Category Archives: Dog Bite Fatalities

A collection of posts from the DogsBite.org Blog documenting U.S. dog bite fatalities in real time, beginning in 2007. Tags separate specific years.

Special Report: Level 1 Trauma Center Dog Bite Studies in All U.S. Geographical Regions Report Pit Bulls Highest Prevalence

Summary of Key Peer-Reviewed Medical Studies (2009-2016) When all major U.S. geographical regions are reporting similar findings, as they are now, this sends a much stronger message to public health officials and legislators. Level 1 Trauma Studies Table There are at least 10 peer-reviewed dog bite studies published in medical science journals since 2009 that show a higher frequency of pit bull injuries than all other breeds of dogs in retrospective reviews of level I tr… [Read full blog post]

Table: Retrospective Level 1 Trauma Center Studies of Dog Bite Injuries Published from 2009 to 2016 in the U.S.

All Geographical Regions Report Pit Bulls Highest Prevalence Download PDF Retrospective studies from level 1 trauma centers from all major geographical regions in the U.S. are reporting a higher frequency of pit bull injuries than all other breeds of dogs. In many cases, the studies also report that pit bull injuries have a higher severity of injury and require a greater number of operative interventions. Only one study in 11 reported different results, a level 1 pediatri… [Read full blog post]

2016 Dog Bite Fatality: 2-Year Old Girl Killed by Pit Bulls in Topeka, Kansas

Estate, Mother Sue Child Protection and Foster Care Agencies Relatives identified the 2-year old Topeka girl killed by pit bulls as Piper Dunbar. Mother Sues State | Lawsuit Filing UPDATE 10/07/18: The mother of Piper Dunbar, who was mauled to death by two pit bulls on September 24, 2016, filed a federal lawsuit against the Kansas child protection agency and one of its foster care contractors. The complaint states both were negligent in reintegrating Piper back into the hom… [Read full blog post]

2016 Dog Bite Fatality: Family Pit Bulls Kill Woman, Injure Son in Conifer, Colorado

Susan Shawl, 60, was mauled to death by her family pit bulls in Conifer, Colorado. Pit Bulls Mauled her Face UPDATE 09/01/16: In the aftermath of the deadly pit bull attack in Conifer, several new details have come to light. On Monday, 60-year old Susan Shawl was brutally attacked and killed by her two family pit bulls. The dogs belonged to her 36-year old son, Richard Shawl, who shares her home on Black Widow Drive. Susan died on scene. Richard suffered non-life-threatening in… [Read full blog post]