Dog Bite Statistics In The US

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

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 States^{1 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

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

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

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

20% of bite victims seek medical treatment for injuries or infections related to the bite²

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