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America Against Breed Specific Legislation

Fatal Dog Attacks

It must be emphasized that fatal dog attacks are exceedingly rare events.
 
There is an estimated population of 55 millions dogs in the United States. There are approximately 20 human deaths per year due to a dog attack.
 
Therefore, an infinitesimal percent (.0000004%) of the dog population is involved in a fatal attack.

Fatal Dog Attacks 1994- 99
When we list the numbers of dogs involved in each fatality it should be noted that in many of these cases there was only one Alpha dog that was responsible for the fatal injury. Fatal attacks involving multple dogs are fraught with a range of potentially serious miscalculations and errors. In many cases it becomes difficult to determine the level of participation of an individual dog or breed in a multiple dog attack. 
 
Listing of Date, Number & Breed of Dogs, State & Contributory Factor
 
Jan. 1994  (1) Mixed breed     IL    Family dog
Jan. 1994  (1) Rottweiler      FL    Female w/puppies
Feb. 1994  (2) Rottweilers     IL    Guard dogs
Feb. 1994  (1) Am Staff        MD    Visiting child
Mar. 1994  (2) Rottweilers     WA    Child climbed over fence
Jul. 1994  (1) Sib.Husky       AK    Chained dog
Aug. 1994  (2) Rott & Mixed    TN    Loose dogs
Aug. 1994  (1) Rottweiler      OK    Unsupervised child
Sept.1994  (2) Pit Bulls       NY    Son's dogs
Sept.1994  (1) Chow/RottX      OK    Unsupervised child
Sept.1994  (1) Rottweiler      OK    Unsupervised child
Oct. 1994  (2) Mixed breeds    NY    Unsupervised child
Oct. 1994  (1) Rottweiler      CO    Recently obtained for protection
Nov. 1994  (2) Pit Bulls       CA    Mother threw baby to dogs
 
Jan. 1995  (1) Wolf dog        SD    Chained dog
Jan. 1995  (1) Sib. Husky      AK    Chained dog
Apr. 1995  (1) Mixed breed     KS    Chained dog
Apr. 1995  (1) Mixed           CO    Grandmother's dog
May  1995  (?) Mixed           PA    Neighbor's loose dogs
May  1995  (1) Rottweiler      FL    Chained dog
Jun. 1995  (3) German Shep     CA    Guard dogs
Jul. 1995  (1) Pit-bull-type   CA    Unsupervised child
Sept.1995  (1) Chow Chow       PA    Infant death
Sept.1995  (6) Pit-bull-type   SD    Loose roaming dogs
Oct. 1995  (3) Rottweilers     NC    Loose roaming dogs
Oct. 1995  (2) Pit Bulls       WA    Loose roaming dogs
Nov. 1995  (1) Rottweiler      CT    Uncle's dog
 
Feb. 1996  (2) Rott & GSD      FL    Unsupervised child
Mar. 1996  (1) Sib. Husky      PA    Infant death
Mar. 1996  (2) Rottweilers     TN    Loose neighbor's dogs
Mar. 1996  (1) Rottweiler      CA    Infant death
Apr. 1996  (1) Mixed           TX    Dog attacked owner
May  1996  (6) Chow Xs         AR    Neighbor's loose dogs
Jun. 1996  (1) Wolf dog        AZ    1-day-old infant left w/dog
Jun. 1996  (2) Rottweilers     CA    Children teasing dogs
Jun. 1996  (1) Rottweiler      MA    Chained dog
Jul. 1996  (1) Rottweiler      MO    Chained dog
Jul. 1996  (1) Husky-type      AK    Unsupervised child
Aug. 1996  (1) Husky-type      AK    Chained dog
Oct. 1996  (2) Great Danes     AR    Feeding neighbor's dogs
Nov. 1996  (6) Rottweilers     FL    Loose roaming dogs
Nov. 1996  (2) Husky & Chow    OH    Chained dogs
Dec. 1996  (2) Wolf dogs       CO    Putting dogs in pen
Dec. 1996  (3) Pit-bull-type   NY    Grandson's dogs
 
