Below I list the main facts I wish to present. Underneath each, I list the sources to verify the facts. This information is not conjecture, rumor, misinformation, rhetoric, propaganda or opinion. These are the cold hard facts that illustrate the terrible reality of the situation we face today.
Pit Bull Facts and Statistics:
- According to a 20-year CDC (Center for Disease Control) study, from 1979 to 1998, Pit Bulls are responsible for over one third of all fatal dog attacks.
Breeds of Dogs Involved in Fatal Human Attacks in the United States Between 1979 and 1998, by Sacks, Sinclair, Gilchrist, Golab and Lockwood, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2000. Link: http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/1979-1998-breeds-dogs-involved-in-fatal-human-attacks-us.pdf
- According to a 3-year study covering 2006, 2007 and 2008, Pit Bulls are responsible for 59% of all fatal dog attacks.
Report: U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities January 2006 to December 2008, by DogsBite.org, April 20, 2009(www.dogsbite.org) Link: http://www.dogsbite.org/reports/dogsbite-report-us-dog-bite-fatalities-2006-2008.pdf
- Pit Bulls make up only 5% of dogs in the United Statesyet are responsible for far more deaths than ALL other breeds combined.
Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S.& Canada, September 1982 to June 25, 2010, by Merritt Clifton, Animal People, June 25, 2010. Link: http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/dog-attack-deaths-maimings-2010.pdf
- The AKC (American Kennel Club) recognizes 167 breeds of dogs yet 1 breed, Pit Bulls, kill more than all the rest combined.
“What Does it Take to be an AKC Registered Breed?” The American Kennel Club (www.akc.org) Link: http://www.akc.org/press_center/facts_stats.cfm?page=8
- To illustrate the inherent danger with this breed consider an 85-day period covering most of July, August and September of 2008;
* Pit Bulls made 127 attacks.
* Injured 158 people,
* 63% of the injuries were severe.
* 10 of the attacks resulted in 15 severed body parts.
* 6 people were killed.
This based upon media reports across theU.S.
“On Pit Bull Awareness Day, DogsBite.org Releases Video of Attack Victims,” DogsBite.org, October 25, 2008(www.dogsbite.org) Link: http://blog.dogsbite.org/2008/10/dog-bite-victims-group-releases-video.html
- In the same 85-day period, Law enforcement officers and citizens shot 128 dangerous Pit Bulls and 12 communities’ enacted Pit Bull ordinances.
In all of 2008, there were 373 incidents where law enforcement and/or citizens were forced to shoot dangerous Pit Bulls, 40% of these resulted in or from Pit Bulls Bites or Attacks. 3% also resulted in human injury from the shooting of the dogs.
“On Pit Bull Awareness Day, DogsBite.org Releases Video of Attack Victims,” DogsBite.org, October 25, 2008(www.dogsbite.org) Link: http://blog.dogsbite.org/2008/10/dog-bite-victims-group-releases-video.htmlReport: U.S. Report: Police and Citizen Shootings of Pit Bulls 2008, by DogsBite.org, June 3, 2009 (www.dogsbite.org)
Link: http://www.dogsbite.org/newsroom-release-pit-bull-shootings-2008.htm
- Even the ASPCA support restrictions and or regulations to help reduce the Pit Bull population in New York City due to the public safety concern. This primarily is an attempt to stave off a complete ban on Pit Bulls that the city is trying to pass.
Question: Is it true that the ASPCA supports restrictions, regulations or ordinances to reduce the Pit Bull population in New York? Answer: Yes. Phone call made on November 9, 2010. Phone number:1-212-876-7700 ext 4655
- 21 of the last 28 fatalities in Texas have been children, the oldest of which was 11-years old and the youngest was 7-months old, 11 of which were age 3 or under.
“Texas Fatal Pit Bull Maulings,” DogsBite.org Google Map, Last updated November 16, 2010(maps.google.com) Link: http://tinyurl.com/28nft6w
- The latest fatality in theU.S.I am aware of as I write this was a 2-year old boy, Kaden, inRusk County,Texason November 10th 2010. This is the same county whereJustinClintonwas killed by two Pit Bulls just over a year ago.
