It comes as no surprise to anyone familiar with the problem that pit bulls continue to widen their lead over all other breeds in the grisly race of mauling, maiming, and death.
These statistics, going back over 30 years, are compiled and updated on an ongoing basis by the the animal people . Ever since the CDC stopped tracking breed information in 1998, these reports provide the most thorough information available on the subject of serious injuries and deaths from dog attack.
Here are some highlights -
A quick summary of the top 5 breeds in terms of fatalities over the past 30 years shows that Pit bulls lead the second place Rottweilers by a huge margin; attacks from all other breeds are essentially statistical noise in comparison.
At the low end of the scale, statistically safe breeds - which accounted for 1 death or less over the 30 year period - include: Anatolian Shepherd, Pug, Greyhound, Great Pyrenees, and Weimaraner.
Since pit bulls are absolutely off the chart in the statistics, compared to any other breed, pit bull advocacy groups invariably attack these reports, as well as any other reports that mention breed, since they feel that such specific reports reflect badly on pit bulls, and they want the breed information suppressed. Unable to suppress the information, they instead seek to discredit any sources that mention it. They typically attack the credibility, the methodology or competence of the person or organization presenting the information, and often claim that the media is out to get pit bulls. Merritt Clifton answers for the animal people:
"There is a persistent allegation by pit bull terrier advocates that pit bulls are over-represented among reported dog attack deaths and maimings because of misidentifications or because 'pit bull' is, according to them, a generic term covering several similar types of dog. However, the frequency of pit bull attacks among these worst in 10,000 cases is so disproportionate that even if half of the attacks in the pit bull category were misattributed, or even if the pit bull category was split three ways, attacks by pit bulls and their closest relatives would still outnumber attacks by any other breed.
There is also a persistent allegation by pit bull terrier advocates that the use of media accounts as a data source is somehow suspect. Reality is that media coverage incorporates information from police reports, animal control reports, witness accounts, victim accounts in many instances, and hospital reports. Media coverage is, in short, multi-sourced, unlike reports from any single source."
The animal people have been working to benefit animals and to bring the facts to people who care. Please consider sending them a donation.
You can download a copy of the full report here
i just don't understand how the nutters can blame the high incidence of pit bull mayhem on their popularity and not work to decrease their popularity.
ReplyDeleteThey haven't been dubbed NUTTERS for nothin'...
DeleteThere is no understanding nutters.. that's why they were dubbed nutters
DeleteThere defense is lies, denial, and diminishing the worth of the victims.
I hope the pit bull advocates get to see this page... if they are still CRAZY enough to believe pit bulls should be kept in society then they are as psychopathic as their precious dogs. I am shocked, outraged and profoundly upset to see a child so horrifically traumatized / scarred for life and as a mother will FIGHT TO GET THESE DOGS AWAY FROM SOCIETY . HORRENDOUS !!!
DeleteI agree Gill.. It's horrific
DeleteJake, thank you for this. Comparing the October 28, 2012 statistics to those published on March 10, 2012 is alarming. In those six months, pit bulls and their close mixes have killed twenty four people. That's one every week. If we add deaths inflicted by Presas, Rottweilers, Cane Corsos, Filas, the total is twenty eight dead -- one every 6.5 days these past six months.
ReplyDeleteLast year, it was one dead approximately every other week. The rate of killing by pit bulls has doubled in a single year! We need to get this fact out there.
With all the shelter give-aways, politicians objecting to even the simplest of measures, the ABA now pimping for pit bulls, and so on, I dread to think what 2013 is going to be like.
Excellent point, Dawn. And how can they blame pit bull maulings on the owner and not work to regulate or limit who can own them. Instead they hand them out for free in on-the-spot adoptions.
ReplyDeleteyep, that too.
Deletealso this number is catagorizing several breeds of dogs to one breed of dog. pit bull isnt a breed there are several breeds that people deem pit bulls compared to rotweillers, german shepards so what type of pitbull do you people deem viscous?
ReplyDeletehey sandra, glen bui grouped the huskies, malamutes, wolf hybrids and GSDs together to try to make a point. as you can see above, he failed.
Delete@Sandra -
ReplyDeleteAs the report states, pit bull is not a breed but a type designation for the canines created in 1800s UK for the purpose of killing dogs in the pit. The first "pit bull" was the staffordshire terrier. When dog fighters brought the staffordshire terrier to the new world, the renamed them "american staffordshire terriers" and they can also be registered as "american pit bull terriers". So that's 3 names, all referred to as pit bulls. There are breeds related or similar to pit bulls e.g. pit mixes and american bulldogs. Those have not been counted in the pit bull totals.
