rodney the pitbull : Fatal Attacks Study
All the statistics listed at the bottom of the page are taken from "Fatal Dog Attacks: The Stories Behind the Statistics" by Karen Delise.
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| The statistics listed were taken out of the book shown above. Everything else is what I have concluded and what my opinions and views are regarding these statistics and the stories behind them. Please get this book and read it in its entirety. It lists many other breeds and has various other information and statistics as per fatal dog attacks. |
Cases of fatal Pit bull attacks 1965-2001 |
| I have separated all the pit bull, or pit bull type, attacks from the other 431. Pit bulls and pit bull types, account for 90 of these fatalities. However, I urge you to just dig a little bit deeper. Not to expect you to forgive these deaths but to actually realize who should be held responsible for them. Also notice the increase as years go by and the pit bull becomes more and more "popular" in the states. |
| Like I quoted before from Diane Jessup, “A dog’s behavior is bound by it’s genetics, its training and it’s management, all things which it’s owner has control over.” When reading the information below, keep in mind the following: |
-31 cases involving dogs chained or tied outside. |
| -16 cases involving loose dogs. |
| -8 cases involving trained guard or fighting dogs. |
| -31 cases in which the victim entered the yard, territory, of the dog. |
| -2 cases in which the dogs were used in a murder. |
Also, when digging deeper, you can see the situations in which there were multiple dogs, most often chained outside within close proximity of each other. Some of the same situations involve newly acquired dogs. In a lot of the cases these dogs are unaltered and of the opposite sex. With that, I can say that females in estrus surrounded by unaltered males, is a recipe for disaster, especially with curious unsupervised children around. |
| Some dogs are very territorial, and for some one to “intrude” on their property would be a big mistake. It could be an actual intruder or maybe "Bill", the next door neighbor. Either way they are uninvited. In a lot of these cases these dogs are properly housed and taken care of. Put aside poor temperament, unsoundness, training and being altered or not, these people are not supposed to be there. As unfortunate as it may be a young child shouldn’t be unsupervised long enough to sneak out the back door, climb the fence in the back yard then approach the neighbors dog. They shouldn’t be opening or climbing into steel pens with dogs inside. I don’t want to sound heartless here but geeze, these could have been prevented. Note that I am not condoning these dogs' actions, human aggression is unacceptable. I am simply placing the blame on the various people that could have helped to prevent these deaths. |
There are also a few cases in which there seems to be no explanation. For those I can only bring a few things to light. |
Some are newly acquired dogs, from which the owners expect an immediate family dog personality with out really “testing” or even getting to know the new dog. New dogs need time to socialize with it's new surroundings. Children should always accompany the parents when choosing a dog from the shelter or rescue. |
| People also expect a lot from their dogs and have a high level of trust for them, so much so, that they’ll leave their small children alone with them for long periods of time. Since no one is there for the start of those attacks, no one can say how it may have started or how the dog was provoked. The only thing you can say is that it could have been prevented had there been supervision. |
| Some dogs aren’t altered and in close proximity to a dog of the opposite sex and then expected to act like normal house hold pets. There are even people who keep multiple unaltered dogs around for "back yard" breeding purposes, and house them inappropriately. They never take into account the dangers with keeping these dogs around each other and then in the company of their family, their neighbors and their family friends. |
| Then you have some people that say there dog has always been a sweet dog and never did anything like this before. While it may not have killed before, be sure it has shown signs of human aggression before. Whether they be subtle or obvious signs, they were ignored and then it reached a pinnacle when the unsound dog was put in a bad situation with the victim. |
| Finally, there are the situations involving a dog with a history of aggression. These are no- brainers. Even with a proven unsound dog, the owners still feel comfortable enough to welcome strangers into their house or onto their property. For some reason they had no problem letting their dogs freely roam the yard, either on a chain or within a fence. |
