Dog Attack Deaths and Maimings, U.S. & Canada: September 1982 to December 31, 2012
Using press reports on dog attacks from the U.S. and Canada between 1982 and 2012, this study lists numbers of deaths and injuries, sorted by breed.
[Abstract excerpted from original source.]
“By compiling U.S. and Canadian press accounts between 1982 and 2012, Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People, shows the breeds most responsible for serious injury and death.
Study highlights The combination of large molosser breeds, including pit bulls, rottweilers, presa canarios, cane corsos, mastiffs, dogo argentinos, fila brasieros, and their mixes:
- 79% of attacks that induce bodily harm
- 72% of attacks to children
- 85% of attack to adults
- 69% of attacks that result in fatalities
- 77% that result in maiming
Discussion notes:
- Even if the pit bull category was “split four ways,” attacks by pit bulls and their closest relatives would still outnumber attacks by any other breed.
- Pit bulls are noteworthy for attacking adults almost as frequently as children. This is a very rare pattern, only seen elsewhere in the bullmastiff/presa canario line.
- If a pit bull or rottweiler has a bad moment, instead of being bitten, often someone is maimed or killed; that has now created off-the-chart actuarial risk.”