If you're implying that the reason pit bulls kill their owners in a surprise attack more often than all other dogs is simply that there are so many of them, it is pointed out that large retrievers exist in at least the same numbers as pit bulls - and there are absolutely zero large retrievers on record as having killed their owners.
Interesting report!
ReplyDeleteIt's deliciously ironic to me that while pit bulls are of all canines the absolute most deadly to humans, and Great Pyrenees are among the safest, I've seen Great Pyrenees and other livestock guardian breeds kill pit bulls when attacked by them.
Pit bulls were bred to torture and kill without mercy, while Livestock Guardians were bred to protect weaker creatures. But when the dumb ass pit bull goes after a livestock guardian, it gets killed.
Epic fail for the pit bull.
My first reply didnt go through for some reason. I stated that I am a nutter as you people would say and I believe in decreasing the numbers of these dogs. I think that there should be laws and rules to get one and not every dummy in the street should be allowed to get one. I believe that they should be fixed and population should be monitered as well. Again as I say all the time I dont blame the victims that are attacked by these dogs but the owners that are caring for them. Plenty of people have pits that go their entire lives without an attack on someone so how do you people that hate them so much explain that. Oh and by the way my nephew was attacked by a chow and had his whole neck ripped off and I have some friends that were viciously attacked by rottweilers so should i be on some hate mission against them??
ReplyDelete@Sandra -
ReplyDeleteIf you believe in decreasing the numbers of pit bulls you sound like a rational human being. Shelters all currently stuffed with pit bulls, lying to people to try to trick them into taking home pit bulls labelled as "lab mixes", 40 million pounds of pit bull carcasses in the landfills every year - yes, it's all a bit much. But most pit fans see no problem here and want only to ensure that there are no limits on breeding them or on who can own them.
You mention that "plenty of people have pits" that don't attack anyone. (do they injure or kill other animals?) But that really doesn't prove anything. We already know pit bulls can and do act like normal dogs. Until they don't - and therein lines the problem - Sudden, random, unpredictable violence - a specific pit bull problem.
If you keep up with the news, and read about the multiple pit bull attacks that occur every day, you'll come to recognize a recurring theme. After virtually every pit bull attack, friends and family invariably say "it never showed any sign of aggression before". They say "it always seemed friendly" - until it killed the poor poodle, or ripped the arm off the 94 year old neighbor who was just going to her mailbox, or tore the owners face off. There was a recent case where a pit bull had seemed fine for 8 years before killing its owner.
Since virtually every one of the pit bulls in these attack cases was considered to be perfectly safe, and trusted right up until the moment of the attack, does it really mean anything at all when pibble owner swears that pibble is safe because "he's never shown any sign of aggression"?
You complain "you people hate pit bulls" - how sad if you think that's what it's all about. It's not about hating pit bulls, it's about being sane and honest and not fooling ourselves. We don't hate rabid dogs either, but we are not going to perpetuate lies and misinformation, and claim that rabid dogs are "just dogs" and that all they need is love.
Re: Chows. Yes, Chows can be aggressive and are not for everyone. In rare cases, Chow attacks have even been fatal. But the amount of damage done by chows over the past 30 years is a mere rounding error compared to the bloody record of injuries, maimings and deaths from pit bulls during the same period.
Re: Rottweilers. Yes, Rottweilers can be dangerous also - in fact they are second only to pit bulls in terms of human injuries and deaths - a very, distant second - and all other breeds are far below either of them in the death toll.
I guess I'm baffled as to how anyone could fail to see that a breed of canine developed over hundreds of years of selection specifically for violent blood sport is going to be dangerous.
Finally, why do you think that stating factual information is somehow a "hate mission". If we state that it's dangerous to swim with crocodiles, does that mean we are on a "hate mission" against crocodiles?
Inquiring minds want to know!
