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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 human deaths by dog breeds was 1998. Likely due to pressures from animal advocacy groups, the CDC stopped further research into this area. Since 1998, pit bulls alone have killed 140 U.S. citizens. The only other known entity, in addition to DogsBite.org, that tracks this vital data publicly is Animal People.2

2009 Dog Bite Fatalities

  • 32 U.S. fatal dog attacks occurred in 2009. Despite being regulated in Military Housing areas and over 600 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% (105) of the total recorded deaths (149).
  • The combined breakdown between the two breeds is substantial. From 2005 to 2009, pit bulls killed 84 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% (8) 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 dog bite-related injuries 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: 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)?

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10 thoughts on “2009 U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Statistics - DogsBite.org”

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  1. The deaths and injuries will only go down when pit bulls are regulated EVERYWHERE in the US.

    Wherever they are regulated now, presto! attacks are practically nonexistent. And animal control has far fewer dogs to round up, house, euthanize, and spend tax dollars on.

    (and just think of all the wonderful pets, members of families, who have lost their lives or been brutally handicapped by pit bulls)

  2. Another 5 DBRFs in Texas…Are you kidding me?!?

    Clearly, the Anti-BSL and post-mortem Lillian's Law approach has failed!

  3. Once again, Georgia steps out at the head of the pack for deaths from dog attacks. The laws in this state are WEAK when it comes to dog bites. Although we've made some progress with individual counties and municipalities, state-wide law needs reform, NOW. Are you paying attention, GA lawmakers, or are you too busy catering to the dog fighters?

  4. Council Bluffs, Iowa hasn't had a pit bull mauling since 2007.
    Prior to ban:
    29 injured in 2004.

    BAN in place 2005.

    19 injured in 2005.
    7 injured in 2006.
    2 injured in 2007.
    0 injured in 2008
    0 injured in 2009.

    Do you see a pattern?
    Within a few years of banning pit bulls, pit bull maulings are non-existent in this jurisdiction.

    To all of the city councilmembers, state lawmakers, policy-makers following this blog. WAKE UP.

  7. We need more people to step up like the city of Springfield, MO did a few days ago. Took them a long time (several months), but hey, at least there was progress.

    Sometime in the fall of '09, a pitbull got loose and terrorized it's neighborhood, wounding a dog and killing a chihuahua. The dog was finally declared a dangerous dog and a committee met and decided the dog should be put down this week.

    The owner was allowed a "last meal" with her monster (the chi's owner didn't get that!), cried over the thing, and they finally killed it.

    Another plus is that the owner is being charged and faces jail time(how long she'll get ??) The wounded dog's owner is planning on sueing her for the medical bills ($700 and counting).

    I hope she gets everything that's coming to her.

  9. The Tobacco Lobby doesn't have anything on the Dog Lobby, except that they paid their taxes!

  10. Hmmm…in the 21 years btween 1979-1998 dogs killed 304 Americans.

    In the five year period between 2005 and 2009 Dogs killed 148 Americans.

    That rate has doubled singularly due to Pit Bull breeders.

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