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Dog Bite-Related Fatalities

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Home  ›  Injurious Dog Bites  ›  Dog Bite-Related Fatalities

For a comprehensive review of the dog bite-related fatality literature, please see National Canine Research Council's complete analysis here.


Multiple, co-occurring factors identified

The co-occurring factors are potentially preventable

Family dogs were rarely involved

Breed was not one of the factors identified

The methods used in this study can lead to better prevention 

DBRFs are extremely rare

Responsible Pet Ownership is the key to injury prevention

National Canine Research Council Protocol: Definition of a DBRF

National Canine Research Council Annual DBRF reports and summaries 2009-2018

 

Multiple, co-occurring factors identified

In December, 2013, The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association) published the most comprehensive multifactorial study of dog bite-related fatalities[1] (DBRFs) to be completed since the subject was first studied in the 1970’s. It is based on investigative techniques not previously employed in dog bite or DBRF studies and identified a significant co-occurrence of multiple potentially preventable factors. A follow-up report [2] combined the findings from the 2000-2009 study with the period immediately following, 2010-2015.

The study and follow-up results confirmed the multifaceted approach to dog bite prevention recommended by virtually all previous studies, as well as by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Veterinary Medical Association.


 

The co-occurring factors are potentially preventable

Based on an analysis of all DBRFs known to have occurred over a sixteen-year period (2000-2015), a striking co-occurrence of multiple, controllable factors was identified:
  • no able-bodied person being present to intervene (86.9%);
  • the victim having no familiar relationship with the dog(s) (83.7%);
  • the dog(s) owner failing to neuter/spay the dog(s) (77.9%);
  • a victim’s compromised ability, whether based on age or physical condition, to manage their interactions with the dog(s) (68.7%);
  • the owner keeping dog(s) as resident dog(s), rather than as family pet(s) (70.4%);
  • the owner’s prior mismanagement of the dog(s) (39.3%);
  • the owner’s abuse or neglect of dog(s) (20.6%).
Four or more of these factors were present in 75.5% of the cases.
 

 

Family dogs were rarely involved

70.4% of the DBRFs from 2000-2015 involved dogs that were not kept as family pets; rather they were only resident on the property. The distinction between a resident dog and a family dog was first proposed years ago by National Canine Research Council’s Karen Delise. Dogs are predisposed to form attachments with people, to become dependent on people, and to rely upon their guidance in unfamiliar situations. While it is extremely rare that dogs living as either resident dogs or as family pets ever inflict serious injuries on humans, dogs not afforded the opportunity for regular, positive interaction with people may be more likely, in situations they perceive as stressful or threatening, to behave in ways primarily to protect themselves. For additional information, please read "Resident vs. Family Dog: What is the Difference?": 

Resident v Family Dog.jpg

Resident Dog v. Family Dog

Resident-vs-Family-Dog-2016.pdf

Resident-vs-Family-Dog-2016.pdf

 

Breed was not one of the factors identified

The authors report that the breed of the dog or dogs could not be reliably identified in more than 80% of cases. News accounts disagreed with each other and/or with animal control reports in a significant number of incidents, casting doubt on the reliability of breed attributions and more generally for using media reports as a primary source of data for scientific studies. In only 18.2% of the cases in this study could these researchers make a valid determination that the animal was a member of a distinct, recognized breed. 


 

The methods used in this study can lead to better prevention 

The trend in prevention of dog bites continues to shift in favor improved ownership and husbandry practices, better understanding of dog behavior, education of parents and children regarding safety around dogs, and consistent enforcement of dangerous dog/reckless owner ordinances in communities. Having reliably identified the potentially preventable factors that co-occurred in their case file, the authors recommend their coding method as a way of enhancing the quantity and quality of information compiled in investigation of any serious dog bite-related injuries.

This study and follow-up report, and their comprehensive methodology offer an excellent opportunity for policy makers, physicians, journalists, indeed, anyone concerned with the prevention of dog bite-related injuries, to develop an understanding of the multifactorial nature of serious and fatal incidents. For additional information on the 2000-2009 study, please read "Potentially preventable husbandry factors co-occur in most dog bite-related fatalities":

Potentially Preventable Husbandry Factors CoOccur in Most Dog Bite Related Fatalities.jpg

Potentially-Preventable-Husbandry-Factors-Co-occur-in-Most-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities-2015.pdf

Potentially-Preventable-Husbandry-Factors-Co-occur-in-Most-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities-2015.pdf

For additional information on the follow-up report, please read "Update: Dog Bite-Related Fatalities in the United States, 2000-2015":

DBRF-2000-2015-Update .jpg

Update Dog Bite-Related Fatalities in the United States 2000-2015

Update-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities-In-The-United-States-2000-2015.pdf

Update-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities-In-The-United-States-2000-2015.pdf

Appendix 1

Appendix-1.jpg

Appendix 1

Appendix-1-Coding-Form.pdf

Appendix-1-Coding-Form.pdf

 

DBRFs are extremely rare

DBRFs have always been exceedingly rare, though they can attract the kind of publicity that creates an impression that they are more prevalent than they actually are. The chart below shows the number for some common and uncommon injury-related fatalities for 2018 (2018 is the most recent year which CDC fatality counts are available).

Comparison of Injury Fatalities in the United States - 2018.png

National Canine Research Council Comparison of Injury Fatalities in the United States

Sources for this graph [3]


 

Responsible pet ownership is the key to injury prevention

All dog owners have an unequivocal responsibility for humane care, custody and control: providing a license and permanent id; spaying or neutering their dogs; providing training, socialization, proper diet, and medical care; and not allowing a pet to become a threat or a nuisance.

