Bite Statistics
Excerpt from Best Friends Animal Society www.bestfriends.org:
Bite Statistics
Statistics in the dangerous dog arena are questionable to say the least. In Janis Bradley’sv book, Dogs Bite But Balloons and Slippers Are More Dangerous, she points out the many flaws in the “research” reporting out statistics.
One example is a study in which there is a comparison to an earlier study. The researcher, in the first study, questioned 23,838 households about injuries from dogs that required medical attention in the two weeks preceding the survey. There were six injurious dog bites. These six bites for the 62,052 people were extrapolated to show a national figure of 585,000 bites for the year. In 1994, the later research, in which 8,869 people were interviewed, covering a 12-month period, there were 38 dog bite injuries. This was extrapolated to 756,701 bites. The report claimed a 36% increase. The estimates included bites to 15-17 year olds, even though they were not even included in the survey.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that in 2001-2003, accidents from falls numbered 7,714,167, from dog bites, 304,784. Severity of these dog bite injuries were reported to be 92.4% with no injury, 7.5% minor injury and 0.076% severe injuries. There are a few statistics to show whether legislation made a difference. One study in Oregon showed a drop in injurious bites among 422 dogs whose owners had restrictions placed on them after the first bite. There was no control group in this study, so there can be nothing learned from it.
In addition, Karen Delise, in her book Fatal Dog Attacks: The Stories Behind the Statistics, explains the underlying story behind each dog bite, such as a male intact dog being tethered near a female in heat and an unattended child wandering between them. Statistics are also flawed as to naming pit bulls as the instigators. It appears that in many cases in which pit-bull-type dogs are blamed for fatal attacks, the dogs were few of the recognized pit bull breeds. Glen Bui, vice president of the American Canine Foundation, using statistics on the American pit bull terrier from the AKC, A.D.B.A. and UKC and
for the other breeds, AKC/UK statistics, found:
Numbers registered
240,000
800,000
960,000
128,000
114,000
72,000
5,000,000
|
No. of Fatal Attacks
12
67
70
18
14
10
60
|
Breed
Chow Chow
German Shepherds
Rottweiler
Great Dane
Doberman
St. Bernard
American Pit Bull
|
Percentage
.705%
.008375%
.00729%
.01416 %
.012288%
.0139%
.0012%
|
Only registered dogs were included. In this finding, the number of the breed is expressed first, then the number of fatal attacks by the breed and the percentage of dogs in that breed who administered the fatal attack. Even though Mr. Bui does not say that the statistics are for particular years, it appears that it is in the reportable period in which he could get statistics.
The National Canine Research Foundation reported the following fatal dog attacks in the United States:
2001: 23 |
2002: 15 |
2003: 25 |
2004: 22 |
2005: 28 |
As to pit bull types, the statistics were: In 1995 of 22 fatalities, 9 were pit bull types; in 1996, of 35, 3 were pit bull types; in 1997, of 30, 6 were pit bull types; in 1998, of 15, 5 were pit bull types; in 1999, of 42, 8 were pit bull types. Some of these pit bull types were roaming in packs, some were unsocialized, in some a child was left unattended, and in some the dogs were chained.
In the period of time from 1965 to the present, the most fatal dog attacks occurred in California, 57. There were none reported in North Dakota. There were 55 million dogs in the United States meaning there were .0000004% of dogs in the population who fatally attacked people. In the period from 1999-2002, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that of accidental deaths in the U.S., 43,730 were from cars and 16 were from dog bites.
An example of the use of misinformation, Rep. Paul Wesselloft, Oklahoma, stated, “Each year we lose 10 children and 2 elderly people because of Pit Bull attacks nationally.” In 1998, there was one child and no elderly people; in 1999, three children and no elderly people; in 2000, there were four children and two elderly people; in 2001, there were four children and no elderly people; and in 2002, there were 3 children and no elderly people. This should be compared with the number of children and elderly people who are killed because of abuse and neglect at the hands of other people.
