Reality vs. Perception: Dog Bite-Related Fatalities in 2011
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17 commentsDog bite-related fatalities have always been exceedingly rare, yet they can attract the kind of publicity that creates an impression they are more prevalent than they actually are. NCRC is currently investigating 31 incidents in a dog population of over 78 million that occurred during 2011 that may qualify as dog bite-related fatalities. A final tally is subject to change as a result of NCRC investigations.* A number of cases have very little information available as they remain the subject of ongoing investigations. While 10 fatalities have already resulted in criminal indictments, several others are still under investigation by authorities. This report is preliminary to the final report which will be available in the first week of 2013. NCRC’s final report for 2010 is now available here.
NCRC continues to assemble the most accurate and comprehensive information available. Based on NCRC’s 20 years of experience investigating dog bite-related fatalities, the initial media reports will be supplemented or corrected with relevant, material information in over 90% of these incidents.
Setting the Record Straight
Official reports often do not agree with news accounts and/or contain important information that was either unavailable, or not of interest, to reporters at the time of the incident.
News reports published in the moment usually refer to the dogs involved as “family” dogs, implying that these were dogs whose owners interacted with them on a regular basis in positive and humane ways. Later investigation shows that most of the dogs involved in these incidents were “resident” dogs – victims of isolation, and often abuse or neglect. NCRC’s preliminary findings for 2011 are consistent with findings concerning the dog bite-related fatalities of years past. In 2010, the news media initially described the dogs in 29 of 33 (88%) dog bite-related fatalities as “family” pets, but investigations disclose that only 7 (21%) were family pets.**
The news media regularly describe dogs as members of specific breeds. Yet, NCRC’s investigations over the years show that a majority of the breed descriptors assigned by the news media cannot be documented or otherwise considered reasonable (through pedigree, DNA or otherwise). For example, NCRC investigations of the dog bite-related fatalities in 2010 showed that in only eleven of the cases could the breed descriptors assigned to the dogs be documented, or otherwise considered reasonable. Eight different kinds of dogs were identified in those eleven incidents. The breed composition of all the other dogs was indeterminate, whatever the news media reported about them. In fact, in three cases in 2010, news stories identified dogs and attributed breeds to those dogs that detectives later determined were NOT the dogs involved in the incident. The dog(s) responsible were never identified or captured. News outlets, having moved on to other, pressing issues, never corrected this.
Conclusion
There is no scientific evidence that one kind of dog is more likely to injure a human being than another kind of dog. There is no evidence that, absent circumstances specifically associated with mating or maternal protectiveness, a dog being intact should be understood as a cause of aggressive behavior toward human beings. And for every “resident” dog that injured a human being, multitudes sadly similarly kept injured no one.
Yet, as NCRC’s mission is to preserve the human-canine bond, these rare tragedies serve as a reminder that all dog owners have an unequivocal responsibility for the humane care (including proper diet, veterinary care, socialization and training), custody (including licensing and micro-chipping), and control of their dogs.
- A dog bite-related fatality is one where a human being has died as a result of trauma, exsanguinations or avulsions attributable to dog bites.
** See “Resident Dog vs. Family Dog: What is the Difference?” at 1.pdf
Nancy has no clue.
I own a pitbull which was rescued from a shelter and am truely sick of ignorant people being afraid of him because he’s a pit. I have a one yr old neice who is absolutely in love w him n not once have I been worried that she shouldn’t be around him. If she cries he’ll go over n sit next to her trying to comfort her. He’s not the greatest w other dogs but I know this and avoid contact w male dogs that are bigger than him, being that those are the only times he has a problem. I promise however if you walk into my house unannounced he won’t bite you but he will corner you next to the door n scare the shit out of you. Moral of this story is my pit, n all the pits ik are the biggest babies but don’t try to get to his momma or his baby girl cause he will not approve
With my lifetime experience with animals I have learned that most dogs even if they become aggressive with time and patience and right setting can over come their aggression. But also to do this one has to understand the cause of their aggression, yes isolating will make a dog agressive as well as another animal attacking it, a person attacking its owner can even make a dog aggressive, how they are cared for also can indicate possible aggression, and how they are trained and what they are used for, some dogs will be aggressive if they are in pain or sick as well.
I have a german shepherd who when I got her at 8 weeks was afraid of everything and everyone they even told us that they would take the four wheeler and bang on pipes and scare the dogs away to try and scare them from vehicles so they don’t get hit by cars, we got pearl so she was not afraid too a week. Pearl was find with people and other animals then one day my cousins boyfriend brought his uncles pit bull puppy over dozer and they were playing fine then all of a sudden dozer attacked pearl (they played rough with dozer trying to make him mean) now she does not except many dogs or cats right away it takes her some time in a muzzle and then she can be released from her muzzle, also had a man over with some other people he went to swat a bee by me and pearl thought he was going to hit me and went at him barking not biting, now anyone with a hat on or anyone that appears to be going to hurt me she is a little aggressive, she has no problem with people in wheel chairs, or are disabled along with elderly people she will go up and put her head in their lap. Also pearl strayed next door at our old house and the neighbor knowing she would not hurt them chased her swing and hitting her with brooms and sticks yelling at her since then she has also been a little people shy or intimidated by people but yet kind of aggressive but also she has ran to people walking by in my house here and their dogs and she was real nice and friendly … I have been working with her resocializing her exposing her to as many animals and people as I can and she is doing better still gets her days but coming along fine.