Thank you Jake!! Finally, some rational statements backed up with REAL statistics. I have been in the animal control field for many, many years and I am sick to death of people defending these dogs. Including co-workers who see the same damage I see weekly done by these dogs. The dogs are dangerous and should be treated as such by their owners. If the owners contained them properly(and by contained I mean a leash attached to someone strong enough and smart enough to hold on to the dog) there would be very few incidents. I interview owners after attacks several times a month and EVERY single owner says "he/she never did anything like this before". But somewhere along the way someone warned them and they failed to listen. The attacks I see aren't from "gangbanger" types or "trashy types" they are typical suburban families who have never abused the dogs. And the problem has gotten worse over the years, I believe in part to the DENIAL of most "rescue" people who insist they have a "bad rap". B@#$S*&^!! You want to own one and change peoples minds? THEN DON'T DENY THE DAMAGE THE DOG CAN DO AND TREAT IT AS SUCH!!! Keep it under control and don't deny that it can and may cause horrific damage. Don't leave it outside unattended, I have seen dogs scale a six foot fence like it was nothing, don't let it play with your kids friends(pits have a high prey drive and screaming children seem to be able to kick that drive into gear), don't take it to dog parks(pits are notoriously bad at reading other dogs body language), and DON'T trust it with your sleeping baby(no baby should be left with any dog in the room without supervision). IF those owners were honest with themseleves then they would prevent these attacks from occuring and they would have to resort to throwing chihuahuas under the bus and the "nanny dog" myth. I would rather be mauled by a pack of chihuahuas then one pit bull. The ignorance lies in the denial of genetic predisposition. These dogs were chosen by people for dog fighting because they were predisposed to aggressive tendencies. Not unlike the border collie who will herd anything in sight whether it has been trained or not. The denial in the owners of this breed is unlike that of any other breed. I like shepherds but I readily admit that I can not train the protective instinct out of them. Huskies run, beagles howl, chows are just not nice.....but you don't see chow owners pretending their dogs are friendly mush balls. You don't see akita owners saying its the way you raise them. KNOW WHAT YOU OWN and be cognizant of the genetics at all times and you likely won't have a problem or if you do, the dog will just maul you inside your home, if you have kept it properly contained. THANKS AGAIN JAKE!!!
DeleteMOst people hate them. We arent oblivious that they can be dangerous. A horse can be dangerous, any large animal can kill. I have owned pits and had them as a child since I was a baby and never been bitten and neither have my children so I must be doing something right. As with pit bull and rotweiler bites. First they are more popular dogs so there are more of them around leaving room for this kind of stuff. Pits are the most abused and neglected breeds leaving ample room for error. I wish instead of banning a breed of dog that people would work towards banning negligence to animals causing things to go wrong. Also there are 25 breeds of dogs that fit into the catagory as "pit bull" so of course the rates would be higher.
ReplyDelete”Pit bull” is NOT a breed. It's a generic term often used to describe all dogs with similar traits and characteristics known to the public as "pit bulls." When we use the term “pit bull” here, it should be understood to encompass American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and mixes of those breeds.
Pit bulls are wonderful, loving animals that deserve the chance to have a good life.
Pit bulls have physical and mental characteristics that make them excellent partners for responsible, active and caring owners. These same outstanding qualities can, however, be challenging for people who don't have a lot of experience with dog ownership or have limited understanding of the breed. Luckily, pit bulls are intelligent, very responsive to training, and, above all, eager to please. Therefore, pit bulls should be enrolled in obedience classes as soon as they are up-to-date on their shots. (Pit bulls are susceptible to parvovirus, so it is important that they receive all their vaccinations before coming into contact with other dogs or entering areas of high canine traffic.) A well-behaved pit bull is the best way to fight breed prejudice and misconceptions.
Pit bulls can do well in an urban environment, provided they have enough exercise and other positive outlets for their energy. Many pit bulls are easygoing couch potatoes, but like all terriers, they can also be somewhat rambunctious until they mature. Maturity can come relatively late with this breed (two to three years old in some cases). Pit bulls remain playful throughout their lives and have a great sense of humor. True clowns at heart, these dogs will make you laugh like no other.
Pit bulls are energetic, agile, and strong. They are also very resourceful and driven. Determination is one of their most notable traits: They put their heart and soul into whatever they set out to do, whether it is escaping an inadequately fenced yard to explore the neighborhood, destroying your new couch if left home alone without a proper outlet to combat boredom, or climbing into your lap to shower you with kisses!
As Stahlkuppe (1995) writes: "The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT), or the AmStaff, is certainly not the right pet for everyone. Being a powerful dog, it will require sufficient and adequate control. Some prospective elderly owners or children will not be able to supply that control...
“An insecure person who wants only an aggressive dog to bolster some personal human inadequacy should never become an owner of one of these dogs. An uncaring or negligent person should not buy an AmStaff or an APBT (or any other dog for that matter)".
People put so much heart into banning something they know little about.
Thank you!!!!! Someone with some sense here!
DeleteNow go to the bottom of this page and use common sense http://www.dontbullymybreed.org/
ReplyDeleteThere are over 5 million pit bulls in the world so there are more attacks BUT only a 0.00125% chance of getting attacked by one. There are 900,000 rottweilers yet there is a 0.00433% chance of being attacked by them. This being said, you are more likely to get attacked by a rotty than a pit. We are not ignorant to the problem. But we also know the hands that these dogs are being placed in and that is what we need to prevent. even ASPCA and AKC say that BSL wont work. 97% of attacks were by unnuetered or unspayed pits. THAT IS THE ISSUE! Careless owners not spaying or nuetering their pets or negligence. Our shelters here wont let anyone own a pit. there are strict rules here to be able to adopt a pit and I think that should be worldwide.