| It is obvious to me that ALL these fatalities, as unfortunate as they are, could have been prevented had the proper ownership been there. The responsibility is not with the dogs, but instead with the people who own them. The laws should be enforced in light of that. All BSL (breed specific legislation) does is take the responsibility away from people. Why not hold people accountable for their stupidity and laziness? I love this quote and have no problems repeating it over and over, from Karen Delise’s book:
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| “The commonality and level of cruelty of so many of these cases is what should be shocking us as a society. But we do not become outraged until a Pit Bull kills a child; then our outrage and shock at the “viciousness” of this breed is loud and clear. How much easier it is to dismiss this as a breed problem! Addressing the real issues of crime, poverty, animal abuse, ignorance, greed and man’s lust for violence is far too daunting a task for most people and so we blame the dogs for our societal ills.” |
Cases of fatal Pit bull attacks 1965-2001 |
| Fatal Dog Attacks Website |
| According to Karen Delise (Fatal Dog Attacks: The Stories Behind the Statistics; Anubis Press) |
1. Apr. 1965 (1) pit bull type dog: 4yr old boy- chained dog broke lose. |
| 2. Feb. 1973 (1) pit bull type dog: 20mo old girl- mother feeding dog, girl ran up and tripped. |
| 3. May. 1976 (1) pit bull type dog: 6yr old girl. She wandered to dog chained to carport. |
| 4. July 1976 (1) pit bull type dog: 5yr old boy. Dog attacked child upon entering house. |
| 5. May 1977 (1) pit bull: 5mo old boy. Dog, usually chained outside was brought in. |
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| 6. Dec. 1978 (1) pit bull: 3yr old boy. The boy climbed into the pen of a dog used for fighting. |
| 7. Sept. 1979 (2) pit bulls (1) golden retriever: 6yr old girl. Walking to school when attacked. |
| 8. Feb. 1980 (1) pit bull type dog: 3yr old boy. Unknown circumstances. |
| 9. May 1980 (1) pit bull type dog: 3yr old boy. Wandered into neighbor’s yard with chained dog. |
| 10. Nov. 1980 (2) pit bull type dogs: 11yr old boy. Entered neighbor’s yard with dogs. |
| 11. Apr. 1981 (1) pit bull type dog: 6yr old boy. Climbed over neighbor’s fence. |
| 12. Apr. 1981 (1) pit bull type dog: 2yr old boy. Wandered to chained dog. |
| 13. Aug. 1981 (1) pit bull type dog: 5yr old boy. Playing with neighbor’s dog. |
| 14. Jun. 1982 (2) pit bulls: 68yr old man. Tenant’s dog attacked landlord in the yard. |
| 15. Oct. 1982 (1) pit bull type dog: 2mo old girl. Dog attacked child in house. |
| 16. Mar. 1983 (2) pit bulls: 79yr old woman. Attacked while walking to her mailbox. |
| 17. Jul. 1983 (1) pit bull type dog: 5yr old girl. Lived in house with dog. |
| 18. Jul. 1983 (1) pit bull type dog: 7yr old girl. Approached chained dog. |
| 19. Sep. 1983 (1) pit bull: 11yr old boy. Tripped near resident chained dog. |
| 20. Oct. 1983 (1) pit bull: 14 mo old girl. Playing with grandmother’s dog. |
| 21. Oct. 1983 (2) pit bulls: 67 yr old woman. Attacked by neighbor’s trained fighting dogs. |
| 22. Dec. 1983 (1) pit bull type dog: 63 yr old woman. Attacked while visiting at friend’s house. |
| 23. Feb. 1984 (1) pit bull type dog: 4yr old boy. Approached chained resident dog. |
| 24. Apr. 1984 (1) pit bull (1) St. Bernard dog: 6yr old boy. Climbed over neighbor’s fence. |
| 25. Sept. 1984 (1) pit bull type dog: 23mo old boy. Approached resident chained dog. |
| 26. Oct. 1984 (1) pit bull type dog: 2mo old girl. Trained guard dog attacked child. |
| 27. Dec. 1984 (1) pit bull type dog: 7wk old boy. Visiting friend’s house, dog jumped into crib. |
| 28. May 1985 (1) pit bull type dog: 6yr old boy. Neighbor’s chained, penned dogs. |
| 29. Sept. 1985 (2) pit bull type dog: 57 yr old woman. Attacked previously by her dogs. |
| 30. Oct. 1985 (1) pit bull type dog: 4yr old girl. Child tripped near chained dog. |
| 31. Apr. 1986 (1) pit bull type dog: 5yr old boy. Neighbor’s chained dog. |
| 32. Apr. 1986 (1) pit bull (1) boxer (1) mixed: 79 yr old man. Climbed into neighbor’s yard. |
| 33. June 1986 (1) pit bull type dog: 20mo old boy. Broke chain and grabbed child. |
| 34. Sept. 1986 (1) pit bull type dog (1) mix: 15mo old girl. Fell from window into yard with dogs. |
| 35. Oct. 1986 (1) pit bull type dog: 3yr old boy. Wandered to neighbor’s chained dog. |
| 36. Nov. 1986 (3) pit bulls: 4yr old boy. Attacked crossing owner’s yard. |
| 37. Jan. 1987 (1) pit bull: 83yr old man. Attacked in house by grandson’s dog. |
