When you think of a vicious dog bite or attack, do you think of any specific breeds that come to mind? Most people immediately think of the Pit Bull.
Media? Society and cultural anxieties? Social media? Movies? What about facts? Are there areas of this topic and breed that go unseen and unknown to the public?
This page may have upsetting facts about dog bite statistics among Pit Bulls and other known large breeds and potentially controversial facts about Pit Bulls and other known breeds from how people respect and protect this breed’s reputation.
Bisnar Chase does not take any particular side in terms of perspectives on dog breeds. Still, we ask questions that help lead to safety measures that protect owners and breeds.
Nurture vs. nature is a common and highly controversial topic between dog owners, breeders, trainers, mothers, and fathers, which leads to the main question: Are pit bulls more dangerous than other dog breeds?
Considering that pit bulls are the most abused, abandoned, and overbred canines in the world, it’s no wonder they carry a bad reputation, but most attacks by pit bulls are because of these exact reasons.
As a society, we must be held liable when we own a potential large-breed dog because they can do more damage than a small dog. With their strength and build, we, as owners, must diligently train them and ensure public safety.
Out of all the case types we handle, dog attacks are by far the most common ones we get, and almost always, the cause of the attack was an abandoned, untrained, or abused dog that attacked.
In this article, we’ll discuss the traits of Pit Bulls, organizations supporting advocacy, a 2024 study, and the dog’s history.
Pit Bull Breed
Pit Bulls: Controversial Killer or Friend?
The Pit Bull community is very tight-knit and supportive in their shared love for their Pit Bull friends. From children to teenagers, adults to the elderly, people around the world are in love with their Pit Bull companions.
But from the complete and polar opposite perspective, People say Pit Bulls are born to kill, focused on hunting and making the kill, unable to have compassion, and withhold urges to bite and attack, whether they are feeling threatened or not.
When you see the pictures and videos of young toddlers climbing over giant and impressively muscular Pit Bull adults without any concern from the parents or bystanders, how can it be true that Pit Bulls are unable to love and instead are, as many put it, “born killers; it’s in their DNA”?
From our skilled and highly experienced California dog bite lawyers comes an informational reference page to offer the resources you can use to determine how you can perceive and better understand the Pit Bull breed.
This page will cover statistical information, facts, and why different people’s opinions and standpoints mold how society, the media, and today’s culture view the Pit Bull breed.
Different Types of Pit Bulls
You may not be aware that all Pit Bulls are not just Pit Bulls, and in fact, there are many different types of Pit Bulls in the Pit Bull family:
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- American Bully
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Originating from the United States of America, Ireland, and Great Britain, “Canis Lupus Familiaris,” is a breed that can be traced back to the early 1800s.
Where Did Pit Bulls Come From?
In the 1800s, lower-income individuals would gamble and battle their dogs against actual bulls. In 1835, the British Parliament enacted the Cruelty to Animals Act. This new act made it illegal to bait animals like bulls and bears. Attention was turned towards “ratting.”
The objective of ratting was to see whose dog was able to catch and kill the most rats in a selectively confined space/arena, in the shortest amount of time.
Eventually, this led to the development of the need for faster and more aggressive dogs to compete with other dogs, ultimately evolving into the infamous realm of dogfighting.
These dogs were bred into the different types of the Pit Bull family, being trained and raised to fight, attack, and kill. Pit bulls were introduced to America by immigrants who brought them to North America. However, most of these “fighting dogs” were later converted into working dogs, used for herding cattle and sheep and protecting livestock from wolves and other predators.
At the beginning of the century, Pits maintained their popularity but evolved into working-class companions. Throughout WWII, America actually used the pit bull as its nation’s mascot, showcasing its loyalty and bravery as a key point of marketing and advertising strategies and techniques.
The pit bull has undergone significant changes in its role as an animal: it was initially created and idealized as a fighting dog for reputation and profit, later became a war hero, and is now often retired as a family dog. But soon, the pit bull would turn into a man-killing machine—in some people’s eyes, a step below the great white shark on the list of predators.
Pit Bulls: The Working Dog, The Loyal Companion
After World War II, pit bulls came to be seen more and more as ordinary dogs. Underground dog fighting still existed, but not to the extent of before the war or back in Europe and the United Kingdom (UK).
As some Pit Bulls were and are bred for herding, hunting, or guardian (nanny dogs) purposes, the majority of these dogs are bred for pets and companionship.
Animal Welfare Act of 1976
The US Supreme Court passed the Animal Welfare Act of 1976 in 1976, making dogfighting illegal in all 50 states.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) states:
“Summary: Enacted April 22, 1976, Public Law 94-279 primarily refines previous regulations on animal transport and commerce. “Carrier” and “Intermediate Handler” are defined. Health certification prior to transport of sale is required and must be performed by a veterinarian.
