DOG BITE STATISTICS
DANGEROUS AND VISCIOUS DOGS
During 1997 and 1998, at least 27 people died of dog bite attacks (18 in 1997 and 9 in 1998). At least 25 breeds of dogs have been involved in 238 human DBRF during the past 20 years. Pit bull-type dogs and Rottweilers were involved in more than half of these deaths. Of 227 reports with relevant data, 55 (24%) human deaths involved unrestrained dogs off their owners; property, 133 (58%) involved unrestrained dogs on their owners; property, 38 (17%) involved restrained dogs on their owners; property, and 1 (< 1%) involved a restrained dog off its owner;s property.
Rottweilers,
pit bulls account for most fatal attacks on humansPit bulls and Rottweilers are living up to their dangerous reputations. A study released Friday shows those two breeds are responsible for more than half of the human deaths from dog attacks in the United States. Full Report
Hospitalizations for Dog Bite Injuries
National estimate of 333,687 dog bite injuries
treated in emergency departments (EDs) each year and other work has estimated
approximately 17 deaths annually from dog bites, we know of no national estimates
of hospitalizations for dog bite injuries. The Health Care Utilization Project
(HCUP) database maintained by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
contains standardized hospital discharge summaries (including diagnoses, external
causes of injury, and total hospitalization charges) for all hospital discharges
from 904 sampled hospitals in 17 states. When weighted, the data provide national
estimates.
Vicious and Dangerous Dogs
A dog can inflict severe injury and death. A potentially dangerous or
vicious dog can be ordered destroyed or its owner ordered to keep it under
very strict conditions. The owner of a dangerous or vicious dog can face criminal
prosecution. Laws banning certain dogs exist in some parts of the United States.
Killer dogs
Dogs provide many health and social benefits. Most of the approximately
55 million dogs in the United States never bite or kill humans. However, many
people are indeed bitten and even killed by dogs every year. It is an unfortunate
fact that some dogs are too dangerous.
The California State Legislature studied dog bites and passed this finding
(which is codified as section 31601 of the Food & Agriculture Code)
Bugs, bears among beasts that attack people
September 4, 2001 - Sharks are not the only beasts that bite. Dogs,
snakes, bears, alligators, spiders and deer are also known to claim human lives,
some at a much higher rate than sharks. FULL
REPORT
DOG BITE STATISTICS
• The Dogs Most Likely To Bite
The Centers for Disease Control study dog bite incidents, including the types of dogs most likely to bite. The breeds that the CDC considers highest risk are pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds, huskies, Alaskan malamutes, Doberman pinschers, chows, Great Danes, St. Bernards and Akitas.• Children Are The Most Frequent Victims
Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks
Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998.
Studies of dog bite injuries have reported that:• The Face Is The Most Frequent Target
- The median age of patients bitten was 15 years, with children, especially boys aged 5 to 9 years, having the highest incidence rate. The odds that a bite victim will be a child are 3.2 to 1. (CDC.)- Children seen in emergency departments were more likely than older persons to be bitten on the face, neck, and head. 77% of injuries to children under 10 years old are facial.
Studies also have shown that:
- Dog bites result in approximately 44,000 facial injuries in US hospitals each year. This represents between 0.5% and 1.5% of all emergency room visits
- The face is the most frequent target (77% of all injures). Mail carriers are an exception where 97% involve the lower extremities.
- The central target area for the face includes the lips, nose, and cheeks.
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