2009:
http://www.dogsbite.org/blog/2010/01/2009-us-dog-bite-fatality-statistics.htmlWednesday, January 6, 2010 Click here to print
2009 U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Statistics - DogsBite.org
Fatal Dog Attack Statistics
DogsBite.org recorded 32 fatal dog attacks in 2009.1 Citations of each victim's story are located on the Fatality Citations page. The last year the CDC recorded or studied dog bite fatalities by breed was 1998. Likely due to pressures from animal advocacy groups, dog fancying groups and pro-pit bull groups, the CDC stopped recording these deaths by breed. The only other known entity that tracks this vital information is Animal People News.2 DogsBite.org has joined in this effort.
2009 Dog Bite Fatalities
32 U.S. fatal dog attacks occurred in 2009. Despite being regulated in Military Housing areas and over 500 U.S. cities, pit bulls led these attacks accounting for 44% (14). Pit bulls make up approximately 5% of the U.S. dog population.3
In 2009, the combination of pit bulls (14) and rottweilers (4) accounted for 56% of all fatal attacks. In the 5-year period from 2005 to 2009, this same combination accounted for 70% (103) of the total recorded deaths (148).
The combination breakdown between the two breeds is substantial. From 2005 to 2009, pit bulls killed 82 Americans, about one citizen every 22 days, versus rottweilers, which killed 21 Americans, about one citizen every 87 days.
2009 data shows that 63% (20) of the attacks occurred to children (11 years and under) and 38% occurred to adults. Of the children, 60% (12) occurred to ages 2 and younger. In all attacks, males were more often victims, 59%, than females.
2009 data also shows that 38% (12) of all fatal attacks involved multiple dogs, and 19% (6) involved chained dogs. 75% (24) of these deadly attacks occurred on the dog owner's property and 25% (
occurred off the owner's property.
The state of Texas led fatalities in 2009 (5) followed by Georgia and Illinois (each with 4) and California and Virginia (each with 3). Of the Texas deaths, the combination of pit bulls and rottweilers (4) accounted for 80%.
1At least seven additional victims died due to incidents caused by dogs in 2009. These deaths involved non-dog bite injury, minor dog bite injury or lacked a "reasonably clear" determination of death due to dog bite injury and are not included in the DogsBite.org statistical fatality data at this time: Dolly Newell, 80-years old (Alameda, CA), Vida Isabel Silver, 32-years old (Hayward, CA), Israel Pope Jr., 96-years old (Pickensville, AL), Gregory Isaacson, 58-years old (Kelso, WA), Beverly Head, 62-years old (San Jose, CA), Theresa Foss 47-years old (Plainfield, CT) and Timothy Niemeyer 56-years old (Indianapolis, IN).
2Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada, by Merritt Clifton, Animal People.
3Decade of Adoption Focus Fails to Reduce Shelter Killing, by Merritt Clifton, Animal People, July/August 2009
Related articles:
04/22/09: Report: U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities January 2006 to December 2008
12/11/08: Who Authored the CDC Fatal Dog Attack Report (1979 to 1998)?
2008
http://www.dogsbite.org/blog/2009/01/2008-us-dog-bite-fatality-statistics.html2008 U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Statistics - DogsBite.org
Fatal Dog Attack Statistics
DogsBite.org recorded 23 fatal dog attacks in 2008. Citations of each victim's story are located on the Fatality Citations page. The last year the CDC recorded or studied dog bite fatalities by breed was 1998. Likely due to pressures from animal advocacy groups, dog fancying groups and pro-pit bull groups, the CDC stopped recording these deaths by breed. The only other known entity that tracks this vital information is Animal People News. DogsBite.org has joined in this effort.
2008 Dog Bite Fatalities
23 U.S. fatal dog attacks occurred in 2008. Pit bull type dogs were responsible for 65% (15). Pit bulls make up approximately 5% of the U.S. dog population.
In 2008, only one U.S. citizen over the age of 3 was killed by a breed other than a pit bull. 74-year old Lorraine May was fatally mauled by her two dogs: an Australian shepherd-mix and a golden retriever-mix.
70% of the attacks occurred to children (11 years and under) and 30% occurred to adults (21 years and older). Of the children, half (
occurred to ages 1 and younger.
39% of fatal attacks in 2008 involved multiple dogs; 9% involved chained dogs.
78% of the attacks occurred on owner property and 22% off owner property. All off property attacks (5) that resulted in death were attributed to pit bulls.
61% of the victims were male; 39% of the victims were female. Of the male victims, over half (
were 3 years and younger.
In at least three fatal attacks, a grandmother was watching a child aged 2 and younger. Two of these attacks occurred in Las Vegas; both involved pet pit bulls.
In the second quarter of 2009, DogsBite.org will be releasing a formal report on the fatalities we have tracked in the 3-year period of 2006-2008.
Related articles:
04/22/09: Report: U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities January 2006 to December 2008
12/11/08: Who Authored the CDC Fatal Dog Attack Report (1979 to 1998)?