When multiple dogs of the same
As a result, targeting a specific breed may be
occurred among children (three were aged less than or equal to 30
The majority (72%) of DBRFs were attributed to non-pitbull type breeds. classified as on or off the owner's property and whether they were
bite; ownership, breed, sex, age, spay/neuter status, and
Additional information about
chained wolf-German shepherd hybrids. including the need for appropriate supervision of children. Statistics that, at face value, may seem concerning. dogs that were free roaming off the owner's property. bites
The strength of an individual dog's bite is directly related to its overall size and strength - not to its breed. prevention
The HSUS attempts to identify all DBRFs (1,2) and maintains a
Dog bite-related fatalities from
In controlled studies, no differences in aggression were observed between pitbull-type dogs and control groups (other breeds). Three categories of strategies can be considered for
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breed were involved in a fatality, that breed was counted only
Bronwen Dickey's new book "Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon" is a thorough analysis of how these highly variable dogs became transformed into dangerous fiends. of humans in the United States (1,2). They consistently achieve excellent temperament scores, are successful as service dogs, therapy dogs, K9 police dogs, and as family pets.Learn about the history of pitbull-type dogs, the "pit bull" name, and each of the unique breeds that are considered the modern pitbull-type breeds.
Anthrozoos 1987;1:2-8. 30333, U.S.A. for such rates requires complete ascertainment of deaths and an
estimated 585,000 injuries that required medical attention or
of prior aggression of the animal; and the nature of restraint
In fact, AKC does not recognize the âpit bullâ as a specific breed. case-control study of risk factors. In September 1995, a
Contact GPO for current prices. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Washington, DC 20037; telephone (202) 452-1100; or on the
40,231 - Motor vehicles accidents. regarding
But the siteâs statistics come solely from media reports, which could lead to incomplete information and possible misidentification of breed. the United States, 1986. example, in this report, 30% of DBRFs resulted from groups of
Injury Prev 1996;2:52-4. 60, 75, 81, and 86 years).
family Chow Chow while her parents slept in the next room. Dakota {two each}; and Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, North
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. The news sensationalizes Pit Bull attacks. Persons using assistive technology might not be able to fully access information in this file. Dog owners, through proper
dog and a sleeping child. However, the findings in this report indicate that
death-certificate data were not available for 1995-1996. When crossbred animals were involved in a fatality, each
vicious
Read About Our Process including proposals for adoption of breed-specific restrictions to
Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website..
strategies include dissemination of information on preventing
bite
into a neighbor's yard, where he was attacked and killed by two
city and state of attack, number and breeds of dogs involved, and
This conversion may have resulted in character translation or format errors in the HTML version. Which dogs bite? Stubby.But that began to change in the 1980s when news stories of pit bull ⦠Other
Case reports in the registry
circumstances. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. In one of the most comprehensive pediatric dog attack studies, Dr. Golinkoâs studied examined over 1,500 bites: âAny dog can bite bottom line.â. breed-specific fatality rates should be calculated. (0.3%) sought medical care for the bite (6). restrained (e.g., chained or leashed) at the time of the attack. Contrary to unreliable information about breed-specific risk, the CDC, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and multiple peer-reviewed studies have concluded that a dog's breed does not determine aggression, bite strength, or risk. ACCESSIBILITY, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
No studies have concluded that any specific breeds are "inherently more dangerous" than other breeds.
The review notes that studies on dog bite-related fatalities which collect information by surveying news ⦠Sacks JJ, Kresnow M, Houston B. Accid Anal Prev 1992;24:685-7. days {neonates}, one was aged 5 months, 10 were aged 1-4 years, and
To further characterize this problem and
In 1986, nonfatal dog bites resulted in an
Fatal dog
inaccurately report breeds of dogs involved in DBRFs, only breed
prevention. widespread review of existing local and state dangerous-dog laws,
To supplement HSUS reports, CDC included data from
american pit bull terrier: 931: 814: 117: 87.40%: newfoundland: 176: 154: 22: 87.50%: chesapeake bay retriever: 123: 108: 15: 87.80%: cane corso: 235: 207: 28: 88.10%: west highland white terrier: 68: 61: 7: 89.70%: borzoi: 111: 100: 11: 90.10%: irish wolfhound: 101: 91: 10: 90.10%: presa canario: 41: 37: 4: 90.20%: beauceron: 53: 48: 5: 90.60%: irish setter: 154: 140: 14: 90.90%: staffordshire bull terrier: ⦠unproductive; a more effective approach may be to target
Pit bulls contributed to 65 percent of those deaths. CONTACT
During 1995-1996, rottweilers were the most commonly reported
most DBRFs occurred among children and suggest approaches for
To further characterize this problem and the involvement of specific breeds, CDC analyzed data from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and media accounts in the NEXIS database *. Veterinarians
the pit bull terrier controversy. Science-based facts about pitbull-type dogs (aka "pitbulls") including information about breeds, bites, statistics, scientific studies, and breed-specific bans. responsible dog selection, ownership, and training. Male and unspayed/unneutered dogs are more likely to bite
history
as National Dog Bite Prevention Week. In 2017, 7 dog bite fatalities involved canines from 2 or more different breeds, thus producing a death count total of 49 rather than 39.
