Although each dog bite claim is unique, there are some common factors in dog bite-related fatalities. Many dog bites are preventable. Individuals, parents or child caregivers, and dog owners can take steps to reduce the rate of dog incidents. Improving areas with common factors, can reduce dog bites from happening.
Children are More Likely to be Victims of Dog Bites
Children are more likely to experience a dog bite than adults. In fact, more than 50% of dog bite victims are children. Injuries sustained by children are more severe and require more medical treatment. There are more children taken to the emergency room with face, neck, and head injuries than adults.
Boys aged 5-9 have the highest incidence rate.
Do not leave children and a dog alone together, even the family pet.
Your Personality Matters
Anxious, insecure individuals, generally fearful of the world are 22% more likely to become the victim of a dog attack. Scientists are unsure why this is the case, but it may have to do with body language. Nervous people show they are anxious through body language such as fidgeting or hugging themselves. This may make dogs feel unsafe and they respond to that by attacking.
Although difficult to do, try to stay calm when in the presence of a dog, even an aggressive dog. This applies to everyone.
Neutered Dogs Are Less Likely to Bite
More than 70% of all dog bite cases involve unneutered male dogs and an unneutered male dog is 2.6 times more likely to bite than a neutered dog from the ASPCAPro website. Other studies also confirm that neutered dogs reduce dog bites. Dog owners should consult with their veterinarian about when to neuter their dog.
Males are More likely to Get Bit Than Females
Dog bites to males happen 1.4 to 3 times more frequently than to females. This is often reported to be in the case in all age groups, with the exception being males older than 60 years of age.
Dogs Belong to Family or Friends
In the same publication above, there is another common feature among dogs that bite. Only 13-25% of dogs that caused injuries were stray dogs. The majority of dogs belong to family (22-35%). In one study, 85% of victims treated in emergency rooms were bitten by their own dog.
Dog Bite Fatality Common Factors
The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association conducted the most comprehensive study on dog bite-related fatalities in 2013. With a follow-up report, the study looked at statistics during a 15 year period between 2000 and 2015. The study identified seven controllable factors that related to dog bite fatalities. In 75.5% of dog bite fatality cases, four out of seven of the following factors were present:
- no able-bodied person being present to intervene (86.9%);
- the victim having no familiar relationship with the dog(s) (83.7%);
- the dog(s) owner failing to neuter/spay the dog(s) (77.9%);
- a victim’s compromised ability, whether based on age or physical condition, to manage their interactions with the dog(s) (68.7%);
- the owner keeping dog(s) as resident dog(s), rather than as family pet(s) (70.4%);
- the owner’s prior mismanagement of the dog(s) (39.3%);
- the owner’s abuse or neglect of dog(s) (20.6%).
The objective of the study was to identify factors that could potentially prevent dog bite fatalities from occurring.
Dog bite fatalities are rare. In 2020, there were 46 U.S. dog-related deaths.
Note on dogs that are familiar to the victim: while it may appear there are conflicting studies on the statistics of whether victims are familiar with the dogs that bite them, the two studies are for different outcomes. One study is on dog bite injuries and the other on dog bite fatalities. Data also suggests that children are more likely to be bitten by a family dog and adolescents by dogs unfamiliar to them.
It is important to remember that any dog can bite, whether the dog has a relationship with the victim or not. And any dog breed can cause dog bite wounds. In many cases seen in this office, the dog is familiar with the victim.
Understand Risks to Make Informed Decisions
Knowing what factors present a higher risk of dog bites can help you to make decisions in your life. Talk to children about their behavior around a dog, never leave a child alone with a dog, know the signs of dog aggression, and research what to do if a dog attacks you.
If you or someone you know has been bitten by a dog, contact Jeffrey H. Penneys for a free consultation. Reach him online or at 215-771-0430. He is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and works throughout Pennsylvania.
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