Seattle Pit Bull Statistics: Bites, Population, Euthanization

DogsBite.org - By requesting records at the Seattle Animal Shelter and referencing published data by other sources, we've combined relevant Seattle pit bull statistics. What stands out the most is that pit bulls make up a small percent of the dog population, a high number of bites and an alarming percent of dogs being euthanized (nearly half).

Pit Bull Bites & Menacing Acts
This analysis is based on a five year period (2003-2008)

• Pit bulls accounted for 3.4% of the registered dogs and 25% of all dog bites
• Labradors, the most popular Seattle breed, accounted for 17% of the registered dogs and 12% of dog bites
• Pit bulls accounted for 37% of menacing acts versus 11% Labradors

Pit bull dogs were defined as the American pit bull terrier, pit bull, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier and bull terrier for the purposes of this analysis. Data source: Seattle Animal Shelter

Pit Bull Population
The Seattle PI reported an analysis of Seattle's pit bull population.

• 2003: 2.97%
  
• 2004: 3.21%
  
• 2005: 3.27%
• 2006: 3.28%
• 2007: 3.11%

Classified Ad Search
On September 15, 2008, DogsBite.org searched under 6 different names to see how popular pit bulls are in the Seattle area. Of 432 dogs for sale in the combined classified ads for the Seattle Times and the Seattle PI, pit bull type dogs yielded 5, which is 1% of dogs.

• Search criteria: American Pit Bull Terrier 0; Pit Bull 2; Pitbull 1; American Bulldog 2; Staffordshire Terrier 0; Bull Terrier 0
• Other dog breeds yielded: Yorkies 38 (9%), Lab 24 (6%), Shepherd 22 (5%), Dachshund 20 (5%), Golden Retriever 15 (3%).

Pit Bulls Euthanized
KiroTV reported the average number of pit bulls euthanized.

• Between 2002 and mid-September 2007, Seattle euthanized a total of 3,407 dogs
• 1,762 (52%) were non-pit bull breeds and 1,645 (48%) were pit bulls
• Average: about 300 pit bulls euthanized annually

Related article:
09/13/08: Coverage of the Seattle Area Pit Bull Attack and Activism

Labels: seattle, statistics