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 multiple 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.
| JANUARY |
FEBRUARY |
MARCH |
APRIL |
| (1) Bullmastiff MI Adult female/brother's dogs (1) German Shep X GA Infant death (2) Presa Canario CA Neighbor's dogs |
(?) Strays/Unknown MO Boy killed in park (1) Rott X KY Grandmother's dog (1) Pit Bull CA Boy wandered to chained dog |
(1) Chow Chow LA Owner trying to leash dog (1) Wolf dog IL Boy wandered to chained dog (1) Rottweiler IL Infant death |
|
| MAY |
JUNE |
JULY |
AUGUST |
| (1) Pit Bull UT Chained, breeding guard dog (1) Rottweiler MA Boy released dog f/kennel (1) Pit bull HI Chained dog |
(1) Pit bull GA Chained dog (2) Pit bulls AZ Trespasser/Guard dog (2) Bulldogs IL Dogs attacked elderly owner |
(?) Mixed breeds SC Neighbor's loose dogs (1) Rottweiler IL Chained dog broke loose |
|
| SEPTEMBER |
OCTOBER |
NOVEMBER |
DECEMBER |
| (1) Rottweiler KS Infant at grandmother's |
(3) Pit bulls AR Neighbor's loose dogs (1) Rottweiler WY Chained, emaciated dog |
(2) GSD & mixed OH Infant death (1) Siberian husky CA Infant death |
(2) Rottweilers AL Child wandered to dogs |
| JANUARY |
FEBRUARY |
MARCH |
APRIL |
| (1) Wolf dog NM Breaking up dog fight |
(2) Rott/Pug Xs CA Escaped from yard (6) Rottweilers WI Unsupervised child |
(?) Pack of strays GA Unsupervised child (1) Rottweiler CA Grandmother's dog (1) Am Staff DE Chained dog |
|
| MAY |
JUNE |
JULY |
AUGUST |
| (1) German Shep NE Police dog in training (1) Wolf dog KY Chained dog |
(4) Pit bulls TX Victim had possible seizure |
(1) Pit bull IA Chained dog |
|
| SEPTEMBER |
OCTOBER |
NOVEMBER |
DECEMBER |
| (2) Mixed breeds GA Chained dogs (1) Doberman WI Provocation |
(1) Mixed breed MO Chained dog |
(1) Malamute X CA Infant death (1) German Shep NC Chained, starving dog |
| JANUARY |
FEBRUARY |
MARCH |
APRIL |
| (2) GrDn & Chesapeake GA Neighbor's dogs (?) Pack Mixed breeds NM ntoxicated woman on street (2) ShepX & Pit Bull IL Woman jogging (1) Pit Bull GA Daughter's dog |
(2) Rottweilers OH Loose dogs (1) Pit bull FL Kenneled dog at boarding kennel (2) Rott & Mixed TN Unsupervised child |
(2) Rottweilers CA Unsupervised child (2) Rottweilers PA Uncle's loose dogs (1) Pit bull WA Unsupervised child (1) Rottweiler MO Boy climbed in kennel |
(1) Wolf dog ID Unsupervised child |
| MAY |
JUNE |
JULY |
AUGUST |
| (1) Am Staff NY Attacked owner's landlord (?) Stray dogs SC Loose roaming dogs |
(1) Pit bull CA Unsupervised child |
(1) Pit bull MD Infant in swing (1) Rottweiler NE Aunt and uncle's dog (2) Pit bulls GA Uncle's dogs |
|
| SEPTEMBER |
OCTOBER |
NOVEMBER |
DECEMBER |
| (1) Doberman NJ Newly acquired dog (1) Husky-type AK Chained female/puppies |
(2) Great Danes SC Chained dogs |
(3) Rott & Pit bulls TX Loose roaming dogs (3) Pit bulls CO Loose roaming dogs |
(4-6) Mixed breeds FL Neighbor's loose dogs |
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.
The last 2 decades has seen the addition of millions of Pit bulls, Rotttweilers and Chow chows into the base dog population as a
result of the increased popularity of these breeds in the United States.
If certain breeds (i.e. Pit bulls, Rottweilers) were inherently dangerous or vicious then the emergence of millions of these dogs into
the population would be reflected in a dramatic increase in the number of fatalities per year.
This is not the case, as the number of fatal dog attacks per year has remained rather consistent over the last 40 years.
In 1955 there were 10 fatal dog attacks in the U.S.
In 1995 there were 13 fatal dog attacks in the U.S.
