Dog Bite Related Fatalities on the Rise

Most households in America (53 percent) have at least one dog. This may partially explain why deaths caused by being bitten or attacked by a dog are on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, comparing 2011 with 2021.

Between 2011and 2018, the number of dog bite related deaths hovered around 20, on average. Unfortunately, 2018 through 2021, deaths more than doubled, the CDC reported. While the number of dogs has significantly risen, that number has not doubled. So why are dog bite related fatalities apparently rising so fast?

The CDC doesn’t explain why the deaths occurred, or track alleged breed or mix of breeds involved in the attack.

As a sidenote while the current number of just under 50 or so dog-related fatalities annually is too many, that pales by comparison to over 20,100 murders according to the Pew Research Center. Actually, forklifts must be more dangerous as more people succumb to forklift accidents, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

New research from Edge Hill University in Lancashire, England shows that one explanation for increased dog attacks, at least on the other side of the pond, is that dog owners often misinterpret dog behavior.

Professor Claire Parkinson led a team that surveyed 1,535 people, focusing on their perceptions of dangerous dogs, bite risk, and where people are learning about dogs.

Most respondents in the survey incorrectly believed that a dog would actively avoid biting a child when in fact, children are – by far – the most likely to be bitten by dogs.

Dog parents, according to the study, also struggle to identify, understand, or concede the reality of their dog’s body language.

Professor Parkinson, co-director of Edge Hill’s Center for Human Animal Studies (CfHAS), says a part of the problem is the intensification of the human-animal bond, and that some people may have a misguided anthropomorphic view of their own dog and other dogs, resulting in inadequate training and misinterpretation of behavior.She adds,  “One alarming finding was that many dog-owning respondents couldn’t discern a dog’s communication cues, and even worse, some said they would react by attempting to cuddle or stroke a worried dog, increasing the risk of being bitten. Owners need to gain a better understanding of how to react to a dog’s behavior.” 

Professor Parkinson also cautioned owners, “One alarming finding was that many dog-owning respondents couldn’t discern a dog’s communication cues, and even worse, some said they would react by attempting to cuddle or stroke a worried dog, increasing the risk of being bitten. Owners need to gain a better understanding of how to react to a dog’s behavior.”

A possible contributing factor for the lack of dog knowledge is that there is a lack of consistent clear information. Nearly half of all respondents considered television programs about dog behavior the best source of information. One third stated they follow the advice of celebrity dog trainers, though popular dog behavior programs endorse a range of training methods, including discredited alpha or dominance theories.

This research follows a 34 percent increase in recorded dog attacks by police in England and Wales over the past five years. The surge in attacks has become a significant public health concern.

Professor Parkinson is calling on the UK Government to overturn outdated breed-based legislation, which in the U.S. has greatly occurred. Breed bans don’t work, and have been increasingly overturned in the U.S. because where there are breed bans, significant dog bite numbers simply haven’t changed. Professor Parkinson proposes reintroducing licenses, launching a public information campaign, and establishing easily accessible, community-led dog training sessions for low-income dog owners.