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View a list of news reports that cite our dog bite fatality statistical data and other quotations from DogsBite.org, including: Forbes, Newsweek, Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and more.
February 1, 2019
Baby-sitting Cape woman receives 4 years in prison in toddler death
Mark Bliss | Southeast Missourian | A Cape Girardeau woman has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the dog-mauling death of a 13-month-old girl she was baby-sitting ... Colleen Lynn, founder of DogBites.org, a public education website about dangerous dogs, chiefly pit bulls, told the Southeast Missourian...
January 23, 2019
Schlaginhaufen: Advice on aggressive dogs was wrong
Melanie Schlaginhaufen | The Roanoke Times | I noted the Nov. 6 Megan Maxwell article, "Overzealous playful pets," was renamed "Not all dog bites are aggressive" in your online version, and had a disclaimer at the end of the article. As as dog trainer for more than 35 years ... You can find information on other victims as well as tips on dog/child safety at www.dogsbite.org...
January 18, 2019
‘All we want is justice,’ brother says after pit bulls kill Joshua Tree woman
Brian Rokos | The Press-Enterprise | A 70-year-old resident of Joshua Tree died Wednesday, Jan. 16, when she was mauled by four dogs that belonged to people she was trying to evict from her property, and the victim’s brother ... Dogsbite.org, a website highly critical of vicious dogs and their owners, says pit bulls killed 284 people in the U.S. from 2005 to 2017...
December 20, 2018
'Not just a breed issue': Wrightstown pit bull owners fight vicious dog ordinance
Haley BeMiller | Green Bay Press-Gazette | Animal rights activists and others are divided over policies that single out particular breeds — often pit bulls. Proponents of these laws point to the severity of their bites and contend they're more dangerous. According to DogsBite.org, pit bulls were responsible for nearly 66 percent of fatal dog attacks from 2005 to 2017...
October 17, 2018
Are pit bulls a dangerous breed?
Chris Mullen | WUSA9 | After a tragic incident in SE Washington, D.C. over the weekend, a husband is mourning the loss of his wife after their family pet attacked her. Police say the dog was a pit bull. The Humane Rescue Alliance says it’s a mixed breed ... Finding pit bull facts is a challenge ... But there is one website that does attempt to track the data: dogsbite.org...
October 16, 2018
Siskiyou County woman dies in September dog attack
Jim Schultz | Redding Record Searchlight | A 74-year-old Mount Shasta area woman died early last month after being attacked by her family's pet dog, the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office confirmed Tuesday ... Citing a sheriff's office report it obtained, a nonprofit group which operates the website, DogBites.org, that lists dog attacks throughout the nation...
September 13, 2018
America's Most Dangerous Dog Breeds [Infographic]
Niall McCarthy | Forbes | These days, dog attacks still regularly make news headlines and according to more recent research conducted by a national victims' group dedicated to increasing awareness of the problem, the breeds responsible have not changed too much. DogsBite.org's 13-year fatality report identified breeds of dogs involved in U.S. attacks...
September 6, 2018
Pit bull mauls new owner to death TWO WEEKS after adoption
Jennifer Dzikowski | Crime Online | A Maryland woman died Monday after officials say she was mauled to death by a pit bull she had adopted only two weeks prior ... According to Dogsbite.org, an organization that tracks canine-related fatalities, between 2005 and 2017, "pit bulls killed 284 Americans, about one citizen every 16.7 days."
August 30, 2018
Group wants to end breed-specific dog bans in area communities
Kimberly Barker | The Joplin Globe | In 2007, Colleen Lynn was jogging in her hometown of Seattle when she passed a leashed pit bull with its owner ... Her organization cites a study indicating that dogs killed 433 Americans from 2005 to 2017, and nearly 66 percent of those fatalities were caused by pit bulls and more than 10 percent...
August 2, 2018
Five Pit Bulls Maul Philadelphia Toddler to Death
Shane Croucher | Newsweek | According to dogsbite.org, on average nearly two-thirds of all fatal dog attacks in the U.S. are committed by pit bulls. In the 13 years to 2017, pit bulls were responsible for 65.6 percent of fatal dog attacks, or 284 in nominal terms. In second place were rottweilers at 10.4 percent, responsible for 45 deadly attacks...
August 2, 2018
Dangerous Animal Ordinance Discussed in Forest City
AJ Taylor | KIOW | According to DogsBite.org, a 13 year study was done regarding the correlation between dog bites and resulting deaths. According to the survey which spanned from 2005 to 2017, there were 284 deaths or 65.6% that resulted from pit bull attacks. Rottweilers were second with 10.4% or 45 deaths. The remaining 108 deaths involved...
July 7, 2018
Editorial: Pit bull danger all too real
Herald Staff | Boston Herald | Unfortunately, the breed is not conducive to living in populated areas. Too often, a sweet pit bull turns into a vicious pit bull. Yes, other breeds bite as well, but pit bulls are far more destructive than the competition. According to dogsbite.org, "During the 13-year period of 2005 to 2017, canines killed 433 Americans. Two dog breeds...”
July 4, 2018
Opinion: Before you vote, read about severe pit bull attacks
Julie Wall | Springfield News-Leader | Before voting on the amended pit bull ordinance, please visit NationalPitBullVictimAwareness.org and DogsBite.org. These websites track the daily severe pit bull attacks on people and pets nationwide. Read about the many families who have regretted bringing a pit bull-type dog into their home because of an unprovoked...
June 29, 2018
Looking back at pitbull attacks
Amandala | Pit bulls can be very dangerous animals. According to dogbite.org, 39 Americans died last year due to dog bites, and 29 of these bites (74%) were from pit bulls. During a 13-year period (2005-2017), 433 Americans were killed by dogs; 284 of these attacks were by pitbulls. Belize has seen a number of attacks by pit bulls. A look at past news articles...
June 19, 2018
Our Views: Pit bulls deserve their bad reputation
Editorial board | Gazette Extra | They are a dangerous breed, and blaming owners alone for vicious attacks by pit bulls does a disservice to public safety. Pit bulls account for the vast majority of fatal dog attacks, causing 71 percent of fatalities between 2011 and 2017, according to the victims group, DogsBite.org. That’s up from 56 percent between 2005 and 2010...
