Often times, when the subject of fatal dog attacks is addressed, the breed of dog is viewed as the primary driving force
behind these incidents and little recognition is given to other factors that directly contributed to these tragic events.
Investigation into 513 fatal attacks in the United States from Jan.1965 through Jun. 2005 reveal the following circumstances
and situations to figure predominantly in fatal dog attacks:
Though not possible to determine the sex of all the dogs involved in fatalities from 1965, a survey of the sex of the dogs involved in
the last 6 years (Jun.30 1999- Jun.30, 2005) reveal that overwhelmingly the dogs involved in fatal attacks are males. Of the 134
fatal attacks from Jun.30, 1999 - Jun. 30, 2005, in over 92% of these cases a male dog was involved, (i.e. either a single male dog
or a male dog accompanied by other males and/or female dogs).
Reproductive status of dog (intact vs. altered)-
As with the sex of the dog, it was not possible to determine the reproductive status of all the dogs involved in fatal attacks dating
back to 1965, but an examination of the dogs involved in fatal attacks (Jun. 30, 1999 - Jun. 30, 2005) reveal that the overwhelming
majority of dogs involved were unaltered. Of the 134 fatalities in the past 6 years, 94% of the dogs involved were unaltered.
Chained or restrained dogs-
Statistically, chained dogs pose a much greater danger than free roaming dogs. 25% of all fatal attacks are inflicted by a dog that
was kept chained. Dogs that are kept chained may be more protective of their restricted space and their resources (i.e. food/water
bowls). Additionally, the natural "fight or flight" response afforded to most animals in stressful situations is denied to a chained dog.
Removing the option of flight for any animal will always increase the chance of a physical encounter (or fight response) to a
perceived threat.
Dogs obtained for protection, guarding, fighting or image enhancement-
The behavior of a dog is directly influenced by the use or function he/she plays in the life of the owner. Dogs acquired to protect,
guard, fight or project an image of danger are obliged or duty-bound to behave aggressively. Not surprisingly, a substantial number
of fatal dog attacks involved dogs that were either directly encouraged or indirectly permitted to behave aggressively.
Multiple dogs and pack mentality -
32% of fatal dog attacks from Jan. 1965 -Jun. 2005 were caused by two or more dogs. Pack mentality is the canine equivalent of the
human "mob mentality" and as such is easily understood by most people. While single dogs are responsible for the majority of
fatal attacks, pack mentality does play a role in fatal attacks. Obviously, multiple dogs can inflict injuries quicker and with more
severity than a single dog. Also, there are cases where the victim may have been able to fend off or sustain an attack by a single
dog, but became overpowered by the number of dogs involved in the attack.
Unsupervised children -
This is arguably the most critical factor in fatal dog attacks on children. There are a number of reasons why unsupervised children
are especially vulnerable to a fatal dog attack:
Dogs are much less likely to attack a child in the presence of an adult, particularly in the presence of the owner.
In the event that a dog does attack a child in the presence of an adult, the intervention of the adult often prevents the attack from
becoming a fatality.
Children, because of their small size, are usually not able to sustain an attack until help arrives. Many adults survived severe dog
attacks simply by virtue of the fact that they were able to sustain and fend the dogs off to some degree until assistance arrived.
Children often engage in dangerous behavior (approaching too close to a chained dog or trying to hug/kiss an unfamiliar animal)
that a supervising adult would have prevented.
The age group with the second-highest amount of fatalities due to a dog attack are 2-year-old children. Over 88% of these fatalities
occurred when the 2-year-old child was left unsupervised with a dog's) or the child wandered off to the location of the dog.
Breed of dog -
The breed of dog is another contributory factor in fatal dog attacks. While breed may be a factor in attacks, it is not the cause for an
attack. While Pit Bulls and Rottweilers are responsible for a significant amount of fatal attacks in recent years, one cannot conclude
that an attack occurred simply as a result of the breed of dog; no more than we can conclude that a fatal attack occurred simply
because the dog was an intact male, or chained, or a because a child was left unsupervised with a dog(s).
Irresponsible owners and gross negligence -
While not every fatal dog attack is the result of an irresponsible owner, clearly the level of care and responsibility of an owner is an
important element in permitting dogs to behave aggressively. There are a substantial amount of fatal dog attacks that were 100%
preventable. The case of a 3-year-old Texas girl wandering over to one of 12 Pit Bulls chained in the yard was 100% preventable.
The fatal mauling of a man climbing over a fence and attempting to burglarize a business with two Pit bull guard dogs was the
result of a conscious human decision, thus was 100% preventable by simply choosing not to enter the property or engage the dogs.
One of the many problems with breed statistics and fatal or severe dog attacks is that there is no distinction made between an
attack that was due to an unforeseeable event, or an attack that was due to a highly aggressive dog, or an attack that was due to
human behaviors or gross human negligence. The fatality involving a newborn discarded by his mother in a junk-strewn yard with
two Pit Bulls and the fatality in which a Pit bull attacked his owner are counted equally, yet one fatality is the direct result of human
behavior while the other fatality can be attributed to canine behavior.
While proponents of breed specific legislation often seem uninterested in recognizing the distinction between dog attacks that can
be attributed to canine behavior and those that can be attributed to human behavior, the criminal justice system (police and courts)
are frequently recognizing that were it not for the reckless disregard of some dog owners (and/or parents of the victim) these
fatalities would not have occurred.