I also know of a dog where I grew up where kids would throw rocks at him and other stuff taunting him he was a huge German shepherd probably wieghed about 200 lbs, he became mean and only the owners and my dad and I were able to care for him and approach him. He would tear up anyone else. He was chained in their back yard for years. I have learned how to even approach aggressive dogs and still have yet to meet one that i can’t approach.. we have a german shepherd mix around here that the guy beats everytime it does something wrong one day I felt so bad when the dog came over here and I called the owner (this is when I found out he did this) he puts the dog in his truck on the passenger side floor and starts punching him.. a week ago going to liquor store my boyfriend seen him but did not know that the dog needed to be taken, came home told me about this guy whose dog was so aggressive he could not even get into his car, I asked what the dog looked like and asked if it was bones the guys name and when he confirmed I told him I should have went and got max cause I know max knows me as he comes here when he is visiting and gets lose and I would take max in and not let that man have this dog again and press charges on him. I have had a lot of people tell me he has been warned as well about his treatment of the dog and not once have they taken the dog away as they said they would.
Yes some dogs do nip and bite but most are the way they are raised, and if they are ill or in pain, and the way they are trained not to mention the way they are treated and yes sometimes rare a animal can be naturally aggressive but just like people they do deserve respect.
Any size dog can inflict a fatal injury. To the rocket scientist who said a chihuahua can’t cause a fatal injury, think again. They have teeth, all it takes is a bite to an artery and it can be fatal. I have news for you. Dogs are animals. You just never know with ANY of them. Just because WE domesticated them, doesn’t negate that fact. If you condemn an entire breed based on what a HUMAN teaches it or how it was bred, then you’re not worth the time or energy it would take to try and convince or educate you. You clearly have very little to no knowledge of breeding or raising dogs. You know nothing about Pit bulls or their reliability as family pets. Clearly you have just bought off on the propaganda that is spread about them. If you choose to practice breed discrimination based on what a handful of dogs have done due to their owners lack of or negative training that’s your business. All I have to say is thank God you aren’t in a position to decide whether or not we should just condemn a race of people based on what a handful of their group has done.
There are systematic studies (Academy of Vet Sciences) etc that demonstrate different trends in temperament via breed, the results are perhaps unexpected (not to me, by personal experience). Some dog breeds are more likely towards fear/aggression, those being smaller breeds, chihuaha, cocker spaniel, etc. Only dog that viciously bit me was a chihuaha — yes, survivable, but quite unpleasant when you are 8 yrs old. Ive met pit/mixes I would trust with a baby. I also met one that was demented, and had a demented owner who trained it to be aggressive. It was euthanized when it became aggressive to the family. You could see it was a nervous wreck. I just hope THEY get a golden retriever next time, but it wouldnt suit THEIR need to exert fear through their dog. Rotties and Dobies— german shepherds — never met one that was not totally loving. I applaud the folks defending the “banned” breeds. Ignorance can only be overcome by experience and learning.
Sadly, I have seen plenty of aggressive Golden Retrievers. A bad owner can make any dog aggressive, whether it be through their actions or inaction.
You should be hoping they NEVER get another dog to screw up- and then kill.
Are you kidding me? People like that should not own a dog at all. 99% of the golden retrievers in my town are dog-dog aggressive and many are perfectly willing to bite people as well. Breed has little to do with it, in fact pits are more difficult to wreck (dog-human aggression anyways) because of their breed in the first place. These dogs were bred to never show aggression to humans even when highly aroused, so in the fighting ring they could still be handled. Golden retrievers, labs, etc were never bred for this specific trait, and are easier to mess up. The only way bites and fatalities will end is when we get rid of these dog vs human and “coolness” behaviors in our own population.
I do agree however that education needs to become more prevalent, if those who set forth breed bans put more time into educating the public on dog language (aka what a dog about to bite looks like) bites would dramatically decrease. Of course, it is human nature to blame the biter, and turn everything black and white.
@Nancy – “Some breeds are simply bred to do bad jobs. Frankly, I no longer keep terriers because they are so reactive. Anytime you breed a dog to chase a rat down a hole,you really aren’t thinking about creating a cerebral pet. You have bred an animal to exterminate.”