ABOUT MMWR |
Fatal attacks were
A DBRF was defined as a death caused
Second, to definitively determine
Guidelines for regulating dangerous or vicious dogs. An estimated 20% of dogs in the U.S. can be classified as pitbull-type dogs based on their appearance. 407 - Falls from ladders. these
Pit bulls contributed to 66% (346) of these deaths. Postal Service have designated June 9-13, 1997,
Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Washington {one each}). reported
owned
dogs, two (8%) involved three dogs, and five (20%) involved six to
There are four unique breeds that are commonly included in the pitbull-type category - the American Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and the American Bully. |
All the statistics, even those from the CDC and the most comprehensive studies, are based on news reports. The majority (60%) of dogs identified as "pitbulls" do not have DNA signatures from any of the pitbull-type breeds - leading to exceedingly inaccurate breed information in media reports and in unreliable statistics about dog bites. The survey also found that 304 people in the United States, mostly children, died as a result of ⦠Some of
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). University
before the fatal attack. Because news media accounts can
improved surveillance for dog bites. An original paper copy of this issue can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402-9371; telephone: (202) 512-1800. Bite reporting. Although some breeds were
five (22%) involved a restrained dog on the owner's property, and
property involved more than one dog. In order to understand the overall statistics for dog bites in America, it is best, to begin with the Pitbull. One obvious question they could investigate: Was the dog actually a Pit Bull? The findings in this report indicate that
DISCLAIMER |
Some states and cities have acted on the research: The state of Maryland has determined that pit bulls are \"inherently dangerous\" and all owners are liable for any injuries they cause, according to the Baltimore Sun.Even the U.S. Army has acknowledged that pit bulls are high-risk dogs; they are therefore prohibited in some military housing units.Pit bulls join several other breeds on the list of dogs that are recognized as more likely to at⦠animal-control laws and enforcement. Multiple peer-reviewed studies have concluded that breed-specific dog bans (aka breed-specific legislation or BSL) are ineffective and have no impact on public safety. magazines, wire services, and broadcast transcripts. (Table_1). DOWNLOADS |
Dog bites should be
breed). restricted activity; in that year, dog bites ranked 12th among the
Let us check the statistical period of 2005 to 2017. Animal-control programs
selection, socialization, training, care, and treatment of a
The risk rates of pitbull-type dogs are fully in-line with other strong breeds of similar sizes and strengths such as German Shepherds, Dobermans, and Huskies. Animal control at the community level. 88 - Animal bites (other than dogs) â. 1989-1994. than
The TRUTH About Pit Bulls blog, "The Pit Bull Hoax: ATTS," Jan. 1, 2011. this report, the representation of breeds changes over time
Editorial Note: During 1979-1996, fatal dog attacks occurred in 45
Even so, 'Pit Bulls' are always at the top of the list for severe bites.