Jan. 1997  (1) Rottweiler      CA    Unsupervised child
Jan. 1997  (1) Doberman        KS    Grandparent's guard dog
Mar. 1997  (1) Sib. Husky      WI    Infant death
Mar. 1997  (1) Labrador X      SD    Chained dog
Apr. 1997  (1) Rottweiler      NC    Grandfather's guard dog
Apr. 1997  (3) Rottweilers     KS    Loose roaming dogs
Apr. 1997  (2) Pit-bull-type   MO    Unsupervised child
May  1997  (1) West Highland   MA    Attacked elderly woman
Jun. 1997  (1) Sled dog        AK    Chained dog
Jun. 1997  (1) St. Bernard     WI    Unsupervised child
Jun. 1997  (1) Mixed breed     GA    Attacked elderly owner
Jun. 1997  (1) Rottweiler      CA    Elderly woman entered yard w/dog
Jul. 1997  (1) Pit bull        NY    Trying to protect his dog
Jul. 1997  (1) Mixed           CA    Aunt's dog
Aug. 1997  (1) Pit-bull-type   FL    Boy running from dog
Sept.1997  (1) Rottweiler      CA    Aunt's dog
Oct. 1997  (3) GrDn & Mixed    TX    Loose roaming dogs
Oct. 1997  (2) Pit-bull-type   TX    Feeding nephew's dogs
Dec. 1997  (4) Rotts & Lab     AL    Unsupervised child
Dec. 1997  (2) Rottweilers     GA    Unsupervised child
 
Jan. 1998  (3) Pit-bull-type   NC    Neighbor's loose dogs
Jan. 1998  (1) St. Bernard     KY    Unsupervised child
Mar. 1998  (1) Rottweiler      TN    Chained dog
Jun. 1998  (1) Mixed           CO    Family dog
Sept.1998  (2) Rottweilers     CA    Trained attack dogs
Sept.1998  (3) Mastiff & StB   NC    Climbed into dogs' yard
Sept.1998  (2) Pit bulls       MI    Attacked neighor - owner in prison
Oct. 1998  (1) Rottweiler      GA    Guard dog
Oct. 1998  (1) Rottweiler      AR    Grandmother's dog
 
Jan. 1999  (1) Rottweiler      IL    Unsupervised child
Feb. 1999  (1) Chow X          OR    Chained dog
Feb. 1999  (2) Mix breeds      WI    Newly acquired dogs
Feb. 1999  (2) Mix breeds      MT    Uncle's dogs
Feb. 1999  (1) Pit-bull-type   CA    Unsupervised child w/guard dog
Feb. 1999  (1) Pit-bull-type   GA    Highly aggressive due to owner
Mar. 1999  (1) Airedale Terr   KS    Infant death
Mar. 1999  (?) Stray dogs      OK    Loose roaming dogs
Apr. 1999  (1) Husky           NC    Chained dog
May  1999  (1) Sled dog        AK    Chained dog
Jun. 1999  (1) Briard          WA    Daughter's dog
Jun. 1999  (1) Mixed           CA    Babysitter's dog
Jul. 1999  (4) Pit bulls       FL    Newly acquired dogs
Aug. 1999  (1) SharPei/Chow X  TX    Chained dog
Aug. 1999  (1) Rottweiler      WI    Newly acquired dog
Aug. 1999  (1) Bulldog X       TN    Chained dog
Aug. 1999  (1) Wolf dog        MI    Child playing in yard
Sept.1999  (2) Rottweilers     LA    Father's dogs
Oct. 1999  (10) Mixed          KY    Unsupervised child
Oct. 1999  (1) Gr. Shep X      CA    Infant death
Oct. 1999  (1) Gr.Shepherd     ME    Child tripped on sleeping dog
Oct. 1999  (2) Chow & Dachs    MD    Infant in baby swing
Oct. 1999  (1) Rottweiler      AR    Chained dog
Nov. 1999  (2) Mixed           AZ    Loose roaming dogs
Dec. 1999  (2) Pit bulls       SC    Loose roaming dogs