Sandra, your comments are cut-and-paste. You use the breed specific advocacy website "don't bully my breed" as back up. This is laughable. Do you really think that unbiased information is available there?
ReplyDeleteBest Friends Animal Society, which is as hard core as you get in promotion of pit bulls gives us the figure of 7.2% as the current percentage of dogs in America that are pit bulls. In 2011 there were thirty one Americans killed by dogs, of those thirty one dead, twenty four were killed by pit bulls. That works out to one American killed by a pit bull every two weeks, but feel free to check my math.
There are lots of Beagles, and Poodles, and Yorkies that have not been neutered or spayed but there is no yearly total of folks killed by these dogs.
The ASPCA is a PAC, they bring in millions of dollars a year from the dog lobby, the AKC is in the business of dogs, it is in their best financial interest to keep dogs completely unregulated. Their opinions on this issue are tainted by self interest.
You have said "Most people hate them. We aren't oblivious that they can be dangerous." If pit bull advocates admit that the dogs are dangerous in "the wrong hands" then pit bull advocates need to stop breeding so many pit bulls.
@Sandra -
ReplyDeleteSome of your comments are merely repeating what I said, while other comments you made are questionable at best.
You claim that pit bulls are the most abused and neglected type of dog, but I've seen absolutely no evidence for that. I know for a fact that beagles and greyhounds suffer far worse abuse and neglect than pit bulls, but where are the beagle attacks? When was the last time a greyhound killed or even injured someone?
I'm not sure what you were hoping to prove with the Rottweiler statistics, but if you're somehow trying to say that pit bulls kill and maim so many people simply because there are so many of them, that is demonstrably false. The Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog in America. Large retrievers exist in at least similar numbers as pit bull type dogs, and yet the difference in the violence of the two types of dogs is astounding. But again, this should not come as a surprise to anyone. On the one hand, you have a type of dog bred to retrieve waterfowl, with a soft mouth. On the other hand, you have a type of canine bred specifically for violence, torture and death, through several hundred years of violent blood sport in the UK where the "bull and terrier" - i.e. the pit fighting bulldog aka the "staffordshire terrier" was created. Of course such a creature is going to be wired differently from a normal dog.
BTW you mentioned 25 breeds of dogs that were called pit bulls - please enumerate them. The staffordshire terrier was dubbed the "american staffordshire terrier" by pit fighters in the USA. The american staffordshire terrier can also be registered as an american pit bull terrier. So that's 3 "breeds", but actually just 3 instances of the same basic animal, created by the sadist animal torturers of the UK. So, what exactly are the other 22 types of dog that you consider pit bulls?
If you intend to say that pit bulls injure, maim and kill so many people, innocent pets and livestock simply because they are physically capable of doing so, that demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of dogs.
There are dogs which are larger and stronger than pit bulls, with higher bite force (I'm thinking of the livestock guardian breeds here, and certain Spitz breeds) that can and do kill pit bulls when attacked by them - but generally speaking they do not attack innocent 3rd parties, and they never kill their owners - as we know, killing the owner in a surprise attack is a pit bull specialty.
You made a lot of statements about how wonderful pit bulls are, but the only thing wonderful about them is that they are dogs. All the things you celebrate in pit bulls are the things they have in common with all dogs. But you deny the very real negative traits that make them so different from normal dogs, and this is obvious to a lot more people than you think.
Pit bulls have killed more american children than all other breed combined - and yet you think this makes them "great with children"? Sorry, I just don't see the logic there.
How sad that this data is already obsolete by THREE more deaths since its publication just 14 days ago.
ReplyDeleteRecord carnage, and that is with UNDERREPORTING!
A energy drink supposedly linked to a few human deaths out of millions upon millions sold is being investigated. Meanwhile hundreds of people dead. thousands maimed, and thousands upon thousands of pets
dead or maimed by pit bulls and yet they are being touted as a family pet...
@ Sandra
ReplyDelete"Pit bulls are wonderful, loving animals that deserve the chance to have a good life."
I stopped reading your post when I reached the above quoted text. Its clear that you are still in dreamland. They are not wonderful and they are not loving. They are dangerous, unstable, & unpredictable animals that on impulse will attack people and other animals. If there is one animal that should be driven to extinction, its the pit bull terrier.
Haven't you guys noticed if the media cant tell what kind of dog attacked they just call it a Pitbull.Pitbulls arent a breed.They are American Pitbull terriers,American Bulldog,Staffordshire terriers,Pitbull Terrier.And other breeds.So stop blaming a breed that doesn't exsist
ReplyDelete