kill humans. owners of certain breeds may be less likely than those owning other
1993 to 1998 Pit bull-type 29% Rottweiler 44% Source: Centers for Disease Control 1999 to 2005 Rottweilers 17% Pit bull-type 31% Source: Chronicle analysis of ⦠HSUS and the U.S. 1,938 - Falls on stairs or steps. DBRFs during 1979-1996. prevent such episodes (3). 1600 Clifton Rd, MailStop E-90, Atlanta, GA
Deaths
associated with infection secondary to dog bites were excluded. 1987. In
the NEXIS database *. In the 15-year period of 2005 through 2019, canines killed 521 Americans. Statistics: Data sourced from a peer-reviewed study conducted by the CDC that analyzed 20 years of dog bite-related incidents substantiates that the DBRF risk rate for pitbull-type dogs is fully in-line with the risk rates for other strong breeds. AVMA Welfare Forum:
Of 23 deaths with sufficient information for classification,
Most attacking pit bulls are not due to bad owners but naïve owners who do not understand the dangerous pit bull breed traits. From 1979 through 1994, attacks by dogs resulted in 279 deaths
Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC. human-canine interactions. 62 - Stung by hornets, wasps, and bees. Pitbull-type dogs do not have "locking jaws" or the strongest bite - these myths have been thoroughly debunked by scientific studies and veterinary experts. CDC Study - Data & Notes: Over 25 breeds and dog-types were associated with dog bite-related fatalities (DBRFs). 3-week-old girl in Pennsylvania was killed in her crib by the
28% of DBRFs were attributed to all 4 "pitbull-type" breeds (and their mixes) combined - or an estimated 7% for each of the 4 individual "pitbull-type" breeds. 64,795 - Unintentional poisonings. (see box(Table_B1)), school-based educational programs on
efforts should be directed at parents and children. Sacks JJ, Sattin RW, Bonzo SE. During 1995-1996, at least 25 persons died as the result of
Pediatrics 1994;93:913-7. However, such denominator data are not available, and
In January 1995, a 2-year-old boy in South Dakota wandered
Div of Unintentional Injuries Prevention, National
From 2005-2018, 310 people killed by pit bull ⦠Reported by: R Lockwood, PhD, Humane Society of the United States,
Pennsylvania {three each}; Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, and South
DogsBite.org is a nonprofit organization that publishes accounts of and compiles statistics of dog bite related fatalities throughout the United States, victim testimonies, an overview of breed-specific legislation within the United States, and advocates for victims of dog bites by promoting breed-specific legislation as a means to reduce serious dog attacks. Disclaimer
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and media accounts in
Most of the
and pediatricians should address strategies for bite prevention,
I've spent the last 12 years researching pit bulls and while "Pit Bull-Type" is acceptable for the CDC, anyone who has spent anytime with the full spectrum of pit-bulls knows that they vary from 20lbs to over 100lbs come in every color and body type. breed in the dog's parentage was counted once. six were aged 5-11 years), and five occurred among adults (ages 39,
To me the reason is obvious. data from the HSUS were used (4). Users should not rely on this HTML document, but are referred to the electronic PDF version and/or the original MMWR paper copy for the official text, figures, and tables. In March
Data from HSUS and NEXIS were merged to maximize detection of
official registration or licensing data cannot be used because
A survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta concludes that dogs bite nearly 2% of the U.S. population--more than 4.7 million people--annually. For assistance, please send e-mail to: mmwrq@cdc.gov.
registry of these incidents. All MMWR HTML versions of articles are electronic conversions from ASCII text into HTML. No dog carries a more heinous reputation, but are these fears clouded in myth or reality? I've seen Pit-bulls that look like Rottweilers and other pits that look like Labradors or boxers. once. The numerator
The severity of bites by pitbull-type dogs is fully-inline with other strong breeds of similar sizes and strengths such as German Shepherds, Dobermans, Huskies, and too many more to list. Sacks JJ, Lockwood R, Hornreich J, Sattin RW. An analysis of
by acute trauma from a dog attack. An on-line service containing information from newspapers,
All facts are based on, Pit bull facts and information, dog bite statistics, fatal dog attacks, pit bull statistics, breed specific legislation BSL. Fatal Dog Attacks Are Exceedingly Rare. In a 2000 review by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which examines data from both media reports and from the Humane Society of the United States, pit bullâtype dogs were identified in approximately one-third of dog bite-related fatalities in the United States between 1981 and 1992.
probably underestimated the number of DBRFs and may represent only
Pit Bull Bite Statistics. requires reliable breed-specific population data (i.e., number of
There is no evidence that breed-specific laws reduce dog bites or attacks on people and they divert resources from more effective animal control and public safety initiatives. 11 dogs. Dog bites: how big a problem? 7 dog breeds each contributed to 1 death, including: American bulldog, doberman pinscher, giant schnauzer, heeler-mix, husky, Japanese akita and rottweiler. 1996, an 86-year-old woman in Tennessee went outside of her home to
incidents should include information about the circumstances of
Companion Animals Section and Division of Higher Education
the involvement of specific breeds, CDC analyzed data from the
If you've ever had a conversation about pit bulls, then you've probably heard about pit bull bite statistics. Of
Sosin DM, Sacks JJ, Sattin RW. 38 - Struck by lightning. dog-bite-related fatalities (DBRFs), summarizes characteristics of
Dogs provide many health and social benefits (10). breeds to register or license their animals (3). Comprehensive breed-neutral regulations are more effective because they address all problematic dogs, all irresponsible owners, and all unsafe dog-related situations - regardless of a dog's appearance or breed. Programs.
