A new dog bite report released by a Seattle-based dog bite victims advocacy group, DogsBite.org documents 373 incidents in which United States law enforcement officers and citizens were forced to shoot a dangerous pit bull to prevent a dog attack or to stop an ongoing dog attack.

Here are some of the interesting facts from this report:

  • 626 bullets were fired in 373 incidents
  • 319 pit bulls were killed
  • 148 people suffered dog bite injuries in these incidents
  • Six of the dog bite attacks resulted in fatalities
  • In at least three instances, the dog bite injury resulted in amputation.
  • Intervention by firearm prevented at least eight deaths by a put bull mauling

    • First of all, I would like to commend DogsBite.org for the exemplary work it is doing in terms of educating the public, creating awareness about these dangerous dogs, sharing the stories of dog bite victims around the country and at the same time, playing the role of safety advocates for victims and their families. They have also done a remarkable job of encouraging counties and cities to change their local laws to regulate pit bulls and make dog owners more responsible.

    In my opinion, it's not a coincidence that most of the dog attacks we hear about in the news involve pit bulls. Dogsbite.org does exclusive research on pit bulls and pit bull mixes. They have found that as a result of selective breeding practices that place emphasis on aggression and tenacity, this class of dogs tend to be more aggressive and have a negative impact on public safety. At Bisnar | Chase, where we represent dog bite victims, we have observed that pit bull attacks are extremely vicious. These dogs tend to attack adults as well as children. We are representing a mailman who was seriously injured by a loose pit bull in an Orange County neighborhood. This man was more than 6 feet tall. The pit bull still managed to knock him down, get on top and maul his face!

    There is no question that policy makers should be taking a close look at this data and information. Pti bullbreed bans are illegal in California, but a number of other states have enacted them and many others are beginning to consider them. It is important that cities and municipalities at least consider common sense dangerous dog laws that would require dog owners to keep their pets restrained and require them to have liability insurance so the dog bite victims are not penalized for the dog owners' negligence.

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