Here is the full update on the thirty-three fatal attacks by dogs in the US over the year 2007. Look through the list, and then we will talk about what we see.
1 - 1/12 –
2 - 1/16 –
3 - 1/24 –
4 - 1/29 – Escambia Co, AL: 18 month old girl-Rottweiller-intact male-tethered.
5 - 2/16 – DeKalb, GA: 2 year old girl-1 Pit Bull mix, 1 Boxer X Bullmastiff mix-intact male, female pregnant-not chained
6 - 3/20 –
7 - 3/23 – Combine, TX: 2 year old girl-2 Pit Bulls-intact male, female with puppies-chained.
8 - 4/23 –
9 - 5/13 –
10 - 5/25 –
11 - 5/25 – El Paso, TX: 95 year old woman-Doberman, German Shepherd-both intact males-no chain
12 - 5/26 –
13 - 6/17 –
14 - 6/29 –
15 - 7/12 – Carroll Co, GA: 5 year old girl-Rottweiller-intact female-chained
16 - 7/23 –
17 - 7/29 –
18 - 8/16 –
19 – 8/18 –
20 - 8/ 31 -
21 – 9/14 –
22, 23 - 9/13 – Iosco Township, MI: 56 year old woman, 91 year old man- 4 American Bulldogs-all intact-no chains
24 - 9/25 – Boger City, NC: 2 year old boy-(2) German Shepherds-chained-intact males
25 - 10/2 – Middleburg, FL: 42 year old woman-(2) Pit Bulls-neutered males-no chain.
26 - 10/7 –
27 – 10/15 – Pontotoc County, OK: 65 year old woman-mixed breeds- (5 to 7), breakdown unk. Loose pack.
28 - 11/01 –
29 - 11/03 –
30 – 11/13 –
31 - 12/13-Dorchester County, SC:
32 – 12/17 – Rabun County, GA: 61 year old woman-Pit Bull-male-chained.
33 – 12/25 – San Bernadino County, CA – 45 year old woman-unknown pack of loose dogs.
Looking at the numbers here, a few things jump out. Twenty-six of thirty-three involved intact animals. Fifteen of thirty-three involved Pit Bulls. Ten of thirty-three involved chained animals. Does that mean intact Pit Bulls are chained up and waiting to kill? Not hardly.What I see these numbers indicating, based on my on-scene investigations, is that irresponsible owners tend not to spay and neuter, tend to chain their animals out for extended times with little or no socialization, and that Pits are currently popular with owners who maintain their animals with less wisdom and care than most of us. Once again, it's the two-legged problem behind the four legger that precipitates the problems.
I also have to point out that eighteen of thirty-three were kids, all eleven or under, mostly under three. If ever there was proof of the need to supervise children with dogs - ALL DOGS - this should be it. Don't expect the DVD player and video games to keep them safe. Pay attention and be a parent, not just a piece of furniture.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this important list. It is noteworthy that it appears as though DBRFs have reached an all-time high in the US even though there are more breed bans in place than ever before.
Statistically though I doubt they have changed much.
With all due respect, I am uncomfortable with generalizations about the kinds of owners of different types and the contributing circumstances.
While there appears to be some commonality, DBRFs are so statistically rare that I'm not convinced that a trend can be indicated.
I fully agree that the most common factor is isolated dogs and unsupervised children; however, to say that people who keep 'pit bulls' or intact dogs appear to be irresponsible is a bit sweeping for my liking.
Estimates by the ADBA put the number of purebred APBTs (one breed) alive in the US at over five million. If we add in the lookalikes mutts and other breeds often dubbed 'pit bulls' we see that we are dealing with a huge proportion of the estimated 72 million dogs currently in the US.
My point is that a small number of fatal incidents in a specific population of that magnitude really doesn't show much about ownership patterns.
I do fully agree, and have said for some time, that owners who fail to seek routine or emergency veterinary care can be more likely to have intact, unvaccinated and often diseased or disordered pets.
I also agree that those who isolate a dog from the family, be it either because of or to create a more territorial, neophobic and therefore aggressive pet seem to crop up in DBRFs more frequently.
That said, the millions of owners who responsibly tether their pets, keep intact dogs and own the breeds and mixed breeds dubbed 'pit bulls' seem to go along without incident.
Frankly, with DBRFs already so statistically rare, I'm not sure that there is much to be done in terms of reducing them further.
There will always be a small minority of people who either don't know or don't care about how they are putting themselves and others at risk, be they dog owners or not.
I'd be interested in your thoughts on this as it is not intended as criticism, just my opinion.
Your work is unique, outstanding and much appreciated by all of us.
Selma
I know it has been a couple of years since you posted this but I am wondering if you can post something again that will help people realize that there are a lot of negligent pit-bull owners living in really ghetto situations with little to no supervision of their children. OF COURSE the kid is going to get bit and of course the dogs are unstable. It is such an obvious issue and so clear to me. i own a pit bull. I am responsible and have socialized her from week 7. I would still never leave her alone with a child because you just can't leave a child with an animal alone.
ReplyDeleteThis came just at the right time I would love to use it (at least make the link available in a paper I am doing) would you be willing to share your email with me so that we may talk about it at some length
ReplyDeleteThanks
J: Sorry I can't directly respond. You can email me at canineaggression@gmail.com. I would be happy to talk.
ReplyDelete