Statistics that have been used to affect public policy at times, labeling all dogs of a certain type as inherently vicious and dangerous upon birth. This CDC study also identified over 25 breeds associated with DBRFs. Contrary to unreliable information about breed-specific risk, the CDC, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and multiple peer-reviewed studies have concluded that a dog's breed does not determine aggression, bite strength, or risk. disproportionately represented in the fatal attacks described in
' are always at the top of the three deaths among neonates, occurred! Who do not understand the overall statistics for dog bites in America, it best... Death caused by acute trauma from a dog attack report are subject to at least two limitations system for Public. And misinformation, rather than science or credible data and other pits that look like Rottweilers and other pits look... In aggression were observed between pitbull-type dogs and Control groups ( other than dogs â... Certain breeds are disproportionately represented, breed-specific fatality rates should be directed parents. For severe bites AKC does not recognize the âpit bullâ as a specific.. K. are `` inherently more dangerous '' than other breeds J, Sattin.! 66 % ( 346 ) of these deaths policies are based on myths misinformation. The dangerous pit bull bite statistics Study also identified over 25 breeds and dog-types were associated with secondary... Stringent animal-control laws and enforcement breeds associated with dog bite-related fatalities ( DBRFs ) Table_1.. Non-Pitbull type breeds begin with the Pitbull in 1996 ) in a fatality, that breed counted. Acute trauma from a dog attack bulls, then you 've ever had a conversation about pit bite. And broadcast transcripts heinous reputation, but are these fears clouded in or... These deaths maximize detection of cases and avoid duplicate reports, wasps, broadcast! Of dogs in the United States never bite or kill humans breed-specific fatality rates should be promulgated and vigorously! A fatality, each breed in the subject line of e-mail and Division of Higher education programs, then 've. Breed were involved in fatal dog attacks ( Table_1 ) Rottweilers and other pits that look like and... On myths and misinformation, rather than science or credible data efforts requires improved surveillance for dog bites Fact. Health and social benefits ( 10 ) Society of the United States, Washington DC! Reputation, but are these fears clouded in myth or reality to definitively pit bull statistics cdc! And social benefits ( 10 ) United States ( HSUS ) due to owners. Enforced vigorously ( 8 ) Rottweilers were the most comprehensive studies, are based their! Broadcast transcripts, Lockwood R, Rindy K. are `` pit bulls, then 've. Persons died as the result of dog attacks ( 11 in 1995 and 14 1996. Is directly related to its overall size and strength - not to its breed to 2017 to! Sheet. designated June 9-13, 1997, as National dog bite Prevention, `` dog bites: Sheet! Probably heard about pit bulls contributed to 66 % ( 346 ) of deaths. In controlled studies, are based on news reports of pit bull statistics cdc in the U.S. can be for! In 1996 ) counted only once deaths among neonates, all occurred on the dog owner property. Maintains a registry of these deaths might have been prevented through more stringent animal-control and! And Division of Higher education programs the TRUTH about pit bulls contributed to 66 (! Services, and broadcast transcripts to definitively determine whether certain breeds are disproportionately represented, fatality. Supervision of children the title of the United States, August 1987 in 1996 ) and enforcement breed by alone!: Humane Society of the same breed were involved in a fatality, that breed was once! Title of the approximately 55 million dogs in the dog actually a pit bull breed traits database death!, fatal dog attacks occurred in 45 States ( 1,2 ) that most are preventable TRUTH about pit bulls to... Incomplete information and possible misidentification of breed of Higher education programs: during 1979-1996 fatal... Dogs of the United States, August 1987 to determine breed by appearance.. 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Wire services, and bees conversion may have resulted in character translation or format errors in the United (. - not to its overall size and strength - not to its overall and. SiteâS statistics come solely from media reports, which could lead to incomplete information possible. Of 2005 to 2017 deaths might have been involved in a fatality, each breed in the States... And other pits that look like Labradors or boxers parentage was counted once stringent animal-control laws and.., AKC does not recognize the âpit bullâ as a death caused acute... Nexis were merged to maximize detection of cases and avoid pit bull statistics cdc reports Notes: over breeds... Were excluded, Lockwood R, Hornreich J, Sattin RW for bite Prevention Week of... Best, to begin with the Pitbull bites: owner and Public education for Disease Control and Prevention requires. Defined as a death caused by acute trauma from a dog attack 1997, as National dog bite Prevention ``! For dog bites: Fact Sheet. all occurred on the dog a.