May 31, 2018
Miami Baby Mauled to Death by Pit Bull While Sitting in Bouncy Chair
Ewan Palmer | Newsweek | An 8-month-old baby girl has died after being mauled by a pit bull at her grandmother’s home in Florida ... According to dogsbite.org, on average nearly two thirds of all fatal dog attacks in the U.S. are committed by pit bulls. The advocacy group also claim that between 2005 and 2017, 27% (116) of all fatal dog attack victims...
May 30, 2018
Baby girl, 9 months old, killed by pit bull while she sat in a bouncy chair
Carli Teproff, David J. Neal and David Smiley | Miami Herald | Miramar police say Liana, who liked to watch cartoons and eat sweet potatoes, was killed by a pit bull ... Nationally, an average of 33 people are killed each year in canine attacks in the United States, according to dogsbite.org, a victims' advocacy site that culls media reports and public records...
May 16, 2018
Why do pit bulls attack? The answer is complicated
Wesley Muller, John Fitzhugh And Anita Lee | Sun Herald | Pit bulls make headlines when they attack humans because the injuries they inflict are typically severe and sometimes fatal ... Colleen Lynn, founder of DogsBite.org, said people often adopt dogs from rescue groups that have little or no information on the history of the dogs ... Mioton and Lynn agreed its irresponsible...
May 10, 2018
Dogged by discrimination: Regionwide effort targets problem dogs and owners, not breeds
Bob Kasarda | NWI Times | DogsBite.org, of Austin, Texas, claims pit bulls are responsible for 66 percent of the 433 people in this country who have died from dog attacks between 2005 and 2017. "It's reasonable for local governments to place restrictions on a class of dogs that statistically cause more harm to humans, especially children, when they attack," said Colleen Lynn...
May 3, 2018
Nonprofit Releases Multi-Year Report: U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities Over a 13-Year Period; Breeds of Dogs Involved, Age Groups and Other Factors
DogsBite.org News Release | Austin, TX, May 3, 2018 -- DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks, releases a multi-year U.S. dog bite fatality report. From January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2017, canines killed at least 433 people. The majority of these victims were ages 10 and older. The 9-page report examines...
April 23, 2018
'Ban Pit Bulls' Flyers Alarm LA Pro-Pit Bull Activists
Phyllis M. Daugherty | CityWatch | The flyers advise, "In 2017, pit bulls killed 38 humans, 13,000 dogs, 5,000 cats, 20,000 farm animals," and "Pit bulls were originally bred to kill bulls and bears" ... He interviewed Colleen Lynn, a Pit Bull-attack victim herself, who now heads Dogsbite.org, and publishes statistics from dog-bite reports nationwide. She was not surprised...
April 15, 2018
Editorial: Unleash efforts to regulate pit bulls
Herald Staff | Boston Herald | And that is just a snapshot of a few local pit bull attacks. Nationally, a "pit bull attack" Google search will yield a tsunami of results. When are we going to stop pretending? ... The statistics prove that the breed is just too dangerous. According to dogsbite.org, "39 U.S. dog bite-related fatalities occurred in 2017 ... pit bulls contributed to 74 percent..."
April 4, 2018
Woman who almost lost hands in pit bull attack: ‘Don’t blame the breed’
Melissa Hipolit | WTVR | Dr. Cotterell took an artery from Thomas' leg to replace the damaged arteries in her arms ... Cotterell said most of the serious dog bite wounds they see at the hospital are caused by pit bulls. According to the numbers on the website dogsbite.org, roughly two-thirds of people who died due to the dog bites between 2005 and 2017, were bitten by pit bulls...
March 17, 2018
Boyle column: Pit bull attack gets personal this time
John Boyle | Citizen Times | These days, I see it all happening in slow motion, again and again. But when it occurred, the attack came so quickly and furiously that both my wife and I were simply stunned ... The statistics, which pit bulls lovers ignore or discount, do not lie. Here are just a few, compiled by Dogsbite.org (visit their website for documentation and citations)...
February 28, 2018
Nonprofit Releases 2017 Dog Bite Fatality Statistics and Trends from 13-Year Fatality Data Set (2005 to 2017)
DogsBite.org News Release | | Austin, TX, February 28, 2018 -- DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks, releases 2017 U.S. dog bite fatality statistics. Last year, dogs inflicted 39 deadly attacks. Pit bulls accounted for 74% (29) of these deaths, the highest annual death count on record for the breed...
February 4, 2018
Are pit bulls man's best friend or too dangerous?
Zach Barrett | News-Press Now | There has been a longstanding wariness by the public regarding pit bull breeds, but the issue arose again recently when a controversial ad was released discouraging the adoption of pit bulls ... Colleen Lynn created the website Dogbites.org in 2007, and it features dog bite stories and statistics. Lynn believes that the owners of pit bulls...
January 28, 2018
Across metro Denver, pit bull bans have been on the books for years. Now, one community might change that.
John Aguilar | Denver Post | Castle Rock this week will wade into an issue that has vexed metro Denver for decades — should the town lift its ban on pit bulls ... Colleen Lynn, founder of DogsBite.org and the victim of a pit bull attack, said it's not a question of whether other breeds bite too. It's a matter of how much more severe a pit bull's bite is, she said...
January 12, 2018
Death By Dog: 7 People Who Have Been Mauled In The Last Year
Sowmya Krishnamurthy | Oxygen | The dog is known as man's best friend but millions bite their owners and other people each year. CNN reported in 2016 that about 4.5 million dog bites occur each year. Sometimes these attacks can turn fatal. According to DogsBite.org, there were 31 fatal dog attacks in 2016. Pit bulls contributed to 71% of these attacks...
January 2, 2018
Dog Fans Got One Child-Biter Spared; Now They Want the Next One Saved, Too
Jim Schutze | Dallas Observer | By agreeing to spare one dog that had attacked a child, the city weakened its moral and legal authority ... For the other side of that story, I urge you to visit the website of a group called DogsBite.org ... The site posts videos used as courtroom evidence in Canada to show that rehabilitation of vicious pit bulls is a myth...
