Fatal Dog Attack Statistics
DogsBite.org recorded 32 fatal dog attacks in 2013. Citations of each victim's history 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 discontinued research in this area. Since 1998, pit bulls alone have killed 236 U.S. citizens. The only other known nonprofit organization, in addition to DogsBite.org, that tracks this vital data publicly is Animal People.
- 32 U.S. dog bite-related fatalities occurred in 2013. Despite being regulated in Military Housing areas and over 700 U.S. cities, pit bulls contributed to 78% (25) of these deaths. Pit bulls make up about 6% of the total U.S. dog population.1
- Together, pit bulls (25) and rottweilers (1), the second most lethal dog breed, accounted for 81% of the total recorded deaths in 2013. This same combination accounted for 74% of all fatal attacks during the 9-year period of 2005 to 2013.
- The breakdown between these two breeds is substantial over this 9-year period. From 2005 to 2013, pit bulls killed 176 Americans, about one citizen every 18.6 days, versus rottweilers, which killed 33, about one citizen every 99.5 days.
- See full report: 2013 U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Statistics - DogsBite.org.
- News release: Nonprofit Releases 2013 Dog Bite Fatality Statistics.
Discussion Notes
Several areas stand out in 2013 dog bite fatality statistics. The percentage of pit bull fatalities in 2013, 78%, is a 28% increase from 2012 and is the highest percentage ever recorded in the 9-years of data DogsBite.org has collected (2005 to 2013). The following represents the year and the percentage of pit bull fatalities of the total dog bite fatalities recorded for that year: 2005 (57%), 2006 (58%), 2007 (60%), 2008 (65%), 2009 (44%), 2010 (67%), 2011 (71%) and 2012 (61%).
Adjacent year fatality data is usually insignificant, but a 9-year high is not when in context with years showing a steady rise. Adjacent year nonfatal attack data, however, can be very significant. The latest report by Merritt Clifton, Dog Attack Deaths and Maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to December 31, 2013, shows a shocking rise in nonfatal pit bull attacks -- involving serious bodily injury, disfigurements and maimings -- between 2012 and 2013 (See: graphic chart).
Visiting Dog Owner's Home and Babysitters
In 2013, over one-third, 38% (12) of all dog bite-related fatality victims were either visiting or living temporarily with the dog's owner when the fatal attack occurred, up from 32% in 2012. Children 7-years and younger suffered the brunt of these attacks, 83% (10). A closer look shows that 7 of the 12 deaths involved babysitters, and all 7 deaths were inflicted by pit bulls. In at least 5 deaths, multiple pit bulls were in the babysitter's household too, as if one were not dangerous enough.
In the death of Daniel "Doe," 2-years old, the babysitter was watching 5 children at the time -- all under 10-years old, each with special needs. Lara Czerniski, 28, also had 4 adult pit bulls in her household. In this "loaded" high-risk scenario, it is not unpredictable for a disaster to unfold. The other egregious babysitter case involved Samuel Zamudio, also 2-years old. At the time of the attack, he was being watched by his uncle in a household with 8 pit bull-mixes (5 were adults).
Parents must come to grips with what this data means. It is a high-risk scenario to allow your child to visit the home of a friend or relative with one or more pit bulls. It does not matter if those pit bulls are "good" to the dog owner's own children -- those children are not visiting. All babysitters must be thoroughly questioned by parents regarding 1.) If they have dogs in their household and 2.) If yes, what kind? If the answer is pit bull or other known high-risk dog breed, find a new babysitter.
Data Collection Method: How We Collect U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Data
Related articles:
07/24/14: Nonprofits Urge CDC to Resume Tracking Richer Data Set for Children and Adults...
12/27/13: 2013 Fatal Dog Mauling Image of the Year: The Funeral of Ryan Maxwell
01/03/14: 2013 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
Yet again thank you for your precision and persistence in keeping track of this ongoing tragedy, and for publishing the information to inform us.
In light of the sad numbers you've had to publish for 2013, it's scandalous that veterinarians, academics, and supposedly educated dog experts continue to deny the problem.
I don't mean the Expert Formerly Known As A Dog Hairdresser, nor the Expert Formerly Known As An Unemployed Actress, nor the Vet Tech. I mean the people with actual degrees in anything from veterinary medicine to animal behavior, behavioral biology, evolutionary biology, and genetics.
I'm flabbergasted every day as I see their smugly smiling faces pass by, see them yet again thinking they profile themselves as especially wise by denying all that real science says. I'm wondering how long this can last, how long it will take for them to go the way of the intellectual prostitutes who lied for Big Tobacco.
At least the ones who sold themselves to the tobacco lobby didn't have so much children's blood on their hands. They thought the only issue was lung cancer in smokers; they didn't know the effect smoking had on the unborn. The present sold-out batch in this pit bull issue knows perfectly well how many children they are killing, yet they continue to smugly and vapidly smile as they mouth their lies.
It's encouraging that judges are starting to throw out their junk science — IMO much to your credit for so securely and doggedly tracking the real facts and laying those on the table.
Thank you!
Ditto
Pit bulls are dangerous! I don't understand people who leave their own children alone with pit bulls! I hope more people read your post and realize the danger as soon as possible!
Thank you for all that you do. I don't know how to get this info out to more people, because a lot of them don't want to hear it. I was just reading about shark attacks in Hawaii, http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/anti-shark-devices-popular-maui-attacks-21647437, and how everyone is so worried about being attacked by a shark.In Hawaii,there have been 2 (2!)deaths by shark in the last year and 14 attacks. Not to say that those deaths and attacks aren't horrendous, but these weren't people stepping out to get their mail, walking their dog, working in their garden,etc. Why aren't more people worried about being attacked by pit bulls? The attacks are horrific, terrifying, possibly mortal and can happen to anyone, anywhere. If you're worried about shark attack, just don't go in the water. Pit bulls are everywhere.