Licenses, method of payment, and penalties for violations are discussed. This amendment also introduces and defines “animal fighting ventures” to the Act. Animals used in hunting waterfowl, foxes, etc. are exempt. It is illegal to exhibit or transport via interstate or foreign commerce animals used in fighting ventures such as dogs or roosters.”
Are Dog Attack and Bite Reports Accurate?
With a high number of reports for larger dog breeds like Pit Bulls, the question is asked: How accurate are these numbers in relation to other breeds? What does this mean?
Attacks and bites from large dogs, such as Pit Bulls, have a higher chance of resulting in a more serious injury compared to smaller dogs, like Jack Russell Terriers or Chihuahuas, which may only result in minor bruising, small puncture wounds, or minor lacerations.
If every dog bite was reported and documented, what would the numbers and statistics look like then? Would small breeds have the same or higher volume of attacks/bites than larger dogs? If they were, would that make smaller dog breeds more aggressive or hostile?
4 Pit Bulls kill a woman on her morning stroll; owner sentenced to 15 years to life:
In cases like the video below, some individuals use pit bulls and other “known aggressive breeds” to protect land, livestock, and for other reasons, but when the handling of these dogs is negligent, catastrophic injuries and death can occur. The man in the video below was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for second-degree murder after his 4 pit bulls killed an elderly woman on a morning stroll.
Pit Bull Attack Statistics
It can’t be denied that pit bulls have been known for a high number of dog bites and attacks on humans and other animals. Many of these attacks have even killed and caused catastrophic injuries, resulting in permanent disabilities, high medical costs, and severe disfigurement.
According to an article by TIME, “Pit bulls make up only 6% of the dog population, but they’re responsible for 68% of dog attacks and 52% of dog-related deaths since 1982, according to research.”
The Real Problem: Why Pit Bulls Attack
Many people do not consider the “why” of Pit Bulls attacking when discussing it—the group itself is often horribly abused. They learn the behavior of fight or flight because they are fearful, especially of humans.
While you can find expensive Rottweilers and Dobermans selling for thousands, the pit bull is often abandoned, beaten, and trained to be violent.
The number of pit bulls that have been used in overbreeding, trained to fight, and generally treated horribly by humans is tragic and hard to undo. There may be fewer of them, but the number of them that have suffered abuse is why a large percentage have the propensity to attack.
A great deal of education and patience is needed to truly help and protect the breed, as well as educate the public on the dangers of weaponizing this powerful dog.
Advocates for this breed are passionate about protecting them because they know the abuse is rampant, and they’ve seen firsthand the horrors many of these dogs have been through.
Once rehabilitated, they see an incredibly loving and loyal dog, which is the message they aim to convey in their advocacy programs.
Understandably, a person who has never been around a pit bull would be fearful because all the media shows are of the attacks. All large breed dogs have the potential to be deadly, but none have faced as much abuse and hate as the pit bull.
Looking at Pit Bull Dog Bite Statistics More In-Depth
There are various perspectives on how the pit bull breed should be handled and perceived. Some think the breed should receive more media coverage highlighting the normalities of the pit bull breed in comparison to other well-known, docile breeds, such as the golden retriever, Labrador, and other popular family dogs.
Others will go as far as supporting Free sterilization programs for pit bulls, like the one run by the ASPCA. Here are some statistics on the pit bull breed:
- Over 50% of dog bites are from a pit bull.
- Approximately 87% of pit bulls are aggressive in some form
- 56% of all U.S. fatal dog bites in the past 5 years were by pit bulls.
- Only 20% of Pit Bulls are sterilized (neutered/spayed)
- Pits make up 63% of dogs put down in animal shelters
- Pits make up 38% of shelter admissions
- PETA stands by breed-specific sterilization
- Pitbull jaws do not “lock.” Most animals tend to hold onto their prey after biting it. Pitbull jaws are anatomically the same as all other dogs and show no evidence of locking
The “Pit Bull” breed represents three types of dog:
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
To learn more about Pit Bull statistics, you can visit LiveScience.com/are-pit-bulls-dangerous
Other potentially dangerous dog breeds include:
The Wonderful Traits of the Pit Bull
While individual dogs of any breed can vary in temperament, pit bulls as a group are often known for having many positive traits when properly socialized and trained:
- 1. Loyalty and devotion to their owners and family. Pit bulls tend to form strong bonds.
- 2. Friendliness and outgoing personalities. Many are eager to meet new people.
- 3. Intelligence and trainability. Pit bulls are smart dogs that often excel at obedience and dog sports with proper training.
- 4. Strength and athleticism. These muscular dogs tend to be energetic and athletic.
- 5. Even temper and stability. When well-socialized and trained, pit bulls are often noted for their calm and stable demeanors.