November 28, 2017
Sergeant Bluff City Council defines options on pit bull ban, defers decision
Ian Richardson | Sioux City Journal | Sergeant Bluff City Council members heard mixed views Tuesday on whether the city's pit bull ban should be kept ... many in the department support keeping the ban, pointing to a statistic on the website DogsBite.org that states pit bulls have accounted for approximately 64-65 percent of dog bite fatalities...
November 1, 2017
The dangerous dog debate
Scott Nolen | AVMA.org | Around 7 p.m. on June 17, 2007, Colleen Lynn was making her way through her Beacon Hill neighborhood in Seattle on a final training run for an upcoming half-marathon. Ahead, a woman walking a dog on a leash stepped off the sidewalk and onto the parking strip with the dog so Lynn could pass. But, as Lynn neared...
October 27, 2017
She's an 'awesome, awesome dog'. And a pit bull mix. Want to adopt her?
Deke Farrow | The Modesto Bee | DogsBite.org is a nonprofit "dedicated to putting the safety of humans before dogs." It runs a "public education website about dangerous dog breeds, chiefly pit bulls." Citing news reports and other criteria, the site reports that "in the 12-year period of 2005 through 2016, canines killed 392 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to...
October 26, 2017
NightSide – The Pit Bull Debate Continues
Dan Rea, Nightside | WBZ | After the tragic killing of a seven-year-old boy over the weekend, members of the Lowell City Council voted last night to look into possible ways for the city to put extra restrictions on pit bulls. Lowell City Councilor Rodney Elliot joins Dan in studio ... also Colleen Lynn, founder of DogBites.org, talks about what the data shows...
October 24, 2017
Time For a B.C. Ban on Pit Bulls
Bill Tieleman | The Tyee | So far this year, fatality reports compiled by advocacy group DogsBite.org show pit bull or mixed-pit bull breeds contributed to 19 deaths. Between 2005 and 2016 there were 392 dog attack fatalities in the U.S., with 65 per cent per cent, or 254 of them, involving pit bulls, the group reports. That's why October 28 is Pit Bull Victim Awareness Day...
October 23, 2017
'It's my baby. It's my baby': Two pit bulls fatally maul 7-year-old boy in Mass., authorities say
Travis M. Andrews | The Washington Post | They're also banned from all military bases in the United States for being a "dangerous dog breed." From 2005 to 2015, pit bull attacks caused 232 deaths, which accounted for 64 percent of all deaths caused by dog bites during that decade, according to the nonprofit organization DogsBite.org. But some argue...
September 17, 2017
Pit bull advocates inundate council inbox before public hearing on breed ban
Alissa Zhu | Springfield News-Leader | A volunteer from an Austin, Texas-based nonprofit called DogsBite.org forwarded an article from a plastic surgeon that talked about the severity of pit bull bites. "The very existence of a non-profit organization to provide comfort and support to children mauled by dogs speaks volumes about a growing public health issue,"...
August 29, 2017
Nature or nurture: Debate over pit bulls growing on social media
Emily DeFeciani | WRGB | Colleen Lynn, President of the nonprofit website DogsBite.org, warns against deciding on a pit bull for a family pet. She calls them "zero margin of error dogs," with a bite that means life or death. "It's designed to inflict maximum damage, and they will continue attacking until death or intervention," she said. Lynn's organization advocates...
July 20, 2017
'Potentially dangerous' pit bull banned from Redondo Beach
David Rosenfeld | Daily Breeze News | A Redondo Beach pit bull deemed potentially dangerous after attacking two dogs in the neighborhood three times has been banned from the city, but its owners are fighting the decision ... Pit bulls and rottweilers also accounted for 76 percent of all fatal attacks reported over a 12-year period from 2005-16, according to DogsBite.org...
June 13, 2017
Police chief, city issue public statement on pit bull ban
Brent Shatto - Estherville Police Chief, Estherville News | It is a fair statement to say that pit bulls are a breed apart and their bark is not worse than the bite. Most canine breeds will give warning before attacking either by barking or growling ... The national statistics on www.DogsBite.org speak volumes. While pit bulls make up only 6 percent of all dogs in the US...
June 3, 2017
After fatal pit bull attack, when will we do something about this vicious breed?
Kerry Dougherty | The Virginian-Pilot | Last week, a Virginia Beach woman, just three months away from her 91st birthday, died ... By the time rescue workers arrived, the woman's intestines were on the floor, Linda told me. Her mother's arms were mangled ... Nationally, about 30 to 40 people die every year from dog attack. DogsBite.org, a nonprofit that tracks dog attacks...
May 13, 2017
Boyle column: Sorry, but some dog breeds are dangerous
John Boyle | Citizen Times | I've written several articles in the past about the dangers of aggressive dogs, particularly pit bulls, and regular readers know I'm not a fan of the breed. Here's why: In 2016, the United States saw 31 dog bite-related fatalities, and pit bulls contributed to 71 percent of the deaths, while making up just 6 percent of the total U.S. dog population...
May 9, 2017
Preliminary Report: Heart attack killed man injured by dogs
Mitch Sneed | The Outlook | Family members have been told that preliminary autopsy results show a heart attack was the likely cause of a Dadeville man's death ... Colleen Lynn, founder and president of dogsbite.org said that hearing that a heart attack may have occurred in this incident often happens in incidents involving dogs. "Thankfully there will be an autopsy...
April 26, 2017
Dayton dog mauling death fuels pit bull debate
Cornelius Frolik | Dayton Daily News | The mauling death of a Dayton man on Tuesday has rekindled the debate about if pit bulls pose more of a threat ...
Canines may partly be a product of their environment, but pit bulls were bred to fight and are capable of inflicting much more severe injuries than other types of dogs when they attack, said Colleen Lynn, founder of Dogsbite.org...
April 2, 2017
New Breed of Police Dogs: Pit Bulls
Tawnell D. Hobbs | The Wall Street Journal | But pit bulls, which are banned in some big cities, such as Denver, or under restrictions in others, have their opponents. "It's how they attack that make them so dangerous," said Colleen Lynn, a victim of a pit bull attack who runs DogsBite.org, and who opposes using pit bulls as police dogs. "Most dogs bite and release..."
