In December of 2013 the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association published the most comprehensive, multifactorial study
on dog bite fatalities to date.
In the first news story link, the County Coroner notes that this is the
3rd Dog Bite Fatality in the county and then notes Ms. Hirt's death on the list.
According to the CDC study, this breed was involved in 60
dog bite fatalities over the period covered in the study from 1979 - 96.
Statistics show that the most vulnerable groups are children and older adults as far
as dog bite fatalities are concerned.
The CDC reported four
dog bite fatalities from 1979 - 96 while the Clifton study reported one death and 39 maimings from 1982 - 2006.
Statistics I cited were taken from the Centers for Disease Control Study
on Dog Bite fatalities - linked above.
2013
dog bite fatalities:: Statistical information gathered by is verifiable through news reports and other criteria.
4) New study points to many factors related to
dog bite fatalities — this post from December highlights a new study that looks at contributing factors in dog bite related fatalities over a 10 year period.
The Center for Disease Control has done extensive studies on the subject of
dog bite fatalities and has found that there are very few cases that meet this profile, further fatalities can not be assigned to a single dog breed.
High profile articles in JAMA and JAVMA have reported
dog bite fatalities and listed breeds involved in such attacks.
In the first 5 months of 2013, pit bulls inflicted 93 percent of
all dog bite fatalities.
The CDC reported six
dog bite fatalities from 1979 - 96.
The CDC reported eight
dog bite fatalities from 1979 - 96.
The following list is compiled from
a dog bite fatality study done by the Center for Disease Control and the Humane Society of the United States, as well as an independent study conducted by Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People.
The Clifton study showed 104
dog bite fatalities and 608 maimings from 1982 - 2006.
The CDC attributed eight
dog bite fatalities to Dobermans from 1979 - 96, while the Clifton study reported three deaths and seven maimings from 1982 - 2006.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) also commented on the study, stating, «In contrast to what has been reported in the news media, the data... can not be used to infer any breed - specific risk for
dog bite fatalities.»
Dog bite fatalities are much more likely to occur in women than men, particularly among the elderly.