There are interesting statistics when considering the Denver situation where there was a dog bite fatality in 1986. Since the BSL legislation was originally enacted in 1989, there have been no dog bite fatalities. Here again, the statistic does not prove that this is a result of the BSL. Portland, Oregon, also had a dog bite fatality in 1986, did not enact BSL, is approximately the same size as Denver, and there have been no dog bite fatalities since that date. Dallas, Texas, also had a dog bite fatality in 1986, did not enact BSL and there have been no dog bite fatalities since that date. Dallas is a much larger city than Denver.
The problem with statistics appears to be that there is no consistency in where the figuresare obtained, nor are there variables included in most studies. Some studies use AKC numbers, some use HSUS numbers and others use CDC&P numbers. Few include causes or contributing circumstances to the attacks, nor are the total numbers of dogs in a certain breed taken into consideration. There is no national recording system for non-fatal dog bites in the United States.
There was a study in the United Kingdom concerning whether breed specific legislation works. This study, reported in Canadian Veterinarian in 2005, examined the frequency and severity of dog-bite injuries at a Dundee hospital accident and emergency department. The study showed, two years after breed specific legislation and covering a period of three months, that the number of bites was the same. Before the legislation was put into effect there were 99 bites in the three-month period, 3% of which were by pit bull types. In the second study of three months, two years after the ban was implemented,
there were 99 dog bites, 5% were by pit bull types. Another study in the U.K. found that prior to implementation of BSL, German shepherds bit 24% of the time, 18.2% of the bites were from mongrels, and “dangerous breeds” (pit bull terriers, Rottweilers, and Dobermans accounted for 6% of all the dog bites. According to the Canadian Veterinarian Journal, “this study also showed that typical family breeds, such as Labradors, collies, Jack Russell terriers, and cocker spaniels, were
biting at higher rates than the “dangerous dogs.” In the above-mentioned journal, there was reported that in the City of Calgary, there were 272 complaints of dog bites in 2003. Of these 17.3% were from German shepherds and their crosses and 5.1% were by pit bulls and their crosses. In 1990, the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba, passed BSL legislation banning pit bulls even though a 1989 study showed that dog bites in the city were 31% from German shepherds and their crosses and only 9% by pit bulls and their crosses.
The American Pit Bull Registry (APBR) notes: “The odds of being struck by lightning are 1 in 600,000 in the USA. Comparatively speaking you are 6 times more likely to be struck by lightning than you are to be killed by a dog of any breed. When you further break down the odds of being attacked and killed by a Pit Bull the odds are in your favor – approximately 1 in 145,000,000.”
References
American Canine Foundation. 2003 ACF Agendas Fatalities by State, Fatal Dog Attacks
1994-1999, Fatal Dog Attacks 2001-2004.
http://americancaninefoudationlaw.com/breedspecificlegisslation.html.
American Pit Bull Registry. The Un-Warranted Negative Stigma.
http://www.pitbullregistry.com/unwaramted%20negative%20stigma.html.
Bradley, Janis. Dogs Bite But Balloons and Slippers Are More Dangerous. Berkeley, CA:
James & Kenneh Publishers, 2005.
Capp, Dawn M., Esq. American Pit Bull Terriers: Fact or Fiction: The Truth Behind One
of America’s Most Popular Breeds. Phoenix, Arizona: Doral Publishing, Inc., 2004
Delise, Karen. Fatal Dog Attacks: The Stories Behind the Statistics. Manorville, NY:
Anubis Press, 2002.
Klaassen B, Buckley JR, Esmail A. Does the Dangerous Dogs Act protect against animal
attacks; a prospective study of mammalian bites in the Accident and Emergency
Department. Injury 1996; 27:89-91.
Ledger, Rebecca A., Jane S. Orihel, Nancy Clarke, Sarah Murphy, Mitja Sedlbauer.
Breed specific legislation: Considerations for evaluating its effectiveness and
recommendations for alternatives. Can Vet J Volume 46, August 2005.
National Canine Research Foundation. Politics & Pit Bulls, Fatal Attacks 2001-04, Fatal
Attacks 1995-99, The Breed Issue. http://nerf2004.tripod.com/id2.html.