Fatal Dog Attacks:  2001 - 2003
 
Jan. 2001 (1) Bullmastiff        MI   Adult female/brother's dogs
Jan. 2001 (1) German Shep X      GA   Infant death
Jan. 2001 (2) Presa Canario      CA   Neighbor's dogs
Mar. 2001 (?) Strays/Unknown     MO   Boy killed in park
Mar. 2001 (1) Rott X             KY   Grandmother's dog
Mar. 2001 (1) Pit Bull           CA   Boy wandered to chained dog
Apr. 2001 (1) Chow Chow          LA   Owner trying to leash dog
Apr. 2001 (1) Wolf dog           IL   Boy wandered to chained dog
Apr. 2001 (1) Rottweiler         IL   Infant death
Jun. 2001 (1) Pit Bull           UT   Chained, breeding guard dog
Jun. 2001 (1) Rottweiler         MA   Boy released dog f/kennel
Jun. 2001 (1) Pit bull           HI   Chained dog
Jul. 2001 (1) Pit bull           GA   Chained dog
Jul. 2001 (2) Pit bulls          AZ   Trespasser / Guard dogs at business
Jul. 2001 (2) Bulldogs           IL   Dogs attacked elderly owner
Aug. 2001 (?) Mixed breeds       SC   Neighbor's loose dogs
Aug. 2001 (1) Rottweiler         IL   Chained dog broke loose
Sept.2001 (1) Rottweiler         KS   Infant at grandmother's
Oct. 2001 (3) Pit bulls          AR   Neighbor's loose dogs
Oct. 2001 (1) Rottweiler         WY   Chained, emaciated dog
Nov. 2001 (2) GSD & mixed        OH   Infant death
Nov. 2001 (1) Siberian husky     CA   Infant death
Dec. 2001 (2) Rottweilers        AL   Child wandered to dogs
 
Jan. 2002 (1) Wolf dog           NM   Breaking up dog fight
Feb. 2002 (2) Rott/Pug Xs        CA   Escaped from yard

Feb. 2002 (6) Rottweilers        WI   Unsupervised child
Apr. 2002 (?) Pack of strays     GA   Unsupervised child
Apr. 2002 (1) Rottweiler         CA   Grandmother's dog
Apr. 2002 (1) Am Staff           DE   Chained dog
Jun. 2002 (1) German Shep        NE   Police dog in training

Jun. 2002 (1) Wolf dog           KY   Chained dog
Jul. 2002 (4) Pit bulls          TX   Victim had possible seizure
Aug. 2002 (1) Pit bull           IA   Chained dog
Oct. 2002 (2) Mixed breeds       GA   Chained dogs
Oct. 2002 (1) Doberman           WI   Provocation
Nov. 2002 (1) Mixed breed        MO   Chained dog
Dec. 2002 (1) Malamute X         CA   Infant death
Dec. 2002 (1) German Shep        NC   Chained, starving dog
 
Fatal Dog Attacks  - 2003
There were 25 fatal dog attacks in the U.S. in 2003
 
Fatal Dog Attacks -   2004
There were 22 fatal dog attacks in the U.S. in 2004.

Fatalites by State      1965 - Present  
  Alabama       10        Montana         2
  Alaska        27        Nebraska        5
  Arizona       10        Nevada          3
  Arkansas       8        New Hampshire   2
  California    57        New Jersey      5
  Colorado       9        New Mexico      5
  Connecticut    2        New York       20
  Delaware       2        N.Carolina     20       
  Florida       27        N.Dakota        0
  Georgia       25        Ohio           16
  Hawaii         3        Oklahoma       11
  Idaho          3        Oregon          4
  Illinois      22        Pennsylvania   16
  Indiana        8        RhodeIsland     1         
  Iowa           2        S. Carolina    12
  Kansas        11        S. Dakota       5
  Kentucky      14        Tennessee      17
  Louisiana      4        Texas          38
  Maine          1        Utah            2
  Maryland      10        Vermont         1
  Massachusetts  4        Virginia        9
  Michigan      22        Washington      9
  Minnesota      2        Wisconsin      12
  Mississippi    4        W. Virginia     2
  Missouri      12        Wyoming         3
  Puerto Rico    1

Updated to:  December 2, 2005
Information above was provided with full permission from:
 
National Canine Research Foundaiton  http://ncrf2004.tripod.com
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