The number of fatal dog attacks averages about 30 deaths per year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions, most fatalities from dog attacks are by pit bulls and occur on or in the property where the attacking dog lives, and:

• It is estimated that 4.7 million people, or nearly 2% of the entire population in the United States, are attacked by dogs each year.
• The majority of these attacks are on children, the elderly and postal workers (nearly 3,000 dog attacks per year.)
• Every day in the U.S. approximately 1,008 people require emergency room attention due to dog bites (368,000 per year.)
• In 2006, more than 31,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery because of severe injuries from dog bites.
• In 2008, 78% of human fatalities from dog attacks were by dogs in their own yard; 9% of these dogs were chained.
• Also in 2008, 65% of dog attack fatalities were caused by pit bulls and 39% of the fatalities involved multiple dogs.
• As of February 2010, two people had already been killed by dogs (Illinois and California.)

Also, see Dog Bite News Articles About Fatal Dog Attacks in Pennsylvania

_Sources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dog Bite Fact Sheet.  April 1, 2008.
• Dog Attack Danger Scale.  Accessed 02/07/10.

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