Sacks, Jeffrey J., MD, MPH; Sinclair, Leslie, DVM; Gilcrist, Julie MD; Golab, Gail,
PhD, DVM; Lockwood, PhD. Special Report Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human
attacks in the United States Between 1979 and 1998. JAVMA, Vol 217, No. 6,
September 15, 2000
The Truth About Pit Bulls. Why MUST We Stop Breed Specific Legislation?
http://www.thetruthaboutpitbulls.com/StopBSL.htm.
Taken From the Centers For Disease Control Website:
Man and woman's best friend bites more than 4.7 million people a year, and key experts believe that public education can help prevent these bites. The third full week of May is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the United States Postal Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are each working to educate Americans about dog bite prevention.
Each year, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites; half of these are children. Of those injured, 386,000 require treatment in an emergency department and about a dozen die. The rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 to 9 years, and the rate decreases as children age. Almost two thirds of injuries among children ages four years and younger are to the head or neck region. Injury rates in children are significantly higher for boys than for girls. (See CDC MMWR article.)
CDC is committed to reducing this public health problem by working with state health departments to establish dog bite prevention programs and by tracking and reporting trends on U.S. dog bite injuries. Dog bites are a largely preventable public health problem, and adults and children can learn to reduce their chances of being bitten.
Things to Consider Before You Get a Dog
- Consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn about suitable breeds of dogs for your household.
- Dogs with histories of aggression are inappropriate in households with children.
- Be sensitive to cues that a child is fearful or apprehensive about a dog and, if so, delay acquiring a dog.
- Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into the home of an infant or toddler.
- Spay/neuter virtually all dogs (this frequently reduces aggressive tendencies).
- Never leave infants or young children alone with any dog.
- Do not play aggressive games with your dog (e.g., wrestling).
- Properly socialize and train any dog entering the household. Teach the dog submissive behaviors (e.g., rolling over to expose abdomen and relinquishing food without growling).
- Immediately seek professional advice (e.g., from veterinarians, animal behaviorists, or responsible breeders) if the dog develops aggressive or undesirable behaviors.
Preventing Dog Bites
Teach children basic safety around dogs and review regularly:
- Do not approach an unfamiliar dog.
- Do not run from a dog and scream.
- Remain motionless (e.g., "be still like a tree") when approached by an unfamiliar dog.
- If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still (e.g., "be still like a log").
- Do not play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.
- Immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult.
- Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
- Do not disturb a dog who is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
- Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
- If bitten, immediately report the bite to an adult.
A CDC study on fatal dog bites lists the breeds involved in fatal attacks over 20 years (Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998). It does not identify specific breeds that are most likely to bite or kill, and thus is not appropriate for policy-making decisions related to the topic. Each year, 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs. These bites result in approximately 16 fatalities; about 0.0002 percent of the total number of people bitten. These relatively few fatalities offer the only available information about breeds involved in dog bites. There is currently no accurate way to identify the number of dogs of a particular breed, and consequently no measure to determine which breeds are more likely to bite or kill.
Many practical alternatives to breed-specific policies exist and hold promise for preventing dog bites. For prevention ideas and model policies for control of dangerous dogs, please see the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions: A community approach to dog bite prevention.*
NCIPC Programs and Activities
Campaign to Educate Georgians about Dog Bites
NCIPC is funding the Georgia Division of Public Health to conduct a dog bite prevention campaign in Chatham, Bullock, and Effingham counties. During their first year, program staff used the Community Readiness Model to complete a needs assessment. In 2002, a random digit dial telephone survey to assess knowledge, attitudes and behaviors associated with dog bite prevention was conducted. Program staff currently are using educational materials and media outreach to teach children, parents, dog owners, health care providers and other adults about the risk of dog bite-related injuries and about strategies for preventing such injuries. Project staff will evaluate whether the campaign changes people's beliefs and actions about dog bites and reduces the number of dog bite-related injuries occurring in the three counties. Results from this campaign will guide future efforts to prevent dog bites and associated injuries and deaths.
Content Source: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
Page Located on the Web at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/biteprevention.htm
Washington State Fatal Dog Bite Statistics:
These statistics were given to us by a concerned citizen.