Kenneth Dean, “Pit Bull Kills Child In Rusk County,” TylerPaper.com, November 11, 2010(www.tylerpaper.com) Link: http://tylerpaper.com/article/20101111/NEWS01/11110329
From 1982 to June 25th 2010 in the US & Canada Pit Bulls accounted for;
* The majority of attacks causing bodily harm, 1654,
* The majority of attacks on children, 733,
* The majority of attacks on adults, 549,
* The majority of deaths, 173,
* The majority of people maimed, 905.
Pit Bulls only make up 5% of the dog population. Again this highlights the fact that Pit Bulls Kill far more than all other breeds combined.
Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to June 25, 2010, by Merritt Clifton, Animal People, June 25, 2010. Link: http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/dog-attack-deaths-maimings-2010.pdf
- The 1991 study of “which dogs bite the most,” often used to defend the Pit Bull breed, does not even include Pit Bulls in the study. The study was conducted in Denver where pit bulls are banned. The study is nearly 20-years old and determined that chained, male, unaltered dogs were the most likely to bite.
Which Dogs Bite? A Case Control Study of Risk Factors (1991), by Gershman K.A., et al. JC., Pediatrics, 1994. 93:913-7. Link: http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/1991-which-dogs-bite-denver.pdf
- Between 2006 to 2008, 88 people suffered death due to a fatal dog attack. Of these deaths, 16% involved chained dogs. Pit bull contributed to 59% (52) of these deaths. Of these 52, 13% (7) involved chained pit bulls.
Report: U.S.Dog Bite Fatalities January 2006 to December 2008, by DogsBite.org, April 20, 2009(www.dogsbite.org) Link: http://www.dogsbite.org/reports/dogsbite-report-us-dog-bite-fatalities-2006-2008.pdf
- Even if the pit bull category was “split three ways,” attacks by Pit Bulls & Pit Bull mixes would still outnumber attacks by any other breed.
Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to June 25, 2010, by Merritt Clifton, Animal People, June 25, 2010. Link: http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/dog-attack-deaths-maimings-2010.pdf
- Pit Bulls are noteworthy for attacking adults almost as frequently as children, a characteristic not shared by any other breed.
Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to June 25, 2010, by Merritt Clifton, Animal People, June 25, 2010. Link: http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/dog-attack-deaths-maimings-2010.pdf
- Texas led the nation in dog attack fatalities in 2007 with 7 deaths, 6 of which were caused by Pit Bulls.
“Texas leads nation in dog attacks,” Abilene Reporter News, July 12, 2008(www.reporternews.com)
Link: http://www.reporternews.com/news/2008/jul/12/no-headline—pound_puppies_-_texas_attacks/
- Reports gathered across theU.S.indicate that Pit Bulls bite more than any other breed, this is a fact that those apologizing for the breed consistently deny.
“Pit Bulls Lead “Bite” Counts Across U.S. Cities and Counties,” DogsBite.org, October 1, 2010(www.dogsbite.org) Link: http://blog.dogsbite.org/2009/07/pit-bulls-lead-bite-counts-across-us.html
- In 1991, the United Kingdom (comprised of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) passed the Dangerous Dog Act to ban Pit Bull Terriers and a handful of other fighting breeds.
Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, (legislation.gov.uk) Link: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/65/contents
- Many foreign countries have enacted breed-specific laws to protect citizens from dangerous dogs and to stop the importation of fighting dogs (pit bulls). Countries include, but are not limited to: Argentina, Bavaria, Bermuda, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Guyana, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevis, Turkey, the UAE, United Kingdom, Venezuela and parts of Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Ireland, and Japan.”
The Pit Bull problem is worldwide.
“Ecuador Joins International Trend: Bans Pit Bulls and Rottweilers as Pets,” Dogsbite.org, February 6, 2009(www.dogsbite.org) Link: http://blog.dogsbite.org/2009/02/ecuador-joins-world-trend-bans-pit.html
- There were nearly 300 Pit Bull attacks inIndianapolislast year (2009) according to Police spokesmanJeffDuhamell.
Norm Heikens, “What to do when a pit bull attacks,” IBJ.com, March 24, 2010(www.ibj.com)
Link: http://www.ibj.com/newstalk/2010/03/24/what-to-do-when-a-pit-bull-attacks/PARAMS/post/18859
Pit Bull Dangers Radio