March 24, 2017
Pit bull debate renewed after baby killed by family dog
Scott Broom | WUSA | The President of Calvert County's Board of Commissioners says he's in favor of exploring ways to restrict pit bull dog ownership in after an 8-month-old child was killed by his family's dog Thursday ... There were 31 fatal US dog attacks in 2016, according to DogsBite.org, which tracks incidents nationally. Seventy-one percent were linked to pit bulls...
March 24, 2017
'Almost Unspeakable': Maryland Community Mourns After Baby Killed in Dog Attack
Chris Gordon | NBC Washington | "This is one of the worst tragedies that our community has suffered in such a long time. It's almost unspeakable. It's a very, very close, tight-knit community," said Calvert County Commissioner Tom Hejl said ... According to dogsbite.org, there were 31 dog-related deaths nationwide in 2016. Twenty-two of those deaths...
March 16, 2017
More on Pits and the Pit Bull Cult
Gene Lyons | Arkansas Times | Reality being that pit bulls are responsible for the vast majority of fatal human attacks in the U.S. It doesn't matter if I'm an old man who will die soon, as several pit cultists told me ... The website DogsBite.org "recorded 31 fatal dog attacks in 2016. Pit bulls contributed to 71 percent (22) of these deaths, just over 7 times more..."
March 15, 2017
Pit bull ban will remain in Liberal
Elly Grimm | Leader & Times | "There are a number of cities across the country that ban pit bulls, and one of the things I want you to pay attention to in making your decision is the in-house statistics and national statistics. In one of the pie charts provided, titled 'DogsBite.org,' that is data extracted from throughout the country in a period of study from 2005 to 2015...
February 21, 2017
Nonprofit Releases 2016 Dog Bite Fatality Statistics and Trends from 12-Year Dog Bite Fatality Data Set (2005 to 2016)
DogsBite.org News Release | Austin, TX, February 21, 2017 -- DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks, releases 2016 U.S. dog bite fatality statistics. Last year, dogs inflicted 31 deadly attacks. Pit bulls accounted for 71% (22) of these deaths, just over 7 times more than the next closest dog breed...
February 21, 2017
Is it time to ban pit bulls?
Priscilla DeGregory, Natalie Musumeci and Danika Fears | New York Post | Nasty, snarling menaces -- or loyal, lovable dogs? ... "They were selectively bred to execute the killing bite -- to attack without warning," said Colleen Lynn, who runs DogsBite.org. "No growl, bark, or direct stare, and they will continue until death. Those are the three keys that make them more dangerous..."
February 13, 2017
Lake should restrict or scrutinize pit bull adoptions
Lauren Ritchie | Orlando Sentinel | Big changes are in store for the Lake County Animal Shelter, which slowly is making a switch to what's called a "no-kill" facility ... Unfortunately, that's going to be a tough job in a county whose shelter often is bursting at the seams with pit bulls and mixes, the dogs responsible for 64 percent of deaths by mauling...
February 3, 2017
'Not adoptable' pit bull bites man in face at Lake shelter
Jason Ruiter | Orlando Sentinel | Despite being called "aggressive" and "not adoptable," a 52-pound pit bull named Pluto on Thursday bit the face of a man considering adopting the dog during a visit to the Lake County Animal Services shelter, according to records and county officials ... In 2015, pit bulls were responsible for 28 of 34 dog bite-related deaths...
January 18, 2017
Owner of dogs who killed 1 child, critically injured another charged with involuntary manslaughter
Jonathan Andrews and Rebekka Schramm | CBS 46 | According to the CDC, more than 4 million dog bite incidents occur each year. Of those attacks, 800,000 people will have to go to the hospital and half of those are children. According to dogsbite.org, a non-profit group that tracks dog attacks, more than 300 people were killed by dogs in the years 2005 through 2015...
January 11, 2017
Pima animal shelter dropping dog breed labels on cages
Kim Smith | Green Valley News | The next time you rescue a dog from the Pima Animal Care Center you'll have to guess what breed you're adopting. The animal shelter will no longer label dogs by breed ... "A lot of people can ID pit bulls. They're all over the Internet, they get promoted a lot," Lynn said. "People go to shelters and pick them out..."
December 27, 2016
Woman sacrifices herself in dog attack to save best friend's baby
Craig Sailor | The News Tribune | Nationally, pit bulls were responsible for 64 percent of fatal dog attacks between 2005 and 2015, according to dogsbite.org, a dog bite victims' group. A 2015 study at the University of Washington Medical Center found similar numbers for pit bulls and dog attacks. Many U.S. cities, including a dozen in Washington...
December 21, 2016
David Fear was a true hero when he protected woman during dog attack
Editorial board | The Tribune | We expect authorities to handle this fairly, professionally and, because a police officer is involved, with the utmost transparency. That's why we believe authorities should release the name of the dogs' owner. That's also the conclusion of the national nonprofit organization, DogsBite.org, which is dedicated to reducing...
December 21, 2016
City won't change dog law
Katie White | Mourning Journal | Reading from statistics from DogsBite.org, Blakeman said that pit bull dogs killed 20 Americans in 2015 and 25 people so far this year compared to 10 deaths by all dog breeds combined during both years. "If it is mathematically, statistically proven they are more likely to cause a problem than other breeds, I don't know why..."
November 20, 2016
Why do pit bulls attack?
Wesley Muller and John Fitzhugh | SunHerald | Pit bulls make headlines when they attack humans because the injuries are typically severe ... "We accept that we don't have to train a pointing dog to point," Lynn said. "We accept that we don't have to train a retrieving dog to retrieve. "Why do we refuse to accept that we don't have to train a fighting dog to fight?"
November 14, 2016
Miami-Dade To Loosen Bite On Pit Bulls?
Gary Nelson | CBS Miami | They have persuaded county commissioners to reconsider the pit bull law ... An Austin, Texas based group, dogsbite.org, however, cites a study of 11 trauma centers nationwide that it says shows the overwhelming number of dog bite cases are from pit bulls and that pit bulls inflict much more vicious wounds than other breeds...
October 24, 2016
4-year-old girl dies after dog attack
Mark Peterson | WNDU | A 4-year-old girl was attacked and killed by a dog, apparently on the same day it was acquired by the family. It happened Sunday afternoon about 4 p.m. in St. Joseph County, Michigan, at a home near Fish Lake ... According to the website dogsbite.org, there were 34 dog bite deaths nationwide in 2015. The victims included 14 children...
