According to statistics released on January 4, 2012 by DogsBite.org, 31 people died in the United States in 2011 as a result of dog bites. Pit bull or pit bull mix dogs were responsible for 71% of the fatal attacks. Notably, adults fell victim to dog bite attacks over twice as much as children. Of the 22 people killed by pit bulls, 15 were 32-76 years of age while 7 were 5 years of age or younger.
2011 also saw an increase in the number of people killed by dogs they owned. Eight of the fatal dog bite attacks recorded in 2011 involved a fatal injury inflicted by a family dog upon its primary caretaker. Seven of these attacks involved pit bulls.
Over all, 58% of the 2011 fatal attacks occurred to adults and 42% occurred to children. Of the children, 62% of the victims were 1 year old or younger.
So far in 2012, Dogsbite.org has recorded 10 fatalities due to dog bites. Seven of these victims were children, the oldest of which was 6 years old and the youngest only 2 days old. Of the adult victims, one was an 84-year-old woman and one was a 92-year-old man who was attacked in his front yard.
DogsBite.org is a national dog bite victims’ group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks and educating the public about dangerous dogs.
Source: Dogsbite.org, 2011 Statistics.