Increased awareness of these responsibilities is reflected in the percentage of DBRF investigations that result in criminal prosecutions of the owners and caretakers (compiled as part of National Canine Research Council’s exhaustive investigation of each reported case).               

Percentage of Owners and Caretakers Criminally Charged thru 2018.png

Percentage of Owners and Caretakes Criminally Charged for Dog Bite Related Fatalities thru 2018

Sources for this graph[4]


 

National Canine Research Council Protocol: Definiton of a DBRF

A DBRF was defined as a death determined by a coroner or medical examiner to be resulting from the mechanical trauma of a dog bite (cause or contributory factor). Persons dying of causes such as infection following a dog bite or other trauma associated with a dog-related incident (eg, a fall) were not considered DBRFs.


 

National Canine Research Council annual DBRF reports and summaries

We strive to understand the circumstances surrounding each case carefully and correctly, in an attempt to increase understanding that can lead to effective prevention.This careful investigative process takes time, so each report is available approximately twelve months after the end of the year.

2018

2018-DBRF.png

2018 Final Dog Bite Related Fatality

2018 Final Report

Final-Report-on-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities-2018.pdf

Final-Report-on-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities-2018.pdf

2017

2017 Final DBRF Report Thumbnail.jpg

2017 Final DBRF Report Thumbnail

2017 Final Report

Final-Report-on-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities-2017.pdf

Final-Report-on-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities-2017.pdf

2016

Final-Report-on-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities-2016.jpg

Final Report on Dog Bite Related Fatalities 2016

2016 Final Report

Final-Report-on-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities-2016.pdf

Final-Report-on-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities-2016.pdf

2015

2015 Final Report on DBRFs.jpg

2015 Final Report on Dog Bite-Related Fatalities. National Canine Research Council

2015 Final Report

Final Report on Dog Bite Related Fatalities 2015.pdf

Final Report on Dog Bite Related Fatalities 2015.pdf

2014

Final Report on Dog Bite-Related Fatalities 2014.jpg

National Canine Research Council Final Report on Dog Bite-Related Fatalities 2014

2014 Final Report

Final-Report-on-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities-2014.pdf

Final-Report-on-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities-2014.pdf

 

2013

Final-Report-on-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities-2013

2013 Final Report 

Final-Report-DBRF-2013.pdf

Final-Report-DBRF-2013.pdf

2012

2012-Summary-Report-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities

 2012 Summary Report (2000-2012) 

Summary-Report-DBRFs-2000-2012.pdf

Summary-Report-DBRFs-2000-2012.pdf

 

2011

2011-Investigative-Reports-on-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities

2011 Final Investigative Report

Final-Report-DBRF-2013.pdf

Final-Report-DBRF-2013.pdf

 

2010

2010-Investigative-Reports-on-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities

2010 Final Investigative Report

Final-Report-DBRF-2010.pdf

Final-Report-DBRF-2010.pdf

Special Investigative Reports on 2010 Cases Originally Reported to be DBRFs

Special-Report-Ohio

Special Report Ohio

Special-Report-OH-2010.pdf

Special-Report-OH-2010.pdf

   

Special-Report-South-Carolina



Special Report South Carolina

Special-Report-SC-2010.pdf

Special-Report-SC-2010.pdf

2009

2009-Investigative-Reports-for-Dog-Bite-Related-Fatalities

2009 Final Investigative Report

Final-Report-DBRF-2009.pdf

Final-Report-DBRF-2009.pdf

 

Updated March 4, 2020

 

SOURCES and NOTES:


1. Patronek, G.J., Sacks, J.J., Delise, K.M., Cleary, D.V., & Marder, A.R. (2013). Co-occurrence of potentially preventable factors in 256 dog bite-related fatalities in the United States (2000-2009). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 243(12), 1726-1736. 
2. National Canine Research Council. (2018). Update: Dog Bite-Related Fatalities in the United States, 2000-2015. Retrieved from: https://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/sites/default/files/Update...
3. 
Unintentional Poisoning Fatalities
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Detailed Mortality, Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2018. CDC Wonder Online Database. Retrieved from: https://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html
Query: Injury Intent: Unintentional; Injury Mechanism: Poisoning; Year: 2018.
Unintentional Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Detailed Mortality, Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2018. CDC Wonder Online Database. Retrieved from: https://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html
Query: Injury Intent: Unintentional; Injury Mechanism: Motor Vehicle Traffic; Year: 2018.
Unintentional Fatalities from Falls
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Detailed Mortality, Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2018. CDC Wonder Online Database. Retrieved from: https://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html
Query: Injury Intent: Unintentional; Injury Mechanism: Fall; Year: 2018.
Homicide
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Detailed Mortality, Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2018. CDC Wonder Online Database. Retrieved from: https://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html
Query: Injury Intent: Homicide; Injury Mechanism: All Causes of Death; Year: 2018.
Unintentional Fatalities from Drowning
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Detailed Mortality, Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2018. CDC Wonder Online Database. Retrieved from: https://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html
Query: Injury Intent: Unintentional; Injury Mechanism: Drowning; Year: 2018.
Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities
Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Children’s Bureau. (2020). Child Maltreatment 2018. Retrieved from: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/cm2018.pdf
Unintentional Pedestrian Fatalities
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Detailed Mortality, Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2018. CDC Wonder Online Database. Retrieved from: https://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html
Query: Injury Intent: Unintentional; Injury Mechanism: Other Pedestrian; Year: 2018. 
Dog Bite-Related Fatalities
National Canine Research Council. (2020). Final Report on Dog Bite-Related Fatalities. 2018. Retrieved from: https://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/sites/default/files/Final-...
4. National Canine Research Council. (2020).
  • Reported bites decreasing
  • Medically attended dog bites
  • Causes and Prevention
  • Dog Bite-Related Fatalities

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