- 6. Affection and love of human companionship. Pit bulls generally thrive on attention and interaction with their people.
Like any dog, pit bulls require proper training, socialization, and care from responsible owners to develop into well-adjusted canine companions.
Sadly, some pit bulls have been exploited for dogfighting by unethical individuals, leading to harmful stereotypes about the breed. But with loving homes, pit bulls make wonderful pets for many families.
Organizations Helping Rehabilitate Pit Bulls
Various organizations and individuals are working to help rehabilitate pit bulls and improve their public image. Some of these efforts include:
1. Rescue and adoption: Many animal shelters and rescue organizations focus on rescuing pit bulls from abuse, neglect, or abandonment. They work to provide medical care, training, and socialization before finding them new, loving homes.
2. Training and education: Some organizations offer specialized training programs for pit bull owners to help them properly socialize and train their dogs. They also educate the public about responsible dog ownership and the importance of judging individual dogs based on their behavior rather than their breed.
3. Breed-specific legislation (BSL) opposition: Advocates work to oppose breed-specific legislation that unfairly targets pit bulls and other breeds. They argue that such laws are ineffective and that the focus should be on promoting responsible dog ownership and addressing individual cases of dangerous dogs.
4. Pit bull-specific advocacy groups: Organizations like the American Pit Bull Foundation, the National Pit Bull Awareness Campaign, and others are dedicated to promoting positive images of pit bulls, educating the public, and advocating for the breed.
5. Therapy and service dog training: Some organizations train pit bulls to become therapy dogs or service dogs, demonstrating their versatility and helping to challenge negative stereotypes.
6. Media and public outreach: Advocates work to share positive stories about pit bulls in the media and on social media platforms to counteract negative stereotypes and showcase the breed’s affectionate nature.
While progress has been made in recent years, pit bulls still face challenges and discrimination. Continued efforts in education, responsible ownership, and promoting individual dog assessments over breed stereotypes are crucial in helping pit bulls and all dogs find loving homes.
Public Perception of Pit Bulls: a 2024 Nationwide Study
The public perception of pit bulls is complex and often polarized. While some people view them as loving and loyal companions, others see them as inherently dangerous dogs.
Our law firm ran a study in 2024 on how the public perceives pit bulls. Across all states, the perception of danger was overwhelmingly the same, with a few small exceptions involving wolf-hybrid dogs.
Negative perceptions
1. Aggression: Many believe pit bulls are more aggressive than other dog breeds and prone to attacking humans and other animals.
2. Dangerous breed: Pit bulls are often portrayed in the media as a dangerous breed, and news stories about pit bull attacks can reinforce this perception.
3. Fighting dogs: The historical use of pit bulls in dogfighting has led to a perception that they are inherently violent and aggressive.
4. Unpredictability: Some people believe that pit bulls are unpredictable and can turn on their owners or others without warning.
Positive perceptions
1. Loyal and loving: Pit bull advocates argue that these dogs are incredibly loyal and affectionate and make great family pets when properly trained and socialized.
2. Misunderstood breed: Supporters believe that pit bulls are unfairly judged based on stereotypes and that aggression is a result of irresponsible ownership, lack of training, and abuse rather than inherent breed characteristics.
3. Versatile and capable: Pit bulls are often praised for their intelligence, trainability, and adaptability, making them successful as therapy dogs, service dogs, and in various dog sports.
4. Individual assessment: Many pit bull advocates emphasize the importance of evaluating each dog individually based on its behavior and temperament rather than making generalizations about the breed.
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5 Steps to Protecting Yourself from an Aggressive Canines
It is impossible to read whether a dog is friendly or not. Sometimes, dogs can appear friendly to strangers when they are actually planning to react aggressively, and sometimes, dogs that seem aggressive are actually very friendly and want to lick you all over, get pets, and receive affection.
Here are five steps you can take, according to an article on TheStranger.com, to protect yourself from an aggressive dog attack:
Avoid Conflict
Avoiding strangers or unknown dogs is your best chance of preventing a potentially fatal attack. Don’t let children or those who make sudden, unexpected, or jerky movements around a pit bull. This could threaten, startle, or trigger a factor of fear in the dog, which could result in a defensive, territorial, or aggressive response/attack/bite.
Stand on a Car
Never turn your back to a dog, make eye contact, or run from a dog. This usually results in the dog chasing and attacking. If possible, stand, jump or climb to a higher surface that is difficult for the dog to get up onto, like a car, roof, shed, or fence.
Putting a distance or gap between you and the aggressive dog can deter the animal, allowing time for the dog to lose interest and avoid an attack. Calling for help can be effective if the dog is persistent and does not lose interest.
Don’t lure others into your current dangerous situation, and warn bystanders of the nearby situation so they avoid being attacked or mauled.
