continuing. We believe that the victim was out with his own dog at the time of the attack near to his home address on Riddings Road. His dog, a Yorkshire terrier, was also injured during the incident and received emergency veterinary care.”

Neighbours told the Huddersfield Examiner they heard screams and attempted to throw the victim a kitchen knife to fend off the animal. They said the victim had been trying to protect his own dog and was left unconscious and bleeding. Upon arrival at the scene, a police officer fought the dog off the victim using a fire extinguisher.

Under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, pit bull terriers, Japanese tosas, dogo argentinos and fila brasileiros are banned from the UK unless the owner has been given a special court exemption. Dogs that have received an exemption must be muzzled, kept on a lead in public, neutered, tattooed and have a microchip implant.

Dangerous dogs are classified by type rather than breed, so whether or not an animal falls under the legislation depends on its characteristics as judged by the authorities. Pit bull terriers were initially bred as fighting dogs by breeding bulldogs and terriers to produce a dog that was both agile and strong.