Quick statistics ::
This page is a sampling of dog bite statistics that are located on DogsBite.org or can reached by a web link. Notably, each year, an American has a one and 50 chance of being bitten by a dog.1
71% of the pit bull fatalities have occurred in the past 10 years; 42% in the past four years; 24% in the past two years.
In the 7-year period from 2005 to 2011, two dog breeds accounted for 74% of all fatal attacks: pit bulls and rottweilers.
2011 Dog Bite Fatalities by DogsBite.org, 2012
Over 650 U.S. cities have adopted breed-specific laws since the mid 1980s, just after pit bulls (fighting dogs) began leaking into the general population.
By 2013, pit bulls are projected to maul 200 Americans to death since the year 1998, when the CDC stopped tracking fatal dog attacks by breed.
In the 7-year period from 2005 to 2011, a pit bull killed a U.S. citizen every 20 days.
2011 Dog Bite Fatalities by DogsBite.org, 2012
In the 3-year period of 2006 to 2008, 18% of all fatal dog attacks occurred off owner property. Pit bulls were responsible for 81% of these attacks.
Report: U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities January 2006 to December 2008 by DogsBite.org, 2010
In the first eight months of 2011, nearly half of the persons fatally attacked by a pit bull was the dog's owner and caretaker.
2011 Dog Bite Fatalities by DogsBite.org, 2011
Over 30 countries across the world regulate dangerous dog breeds with breed-specific laws including: France, Italy, Norway, Spain, Portugal and Great Britain.
Ecuador Joins International Trend: Bans Pit Bulls and Rottweilers as Pets by DogsBite.org, 2010
In 2011, adult victims of fatal pit bull attacks more than doubled the number of child victims.
2011 Dog Bite Fatalities by DogsBite.org, 2012
A study published in 2010 showed there were 4 times as many dog bite-related ED visits and 3 times as many hospital stays in rural areas than in urban areas.
Emergency Department Visits and Inpatient Stays Involving Dog Bites, 2008 by AHRQ, 2010
Pit bull terriers were selectively bred for a violent activity that is now a felony in all 50 U.S. states: dogfighting.
Dogfighting Fact Sheet by the Human Society of the United States
Over 260 U.S. military bases governed by the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Space Command, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and Navy regulate dangerous dog breeds.
Dog attack victims suffer over $1 billion in monetary losses annually. JAMA reports this estimate to be as high as $2 billion.
Dog Bites Recognized as Public Health Problem by R. Voelker, JAMA, 1997
A 2010 study showed that the average cost of a dog bite-related hospital stay was $18,200, about 50% higher than the average injury-related hospital stay.
Emergency Department Visits and Inpatient Stays Involving Dog Bites, 2008 by AHRQ, 2010
In a 28-year report that tracks dog bite injuries and deaths, pit bulls attacked adults nearly as often as they attacked children. A trait not shared by any other dog breed.
Dog bites occur every 75 seconds in the United States. Each day, over 1,000 citizens need emergency medical care to treat these injuries.
Dog bites are the fifth highest reason why children seek emergency room treatment due to activities they voluntarily engage in, such as playing sports.
- Nonfatal Dog Bite-Related Injuries Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments - United States, 2001, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), 2003; 52(26): 605-610.
special reports
Report: U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities January 2006 to December 2008 »
Report: U.S. Police and Citizen Shootings of Pit Bulls 2008 »
Video of Attack Victims: U.S. Pit Bull Attacks in 85-Day Period »
dog bite statistics
victim voices
recommended read
Fatal Pit Bull Attacks: A growing archive of U.S. fatal pit bull maulings dating back to 1858.
join our email list
Join the DogsBite.org email list for alerts, news and more.