Over a span of 43 years (1965 – 2007), there have only been 8 fatal dog attacks in the state of Washington; approximately one death every 5 years. At least 6 different breeds of dogs were involved in the 8 fatalities. There were 6 children and 2 adults victimized by these acts. In all 6 incidents involving children, the child was unsupervised with the dogs.
* Only one fatality was attributed to intact dogs. The incident involved two intact male dogs and an intact female dog, and although all dogs were capable of attacking, only one did.
* Other fatalities in Washington state during a five year period:
Pool and Hot tub drowning: 17
Bicycle related deaths: 11
* In addition, in 2001, 16 different children died of neglect and/or abuse in Washington State. That means in a single year, twice as many children died of from being abused or neglected than the number of children who died as a result of dog attacks in a span of 43 years.
Study: Chihuahuas most likely to bite
Sunday, August 16, 2009
This country celebrates National Dog Bite Prevention Week every year in May.
During that time various organizations post helpful tips on how to protect yourself and your children from being bitten, along with a variety of graphic stories about individuals who had been attacked by dogs. Generally, we see nothing about the simple prevention methods of training and socializing dogs, or training children to interact safely with them.
For the last 20 years or so the most often selected dog bite prevention method has been to ban certain breeds or types of dogs. Anyone with any understanding of dog behavior will know that banning dogs has no effect on reducing bite incidents for the simple reason that all dogs, given the "right" set of circumstances, will bite. The only sure-fire way to prevent all dog bites is to eliminate all dogs from our society. But some are not satisfied with this method, and believe that there must be a better solution; one that solves the problem of poor communication between dogs and humans, and eliminates the risk of bites.
Since the majority of people do not want to live their lives without the company of dogs, it was deemed necessary to gather facts so that a more intelligent solution could be devised.
Colorado had instituted some of the most draconian laws that banned any dog that bore even the slightest resemblance to so-called "pit bull" types in a concerted, but failed, attempt to eliminate all dog bites. The Coalition for Living Safely With Dogs and the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association joined together to conduct a two-year study about how likely any given dog is to bite, as part of their effort to overturn breed-specific legislation already passed in some states and many cities and prevent its imposition in additional places.
Their major finding so far is that all dogs will bite, and that circumstances under which the bite occurred are more pertinent than the breed or type of dog involved. This is good news for dogs, in that the study poked big holes in the theory that bites could be prevented simply by banning certain breeds or types of dogs. It also contained bad news in that the situation was shown to require far more sophisticated and far-reaching methods than simply banning one or more dogs.
Among facts discovered or confirmed are that the breed most likely to bite a veterinarian or groomer is the Smooth-Coat Chihuahua. It also confirmed that, refuting the myth that Pit Bull dogs can perform the most severe bites, the most damaging bites were administered by Lhasa Apsos. And to prove the egalitarian nature of dogs, about 40 percent of bites were inflicted by mutts and "designer dogs," slightly more than the percentage they make up in the general dog population.
The most common factor in dog bite incidents was that the dog was running loose and unsupervised, specifically while the dog was engaged in dog-on-dog aggression, or while exhibiting aggression protecting property, or during fear-based aggression.
So the true simple solution is not to ban certain dogs, but rather to require that no dog be allowed to roam loose.
New Hampshire has an exemplary dog control law, in that it requires all dogs to be confined on their owner's property and, when off its owner's property, to be under the direct control of an adult. This law was passed back in the early 1980s, and is a direct and major contributor to the relatively low number of bite incidents in this state, as well as to the reduction in litters of unwanted puppies.
Almost every municipality in the state has accepted this law. If yours has not, perhaps you should inquire as to why not? Most bites occur in the dog's home, and most involve aggression while the dog is protecting its property. Children are bitten more often, but much less severely, than adults.
Generally these bites occur because children are not taught how to interact with dogs, or are left alone and unsupervised with one or more dogs. Children must be taught not to attempt to remove their dog's food or toys, and not to physically abuse dogs while in play. Dogs need to be socialized and trained so that their behavior is reliable in all situations.