Cover Your Face & Play Dead
When in the situation of an unpreventable or uncontrollable attack, cover your face and neck, and play dead. According to the article on TheStranger.com:
If there’s no car or any other higher-level handy, “don’t try to defend yourself, just protect yourself,” says Emily Keegans, behavior program manager at the Seattle Humane Society.
“That basically means getting down on the ground, pulling your knees to your chest, clapping your hands behind your neck, and putting your elbows around your face.
” Wiley seconds this approach: “Stillness is the best thing. If a dog gets its teeth into you, fighting back can make things worse.”
Use Defense Tools
Another step to protect yourself in the event of a dog charge or dog attack is to be prepared with pepper spray. Cyclists, mail delivery personnel, law enforcement, joggers, and even students who walk to and from school are armed with this defensive and non-lethal spray.
You can find pepper spray conveniently available on websites like Amazon. Available products are inexpensive and reliable, such as SABRE Red Pepper Spray on a keychain for on-the-go efficiency.
Take Any Means Necessary
There comes a point in any altercation when it needs to come to a conclusion. If playing dead or showing any form of retreat did not work, it’s time to fight for your life. Take any means necessary” means do whatever it takes to save your life.
Using objects you have or are able to obtain quickly can offer the biggest blow to the attacking dog. It may sound sad, but in a life-or-death situation, it truly matters. Some say if you can jam a closed fist into the mouth of an attacking dog, you can punch down into the throat until the dog begins to gag and realizes it cannot breathe.
Using heavy or sharp objects to defend yourself and employing wrestling and MMA techniques can lead to a positive outcome. All of these factors increase the risk of being bitten and injured, but if done correctly, it could be the last bite the dog gets on you. Stay safe, stay alert, and stay alive.
Why Is Seeking Medical Attention Important after a Dog Attack?
Pit bulls, any other breed of dog, and any other animal have a chance of carrying diseases. If a dog bites you and draws blood or breaks the skin, you have a serious risk of contracting a disease, such as rabies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rabies is a preventable disease, often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal.
Rabid animals can include and are not limited to raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, dogs, and any other animals that have contracted the disease. Other animals, such as your pet dogs and cats, are at risk of contracting diseases if bitten by other animals that are infected with a disease.
Once bitten, seek medical attention immediately. Whether you call 911, EMS, ambulance services or drive to the nearest hospital, emergency room, urgent care, or medical clinic, wounds need to be cleaned, sterilized, and treated to ensure that your immediate health is not in danger.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, test results, and doctors’ recommendations, treatments for dog and animal bites can be extensive, lasting weeks or even months of consistent care, sometimes daily.
Another risk factor of being attacked by a dog or animal is extensive bleeding. If the dog or animal bites you and breaks an artery, vein, or delicate area, you run the risk of bleeding out or experiencing serious medical issues and injuries.
Tourniquets can be used if needed, especially for arterial bleeding. If a tourniquet is not available, a belt, wire, leash, ripped-up t-shirt, or any other suitable item that can be wrapped tightly around the injured area to apply pressure and slow or stop the bleeding until medical attention arrives.
Documenting Your Dog Bite Injuries
Another positive aspect of seeking medical attention is that your injuries will be professionally documented in association with your dog bite or attack incident. If you ever plan on taking legal action, not having your injuries documented can become a massive issue.
Once you are in the litigation process and are unable to prove that your injuries happened when they happened, associate your injuries with the incident and make links tying everything together into one experience readily available for the court, mediators, insurance adjusters, and lawyers, you have a high chance of losing your case. If you intend to take legal action, ensure you have all the necessary evidence to support your case.
If You've Been Attacked By a Dog
Experiencing a traumatic dog bite incident can leave the victim or victims in a mess of financial obligation, medical bills, being unable to work, and destroying lives.
Don’t assume you will win your case, just because you know yourself, you were bitten by a dog. Be prepared, and don’t let the opportunity slip out of your hands. Compensation can be yours if you take the following steps:
- Seek medical attention
- Document your injuries
- File a police report
- Take photos/video of your injuries, animals involved, animal owners, etc.
- Photos/video of the location where the incident took place
- Eye-witness testimonies, eye-witness contact information, etc.
- Evidence
- Be organized: Date, time, location, those involved, the outline of what happened, what initiated the incident, etc.
Brian Chase
Articles, blogs, and content have been reviewed by legal in-house staff. Brian Chase is the managing partner of Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP. He is the lead trial lawyer and oversees cases handling dangerous and defective products that injure consumers. Brian is a top-rated injury attorney with numerous legal honors and awards for his work relating to auto defects and dangerous products. His firm has recovered over $1B for its clients. Brian is a frequent speaker for CAOC, Dordick Trial College, and OCTLA, covering personal injury trial techniques.
