Dog bite Statistics: The Quick facts
- In the United States, more than 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year
- 61% of dog bites occur in the animal’s home or in a place familiar to the animal
- In 77% of cases, the biting dog belongs to friends or family of the victim
- Children are the most at risk demographic for dog bites. Over 29% of all dog bite victims requiring emergency visits are children ages 0-9
- On average there are 26 Dog bite fatalities per year in the US
- Pit bull-type dogs and Rottweilers account for more than half of all dog bite fatalities
How many dog bites occur each year?
- According to the CDC and the Virginia Department of Health, more than 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States1 2
- Children are the most at risk demographic for dog bites. Over 29% of all dog bite victims requiring emergency visits are children ages 0-93
What kind of dogs are biting
- A dog that is not neutered is 3x more likely to bite2
- In 77% of cases, the biting dog belongs to friends or family of the victim2
Statistics on dog bite related injuries
How serious are dog bite injuries?
- 81% of dog bites (4 out of 5) result in no injury, or the injury was too slight for medical treatment4
- 18.99% of dog bites result in injuries that are treatable, but not serious4
- Only 0.01% of dog bite related injuries are serious enough to require hospitalization4
Dog bite fatalities
- Less than 1 in 200,000 dog bites are fatal4
- On average there are 26 Dog bite fatalities per year in the US4
- 58% of dog bite fatalities are done by an unrestrained dog on the owner’s property 5
- Pit bull-type dogs and Rottweilers account for more than half of all dog bite fatalities5
What parts of the body are usually bitten?
- The three top anatomic locations of dogs bites in the US are 1) Hand, 2) Face, and 3) Lower arm3
The face, hand, and lower arm are the most common parts of the body to be bitten by dogs
Demographics and statistics of dog bite victims
- 20% of bite victims seek medical treatment for injuries or infections related to the bite2
When and where do dog bites happen?
- Over 30% of all dog bites occur between May and July3
- 61% of dog bites occur in the animal’s home or in a place familiar to the animal2
Footnotes
CDC1, Virginia Department of Health2, “Demographics of Dog Bits in the United States” Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov3, National Canine Research Council4, AVMA5,