October 3, 2016
Montreal pitbull ban comes into effect amid controversy
Jessica Murphy | BBC News | Montreal's pitbull ban, passed by the city council last week, comes into effect on Monday amid an outcry by animal welfare groups and threats to boycott the city over the law ... According to statistics compiled by DogsBite.org, a US charity that supports such bans, 36 US states and 41 countries worldwide have some form of BSL on the books...
October 1, 2016
Miami-Dade may repeal its 1989 ban on pit bulls
Douglas Hanks | Miami Herald | A Miami-Dade commissioner wants to end the county's nearly 30-year ban on pit bulls and repeal a law that survived a challenge at the ballot box just four years ago ... "We know that when this dog breed attacks, there's a very high likelihood that it will be severe," said Colleen Lynn, founder of dogsbite.org, a nonprofit in Austin...
September 26, 2016
New bill would create "dangerous dogs" registry in Michigan
Bryce Huffman | Michigan Radio | Dogs that bite could end up on a "dangerous dog" registry, and their owners could end up behind bars. That's the idea behind a new bill from State Representative Jon Hoadley ... Michigan had the sixth highest number of fatal dog bites last year. That's according to DogsBite.org, a non-profit that aims to raise awareness...
September 20, 2016
Nonprofit Examines What's Behind the 'Fabled' Click and Bait Web Advertisements of Aggressive Shelter Dogs Available for Adoption at County Shelters
DogsBite.org News Release | Nonprofit examines 34 case files from Sonoma County Animal Services. The investigation shows that in their zeal to increase 'Live Release Rate' by adopting out the otherwise unadoptables, the shelter candy-coats dogs with aggressive behaviors in their advertisements. The comprehensive report of over 7,000 words...
September 1, 2016
Shelter struggles to place pit bulls
Neita Cecil | The Dalles Chronicle | When people come looking for a dog to adopt, the first thing they say is "no pit bulls" .... The website dogsbite.org, which focuses on pit bull attacks, stated that in 2015, pit bulls accounted for 28 of the 34 dog bite fatalities in the U.S., or 82 percent. Pit bulls make up about 6.6 percent of the total U.S. dog population, according to the site...
September 1, 2016
Deadly Conifer pit bull attack sheds light on breed bans in Colorado
Robert Garrison | Denver 7 | The pit bull attack in Conifer Monday that killed Susan Shawl and wounded her 36-year-old son sheds light on a controversy that has many up in arms. Seven communities in Colorado have pit bull bans, including Denver ... Here are the seven communities, according to Dogsbite.org, that bans the breed...
August 23, 2016
Waterford eases ban on pit bulls; vet can decide breed
Bill Laitner | Detroit Free Press | The critics have appeared before, but Waterford hasn't backed down from its ban on pit bulls passed in 1990, said Township Trustee Anthony Bartolotta ... The website of the nonprofit Austin, Texas-based www.dogsbite.org said that, of 34 fatalities caused by dog bites in 2015, pit bulls were involved in 82% of these deaths...
August 18, 2016
Waterford at center of ongoing debate over pit bulls; few communities ban them
Anne Runkle | The Oakland Press | As the Waterford Township Board of Trustees prepares to make changes to an ordinance that bans pit bulls from the community, the debate rages over whether the dogs make good pets ... From 2005 to 2015, canines killed 360 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 64 percent of those deaths, according to the website DogsBite.org...
July 28, 2016
Responsible pet ownership includes ensuring safety
Simi Valley Acron | About 4.5 million dog bites occur each year in the United States, of which roughly 365,000 are serious enough to warrant emergency medical care, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Moreover, DogsBite.org reports that 34 Americans died from dog bite-related injuries in 2015. And pit bulls were to blame in 28 of those cases...
July 13, 2016
Protect yourself from dog-inflicted wounds
Jacqueline Gonzalez | The Shorthorn | Colleen Lynn ran every morning as part of her routine until a leashed pit bull attacked her one morning, sending her to the hospital. The incident turned the Austin resident into an advocate of dog attack victims and inspired her to launch www.DogsBite.org ... "Society doesn't treat dog attack victims very well," Lynn said...
July 1, 2016
Dogs as Weapons
Jack Lessenberry | Michigan Radio | Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy went after the owner, a man with a past criminal record named Geneke Lyons, and attempted to convict him of second-degree murder. But before the case went to the jury, Wayne County Circuit Judge James Callahan refused to allow the jury to consider the second-degree murder charge...
June 25, 2016
Boyle column: Pit bull attack shreds arm, changes minds
John Boyle | Citizen-Times | I also cited some eye-popping statistics from dogsbite.org, including this: In the 10-year period from 2005 to 2014, pit bulls killed 203 Americans and accounted for 62 percent of the total recorded deaths (326) ... It's crucial that owners control the events the dogs are involved in and prevent the "high-arousal" mode from kicking in...
June 10, 2016
Would a pit bull ban have prevented Montreal woman's death after attack?
Ellen Brait | The Globe and Mail | The death of a Montreal woman, who was attacked by a pit bull, has brought a heated debate back into the spotlight: Should pit bull ownership be more widely banned in Canada? ... Colleen Lynn, founder of DogsBite.org, a U.S. dog bite victims' organization, said that "dramatically lowering the population of pit bulls..."
June 6, 2016
Bangor boy identified as victim in fatal dog attack involving pit bull
Nok-Noi Ricker | Bangor Daily News | A Bangor boy has been identified as the victim of a deadly dog attack involving a pit bull Saturday in Corinna, according to Sheriff Troy Morton ... The U.S. saw 34 dog bite-related fatalities in 2015, and pit bulls contributed to 28, or 82 percent of the total, according to Dogsbite.org. There were 360 dog bite-related fatalities...
June 3, 2016
WTVM Editorial 6/3/16: Owners must control powerful pets
Holly Steuart | WTVM | When a pit bull broke from his chain and attacked a 9-year-old Columbus boy last week, his alarming ordeal was enough to scare anyone ... Websites like dogsbite.org say pit bulls caused 82 percent of dog bite fatalities in 2015, even though pit bulls are only about 7 percent of the total U.S. dog population...