| 38. Apr. 1987 (2) pit bull type dogs: 67yr old man. Visiting house, dogs barged out front door. |
| 39. Apr. 1987 (1) pit bull: 16mo old girl. One of 3 PB’s and chow chained in yard. |
| 40. Jun. 1987 (1) pit bull: 2yr old boy. Neighbor’s chained fighting dog. |
| 41. Sep. 1987 (1) rott (1) PB type: 2yr old girl. Playing on side walk – loose dogs. |
| 42. Nov. 1987 (2) pit bull type dogs: 83yr old man. Taking out garbage, neighbor’s loose dogs. |
| 43. Jan. 1988 (1) pit bull type dog: 82yr old man. Chained guard dog at plant. |
| 44. Mar. 1988 (1) pit bull type dog: 2yr old boy. Wandered to chained resident dog. |
| 45. Oct. 1988 (1) pit bull (2) mixed: 7yr old boy. Riding bike to see owner. |
| 46. Nov.1988 (2) pit bulls: 25yr old man. Visiting house, chain on one dog broke. |
| 47. Dec 1988 (1) pit bull type dog: 6mo old girl. Mother feeding cookie to dog and child. |
| 48. May 1989 (1) pit bull type dog: 3yr old boy. Chasing insect at grandparent’s house. |
| 49. Nov. 1989 (1) pit bull type dog: 2yr old boy. Dog tied to back of uncle’s truck. |
| 50. Feb. 1990 (1) pit bull type dog: 72yr old woman. Dog escaped from neighbor’s yard. |
| 51. Jun. 1990 (2) pit bull: 57yr old woman. Attacked by neighbor’s loose dogs. |
| 52. Jul. 1990 (1) pit bull: 6mo old girl. Visiting baby attacked on couch. |
| 53. Oct. 1990 (1) pit bull: 18mo old girl. Child wandered to chained resident dog. |
| 54. Apr. 1991 (1) wolf dog & (1) pit bull: 2yr old boy. Climbed into resident dog’s kennel. |
| 55. Sep. 1991 (1) pit bull type dog: 6yr old boy. Attacked by chained resident dog. |
| 56. Feb. 1992 (1) pit bull type dog: 9mo old boy. Attacked while mother was lifting child up. |
| 57. Feb. 1992 (2) pit bulls: 2yr old boy. Attacked by aunt’s dog while in house. |
| 58. May 1992 (1) pit bull type dog: 2yr old boy. Wandered to neighbor’s chained dog. |
| 59. Sep. 1992 (1) pit bull: 28yr old woman. Boyfriend used dog to murder victim. |
| 60. Nov. 1992 (1) pit bull type dog: 91yr old woman. Neighbor’s dog broke loose. |
| 61. Jul. 1993 (1) pit bull type dog: 2yr old boy. Wandered into pen with chained dog. |
| 62. Sep. 1994 (2) pit bulls: 66yr old woman. Inside house caring for son’s dogs. |
| 63. Nov. 1994 (2) pit bull type dogs. 3day old boy. Mother discarded baby in yard with dogs. |
| 64. Jul. 1995 (1) pit bull type dog: 5mo old girl. Family dog in house. |
| 65. Sep. 1995 (6) pit bull type dogs: 7yr old boy. Riding bicycle – loose dogs. |
| 66. Oct. 1995 (2) pit bull type dogs: 75yr old man. In wheel chair, in his own yard – loose dogs. |
| 67. Dec. 1996 (3) pit bull type dogs: 82yr old man. Known to hit grandson’s dogs with cane. |
| 68. Apr. 1997 (2) pit bull type dogs: 4yr old boy. Parents working as landscapers at yard. |
| 69. Jul. 1997 (1) pit bull: 70yr old man. Bitten while walking his dog. |
| 70. Aug. 1997 (1) pit bull type dog: 7yr old boy. In neighbor’s yard running from dog. |
| 71. Oct. 1997 (2) pit bull type dogs: 64yr old woman. Attempting to feed nephews dogs. |
| 72. Jan. 1998 (3) pit bull type dogs: 9yr old girl. Walking home from school – loose dogs. |
| 73. Sep. 1998 (2) pit bulls: 44yr old woman. Neighbor’s dogs bolted out of house. |
| 74. Feb. 1999 (1) pit bull type dog: 14mo old boy. Attacked in yard by resident guard dog. |
| 75. Feb. 1999 (1) pit bull: 6yr old boy. Trying to put stepfather’s dog back in yard. |
| 76. Jul. 1999 (4) pit bulls: 5yr old girl. Resident dogs in yard, some newly acquired. |
| 77. Dec. 1999 (2) pit bulls: 45yr old man. Attacked by neighbor’s loose dogs. |
| 78. Feb. 2000 (1) pit bull: 21mo old girl. Tried to play with 1 of 6 chained pit bulls. |
| 79. Apr. 2000 (1) pit bull: 2yr old boy. Wandered to chained resident dog. |
| 80. May 2000 (2) pit bull type dogs: 83yr old woman. Attacked in yard by resident dogs. |
| 81. Jun. 2000 (3) pit bull type dogs: 82yr old woman. Attacked by neighbor’s loose dogs. |
| 82. Jul. 2000 (2) pit bull type dogs: 8yr old boy. Went to visit neighbor – loose dogs. |
| 83. Sep. 2000 (3) pit bull type dogs: 59yr old man. Pulling weeds in alley – loose dogs. |
| 84. Sep. 2000 (1) pit bull: 3yr old girl. Wandered to chained dog. |
| 85. Mar. 2001 (1) pit bull type dog: 2yr old boy. Wandered to chained dog. |
| 86. Jun. 2001 (1) pit bull: 2yr old boy. Chained dog – owner breeding guard dogs. |
| 87. Jun. 2001 (1) pit bull type dog: 18mo old boy. Dog broke loose from chain. |
| 88. Jul. 2001 (1) pit bull type dog. 2yr old boy. Wandered outside to resident dog. |
| 89. Jul. 2001 (2) pit bulls: 50yr old man. Guard dogs at place of business. |
90. Oct. 2001 (3) pit bull type dogs: 51yr old woman. Attacked by loose dogs while on walk
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