Since your profile picture is of a dauc, I can only assume you know their history as rodent hunters? They were bred to go to ground, same as terriers – so… will you be getting rid of that little exterminator? Since it was bred to do a bad job, according to you.
There is nothing you can say, no fake stats you can cite, and no ignorance and fear you can spread that will ever make me stop fighting for the pit bull type dog. I have 2 rescues, both with bad pasts. Their present and future are wonderful, however. And that is all that matters.
No matter how much we argue this point everyone has their own beliefs and we need to focus our energy on our own and do what is right and that is to protect the animals no matter what the breed, the sex, age, location or disposition as they cannot tell us what the reason is or that maybe they are sad or in pain, they only know that if they don’t get our attention one way they will get it another. Also they thrive on pleasing us and if that means being aggressive they will do that. So stop think and learn from each individual animal before you judge as the dog may be trying to tell you his story and may be asking for help not trying to purposely be mean.
look into the dogs eyes, listen to their whine, bark, growl, whimper, see their body language are they shaking, are thier ears back or forward or are they arched up or are they leaning forward, maybe even they are drooling or foaming all this can tell you if it is fear, anger, pain, etc. Also the tail is it wagging, between their legs, standing straight up, maybe it is half way up yet between the legs… this is all things to watch to know what a dog is trying to tell us. I cry when animals don’t get a chance to be heard and when no one really understands them… I may be wrong but even aggressive dogs have feelings and emotions and i feel that most dogs euthanized because of behavior actually could have been rehabilitated and matched up with a loving caring and responisble human.
Oh dear Nancy may God pray for your ignorant soul. I don’t understand how you could accuse a whole breed of innocent animals. Educate and advocate that’s my mission, I hope that some day you can understand.
Nancy is a perfect example of the uneducated people who perpetuate the myths about certain breeds and facilitate the senseless killing of millions of dogs each year. She doesn’t have a single fact to back up her claims because there are none. There is not one single shred of scientific evidence to support anything she says and yet that has not, and will not, stop her from continuing to make these claims. People like her don’t care about the truth.
I mentioned this in an earlier posting on another website, but think it bears repeating (especially for those who buy into the media hype and stereotypes).
There are too many websites that speak the truth regarding dog breeds, bite statistics, and Pit Bulls (bully breeds), in particular. I can sit here all day and quote the National Geographic documentary on bite pressure, quote veterinarians on their scientific proof that Pit Bull’s jaws don’t lock, pull up stats on attacks and bite statistics in the U.S., temperament testing of various breeds, and talk about my personal experiences of having a rescued Pit Bull in my home, and rescuing the breed (and other breeds) for the last 10 or so years as a private rescuer. It never seems to make a bit of difference to those who refuse to educate themselves.
All I can do is live by example. A strong, responsible, Pittie and dog guardian who lives above reproach, and who’s dogs are shining examples of their respective breeds…in my home, in the community, and everywhere I go. Why??? Because I demand it of myself and my dogs. I’ve also had some of the best training, instruction, and connection with my dogs I have ever come across through Tyson Kilmer of Dogz Life. For you skeptics out there, I challenge you…implore you…to see what he is doing; not only with the Pit Bull, but with dogs of all breeds, shapes, sizes, and temperaments. If you think that all bully breeds are aggressive, think again. If you think that an aggressive dog cannot be rehabilitated, wrong. If you think it takes a man to control these dogs, try again. Take a peek at children under the age of 9 that are controlling 70+ pound Pit Bulls with their communication and connection. There’s so much more I can say, but the proof is in the pudding, my friends. You can find blogs, videos, and testimonials of it on his website and via FB. I’m living proof. And there are hundreds of people just like me out there. Educate yourselves. Talk to a responsible Pit Bull guardian. Meet a stellar example of the breed in person. And enjoy 2012 with an open mind and and educated heart.
Most vicious dog I ever met was a Chihuahua. It use to charge at us(when we were kids) and bite our legs through our pants.
My other neighbor had a Rottie who I use to walk up into their yard and pet ALL the time. If that dog had wanted to maul me it could have. I look back, and realize that the dog(Rottie) was scared of me, cause it would shake when I came up close. But it never even growled.(I was a stupid kid, who loved dogs. lol)
Nancy is a stupid yuppie rich bitch who dresses her ankle biter up in clothes and carries it around in a purse, I bet.
People like that do not deserve to have dogs.
I think Nancy is a moron as well, however, I have an ankle biter that I dress in clothes to keep her warm when she is not snuggled next to my husband’s Boxer. That does not make me a yuppie rich bitch because I own a Chihuahua that likes to wear a sweater and sit in my purse. I love both our dogs the same. They are our children. And yes, I do deserve to have my dogs!!!! Nancy needs a wake up call on the other hand.
I’ve been around Pits, Rotts, and Chows for years with no problems. The only dog that bit me was a Doxy. My vet told me that her worse patients were Cockers. I’ve said for that we have a people problem rather than a dog problem.