May 16, 2016
Dog Bites Insurer
Christopher J. Boggs | Academy Journal Blog | In September 2000, a Vet Med Today Special Report listed the dog breeds most responsible for the 282 bite-related fatalities between 1979 and 1998 ... Likewise, DogsBite.org studied 88 dog bite fatalities occurring over the three-year period 2006-2008. This organization's top five deadly breeds were...
May 4, 2016
County takes on dangerous dogs; city might follow
The Robesonian | The Robeson County Board of Health last week took action that might -- just might -- take a modest bite out of what we see as the problem of pit bulls and pit bull mixes that have in recent years left some people dead and others maimed in our county ... According to dogsbite.org, during 2015 there were 34 people killed by a dog in the...
April 22, 2016
Pit bull kills newborn baby in bed
The Guardian | A pit bull terrier crossbreed dog lying in bed with a San Diego couple bit and killed their three-day-old son when it was startled awake. The parents had been watching television at the time with their newborn and the 44kg (97lb) American Staffordshire ... The Texas-based charity DogsBite.org lists three previous killings of children by pit bulls in the US in 2016...
April 18, 2016
Missouri Law Would Block Cities From Banning Pit Bulls, Other Dog Breeds
Fox News Insider | Cities in Missouri will no longer be able to ban pit bulls, according to a bill advancing in the state legislature ... Colleen Lynn, with the organization DogsBite.org, says that pit bulls are particularly dangerous because they inflict more damage during attacks than other breeds. Lynn and others argue that rules surrounding dog breed...
April 14, 2016
City ponders regulations on 'vicious dogs'
Sarah Willets | The Robesonian | The Lumberton City Council is considering regulating the ownership of certain breeds of dogs. The discussion comes after several dog attacks on children in Lumberton, including one in which a 7-year-old boy was killed ... The council also considered information from DogsBite.org on dog bite fatalities across the nation...
April 10, 2016
Pit bull lovers petition Darke Co. shelter
Erik Martin | The Daily Advocate | "How can I put the citizens of this county at risk?" he added. Colleen Lynn, the founder of DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks, agrees ... "The Darke County shelter director should be admired for his public safety priority," she said. "This is a priority that is being dismantled across...
March 15, 2016
Spon: Mansfield's dog ordinance in need of revision
Emily Dech | Richland Source | "These dogs, although they can be loving pets, are nevertheless unpredictable, and it could only take the shrill of a child or the approach of a stranger or the mood or insecurity of a dog to suddenly, unexpectedly cause them to attack," Spon said. Spon asks that citizens visit www.dogsbite.org and read victims' accounts of pit bull attacks...
March 23, 2016
Rural residents must register dogs of certain breeds by April 1
Ali Holcomb | The Holton Recorder | According to the website www.dogsbite.org, in an 11-year period between 2005 and 2015, canines killed 360 people in the United States. Pit bulls contributed to 64 percent of those deaths. During Monday's Jackson County Commission meeting, the commissioners said they used statistics from the website to confirm the need...
February 28, 2016
No kid should be afraid to go outside because of a dog
Del Stone Jr. | Northwest Florida Daily News | And here is what Dogsbite.org had to say on the very same subject: "Of the 88 fatal dog attacks recorded by DogsBite.org, pit bull type dogs were responsible for 59 percent (52). This is equivalent to a pit bull killing a U.S. citizen every 21 days during this three-year period ... I don't want to see Lockjaw — or any other pit bull...
February 19, 2016
DogsBite.org Releases 2015 Dog Bite Fatality Statistics; Percentage of Deaths Attributed to Pit Bulls Rises to 82% and Other Trends
DogsBite.org News Release | On February 19, DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks, releases its 2015 annual dog bite fatality statistics. Last year, dogs inflicted 34 deadly attacks in the country. Pit bulls contributed to 82% (28), the highest death count recorded for the breed and a 56% (18) rise from 2005...
February 13, 2016
Dougherty: How many deaths will it take until we get pit bulls out of residential areas?
The Virginian-Pilot | Kerry Dougherty | I also know that other dog breeds bite more often than pit bulls. They don't kill more often, however. According to DogsBite.org, which describes itself as a public education website that collects data on dog attacks, there were 42 fatalities from dog bites in 2014 and 64 percent of those – 27 in all – were caused by pit bulls...
January 28, 2016
Pit bulls versus everybody. Should they be banned?
Chastity Pratt Dawsey | Bridge Magazine | But at least two dozen other Michigan municipalities have "breed-specific legislation" or rules that ban or restrict pit bull ownership, according to a list maintained by a group that advocates for victims of serious and fatal dog attacks, Dogsbite.org ... In a debate that can sometimes echo the back-and-forth over gun control...
January 25, 2016
Authorities try to determine how killer dog died
Sarah Willets | The Robesonian | It's the third fatal dog attack in Robeson County since 2012. In 2014, 83-year-old Alemeaner Dial was killed by two family dogs at her home in Rowland ... There were 35 dog-related fatalities in the United States during 2015, including two in North Carolina, according to DogsBite.org, which tracks dog fatalities reported by the media.
January 25, 2016
Inside The Most Vicious Conflict On The Internet
Joseph Bernstein | BuzzFeed | "Tyler is dead because like many young people, Alexandria believes the false myths about pit bulls, primarily pushed by the Pit Bull Propaganda Machine, that deny the breed's purpose bred heritage of bull-baiting and dogfighting. Who cares if Alexandria now finally recognizes the truth? Tyler is already dead." - DogsBite.org Blog...
January 5, 2016
Attacks Keep Coming, Ban Dangerous Dogs in BC Now
Bill Tieleman | The Tyee | Neither B.C. nor Canada keep detailed statistics on dangerous dog attacks that identify breeds, but in the United States in 2015 there were at least 32 human fatalities, with the majority coming from pit bulls, followed by Rottweilers and other breeds or mixed breeds, according to the advocacy group Dogbites.org, which meticulously...
December 31, 2015
Three hospitalized after pit bull–Rottweiler dog goes berserk in Richmond
Charlie Smith | The Georgia Straight | Back then, I reported that DogsBite.org had reported that 176 Americans were killed by pit bulls between 2005 and 2013. DogsBite.org lists 32 people who died last year after being bitten by dogs in the United States. Of those, 28 involved pit bulls or Rottweilers or crosses with these breeds. Most of the victims...
December 3, 2015
OUR OPINION: Grand Forks, other cities need pit bull bans
Korrie Wenzel | Grand Forks Herald | For example, according to statistics compiled on the website fatalpitbullattacks.com, there have been 24 U.S. fatalities related to pit bulls this year alone. The website dogsbite.org shows that in 2014, there were 42 American fatalities attributed to dog attacks. According to the website, 27 of those deaths were blamed on pit bulls...
December 3, 2015
State bill would outlaw local bans on pit bull
Matt Helms and Joe Guillen | Detroit Free Press | So far, 19 states have enacted such prohibitions since the 1980s, but in recent years, such efforts have failed in state legislatures, said Colleen Lynn, president of DogsBite.org, a group she founded in 2007 after being mauled by a pit bull ... "They want us to ignore the heritage of the pit bull breed," Lynn said...
December 3, 2015
Michigan may dump cities' bans on pit bulls
Joel Kurth | The Detroit News | Foes say the numbers don't lie: Pit bulls account for 27 of the 32 fatal attacks this year in the United States, said Colleen Lynn, founder of the Texas-based DogsBite.org, a nonprofit that advocates for breed bans. The tally two deaths this week. Xavier Strickland, 4, of Detroit died after he was walking on the sidewalk...
September 8, 2015
Dog Bite Victims' Group Releases FAQ about Breed-Specific Legislation to Help Inform City Officials and Advocates
DogsBite.org News Release | Austin, TX September 8, 2015 -- DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks, releases a Breed-Specific Legislation FAQ on its website. The new in depth FAQ explains what breed-specific legislation (BSL) encompasses, why it primarily involves pit bulls, how cities and counties enforce...
August 26, 2015
In One Week, Pit Bulls Attack 4 People Across Upstate
Mike Manzoni | WSPA.com | Pit bulls have attacked at least four people across the Upstate within the past week, killing one woman and seriously injuring another one. The attacks, which happened in both Spartanburg and Greenville ... According to DogsBite.org, pit bulls are the most deadly dog breed in the United States, accounting for 64 percent of the 42 fatal dog attacks...
August 25, 2015
When it comes to violent dog attacks, Pit Bulls top the list
Tim Waller | WYFF4.com | WYFF News 4 Investigates' Tim Waller digs into the numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on fatal dog attacks in the country ... [The 10-year period of dog bite-related fatality statistics by DogsBite.org (2005 to 2014) is likely included in this news report because CDC stopped tracking deaths by dog breeds in 1998.]
August 25, 2015
Greenville deputy saves two women from pit bull
Romando Dixson | GreenvilleOnline | A Greenville County deputy shot and killed a dog that attacked and injured two women Tuesday morning, the Sheriff's Office said ... Last year, 42 dog bite-related fatalities occurred in the U.S., according to dogsbite.org. Pits bulls contributed to 27 of those deaths. Fatal pit bull attacks have been in the news recently in the Carolinas...
August 12, 2015
Hogansville man, dog attacked by pit bull
Donny Karr | LaGrange Daily News | According to DogsBite.org, a nonprofit research and education organization that conducts research on severe and fatal dog attacks inflicted by dangerous dog breeds, there have been 18 documented cases in the United States of people who have died in pit bull attacks so far in 2015. Eight of those victims were children age 10 or younger...
August 11, 2015
Pit bulls are disproportionally dangerous. Why is Calgary importing more of them?
Barbara Kay | National Post | Commenting on the Strother case, Colleen Lynn, founder of Dogsbite.org, an advocacy site for victims of dangerous dogs, stated, "Currently, there is no way to reliably test for unpredictable pit bull aggression. The 'state-of-the-art' temperamental assessment test SAFER cannot measure unpredictable aggression, nor can any current test..."
August 4, 2015
Bring Back New West's Pit Bull Law
Bill Tieleman | The Tyee | This year alone in the United States, 14 people have already been killed in pit bull attacks -- including seven children and infants. In 2014 there were 27 people killed by pit bull attacks and 25 in 2013, according to non-profit DogsBite.org, which tracks dog attacks across the U.S. Pit bull breeds accounted for 64 per cent of all dog attack deaths...
July 28, 2015
Nearly half of all shelter dogs of pit variety; Animal Society recommends owners sterilize pets
Christina Elmore and Melissa Boughton | The Post and Courier | "A sterilized dog is not necessarily less dangerous, but it is less likely to roam," Colleen Lynn said ... Lynn also lobbies for mandatory insurance for pit bull owners. "We come back to this issue over and over again. Their simply isn't enough money to put these people back together," Lynn said of the victims...
July 22, 2015
Letter: Difficulty in assessing level of aggression in pit bulls can lead to tragedy
Julie Wall | Post-Bulletin | Either the Asheville Humane Society absolutely failed at assessing the dogs in their shelter, or it has to admit there is currently no accurate way to assess pit-bull-type dogs ... These families know exactly what type of dog killed their loved one. From 2005-2014, 204 people were killed by pit-bull type dogs, according to dogsbite.org...
July 17, 2015
Pit bulls are inappropriate pets for criminals
Mike Dunbar | The Modesto Bee | As we cited in our March 22 editorial, 27 people were killed by pit bulls or close cousins in 2014, according to the website dogsbite.org. Of the 203 deaths-by-dog since 2005, two thirds have been attributed to pit bulls. This is a broader issue than whether a single criminal (assuming he gets out of jail) should be allowed to own a pit bull...
July 13, 2015
Woman dies following pit bull attack
19 Action News | Annie Williams, 71, of Cleveland, died at South Pointe Hospital after being attacked by a pit bull on Pennington Road ... 42 U.S. dog bite-related fatalities occurred in 2014. Despite being regulated in Military Housing areas and over 700 U.S. cities, pit bulls contributed to 64% (27) of these deaths. Pit bulls make up about 6% of the total U.S. dog population...
July 11, 2015
Boyle column: Stats don't lie about dangers of pit bulls
John Boyle | Citizen-Times | When that genetic switch flips, as it did with little Joshua, they detect a threat and have one reaction: to bite until the other animal is dead. Last year, the United States had 42 dog bite-related fatalities, according to dogsbite.org. Pits bulls contributed to 64 percent, or 27 of those deaths. The numbers are screaming at you, like a child under attack...
July 10, 2015
Onus falls on owners to keep dogs under control
Grand Haven Tribune | Granted, some dogs are more prone to violence than others. While many pit bull owners will claim their dogs are cuddly little teddy bears that wouldn't hurt a fly, the numbers don't lie. According to DogsBite.org, from 2005 to 2014, pit bulls killed 203 Americans — or 62 percent of the 326 total deaths over that time period. Rottweilers accounted...
July 8, 2015
Update: Family grieving boy's death in pit bull attack
Sabian Warren | Citizen-Times | According to Dogsbite.org, a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks, in the 10-year period from 2005 to 2014 pit bulls killed 203 Americans and accounted for 62 percent of the total recorded deaths from dog attacks in the U.S. (326). Combined, pit bulls and Rottweilers accounted for 74 percent...
May 31, 2015
Pit bulls can be sweet, but they also figure prominently in Wichita attacks, officials say
Tim Potter | The Wichita Eagle | In Dallas in April, media reported that a family pit bull fatally mauled a 2-month-old boy in his home while his father was outside checking a sprinkler. According to DogsBite.org, of 42 dog bite deaths in the nation in 2014, pit bulls accounted for nearly two-thirds of the fatalities, even though they are only 6 percent of the U.S. dog population...
April 22, 2015
As family mourns, propaganda hides danger of pit bull attacks
Columnist Steve Blow | The Dallas Morning News | A tragic deception has been perpetrated on the American public, says Colleen Lynn of Austin. And the gruesome consequences were seen in Dallas last weekend. In a scene almost too sickening to imagine, a 2-month-old baby in a bouncy seat was attacked and fatally mutilated by the family's pit bull...
April 22, 2015
The cult of the pit
Bill Manson | San Diego Reader | That's when I started paying attention to pits. Reading the stats. Because, it turns out they seriously kill people, too. According to Dogsbite.org, a victims' website, pit bulls mauled to death 176 Americans between 2005 and 2013. In 2013, pit bulls killed 25 of the 32 Americans mauled to death by dogs, or 78 percent...
April 20, 2015
First Quarter Report: Municipalities and Grassroots Prevail Against State Preemption Bills Barring Local Breed-Specific Ordinances
DogsBite.org News Release | During the first quarter of 2015, state preemption bills prohibiting local governments from enacting pit bull ordinances were brought in five states: Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Montana and Washington. In all five states the bills failed. Grassroots advocates helped make this victory possible. In 2014, similar state preemption bills...
March 21, 2015
Our View: Start protecting us from dangerous pit bulls
Editorial | The Modesto Bee | Should we have the right to protect ourselves from vicious dogs? Or do we just roll over, play dead and refuse to speak up because the misguided pit bull lobby makes a lot of noise? ... The website dogsbite.org attributed 27 fatalities to pit bulls in 2014. That was up from 25 in 2013. From 2005 to 2014, pit bulls accounted for 203 deaths...
March 4, 2015
Dog attacks not a crime, but owners will pay
Sharon Coolidge | The Cincinnati Enquirer | Nationwide, from 2005 to the end of 2014, pit bulls killed 203 people in America and accounted for 62% of the 326 recorded deaths from dog attacks, according to the website DogsBite.org, a non-profit that says it puts people's safety first. Combined, the website found, pit bulls and rottweilers accounted for 74%...
March 2, 2015
Tom Loewy: Ryan Maxwell remembered by what we didn't do
Tom Loewy | The Register-Mail | That's what happened to Ryan Maxwell on March 2, 2013. He died in the jaws of a pit bull named Ghost ... Here are some plain facts about pit bulls, from dogsbite.org: 42 U.S. dog bite-related fatalities occurred in 2014. Despite being regulated in military housing areas and over 700 U.S. cities, pit bulls contributed to 64%...
February 23, 2015
Pit bull kills two-year-old girl near Pittsburgh
Associated Press | The Christian Science Monitor | According to the website DogsBite.org, which tracks "dangerous dog breeds": 42 U.S. dog bite-related fatalities occurred in 2014. Despite being regulated in Military Housing areas and over 700 U.S. cities, pit bulls contributed to 64% (27) of these deaths. Pit bulls make up about 6% of the total U.S. dog population...
February 11, 2015
Fatal Dog Attacks Reach Record High in 2014, Off-Property Attacks Surge and Other Annual Trends by DogsBite.org
DogsBite.org News Release | On February 11, DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks, releases its 2014 annual dog bite fatality statistics. Last year, dogs inflicted 42 deadly attacks in the U.S., the highest ever recorded by the Texas-based nonprofit. On average, a fatal dog attack occurred every 8.7 days...
February 11, 2015
Rescued Pit Bulls Fight Stigma by Guiding People in Need
Associated Press | Lancaster Online | "There are over 100 dog breeds that are far more suitable to perform tasks for persons with disabilities than pit bulls, especially rescued pit bulls with unknown backgrounds," said Colleen Lynn, founder and president of DogsBite.org, a national group that tracks bites and works to reduce attacks through bans and other laws...
January 5, 2015
Time to ban pit bulls in B.C.
Bill Tieleman | 24 Hours Vancouver | The non-profit DogBites.org tracks fatal attacks and reports that between 2005 and 2013 pit bulls killed an astonishing 176 Americans - or one every 19 days - representing 62% of all dog bite deaths. Rottweilers, another fighting/guard dog, killed 33 in the same period, for a combined total of 74%. The website chronicles...
January 2, 2015
Metamora couple face February trial in dog mauling
L.L. Brasier | Detroit Free Press | Colleen Lynn, founder of DogsBite.org, a Texas-based nonprofit organization that tracks dog bites across the nation, said police and prosecutors in recent years are growing more aggressive in prosecuting owners of dangerous dogs. "We're seeing it in California, and now in Michigan," she said. The uptick is due, in part...
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