“Are ‘Pit Bulls’ Different? An analysis of the Pit Bull Terrier Controversy,” Lockwood, R, and Rindy, K. Anthrozoos, Volume 1, Number 1 pg. 2-8.
“Breeds of Dogs Involved in Fatal Human Attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998,″ Sacks, JJ, Sinclair, L, Gilchrist J, Golab G, Lockwood R. JAVMA Vol. 217, 2000. (Center for Disease Control or CDC Study)
Though neither was intended for this purpose, two separate studies on fatal dog attacks in the United States have been characterized as evidence of the dangerousness of pit bulls, based on the number of pit bulls found to be involved in fatal attacks. Politicians, editorialists and other breed-ban advocates continue to quote the tabulations in these studies in discussions on dangerous dog legislation and/or breed specific bans.
Both these studies used newspapers as their primary source for data collection on the number of fatal dog attacks and the breeds involved.
1. “Are ‘Pit Bulls’ Different? An analysis of the Pit Bull Terrier Controversy,” Lockwood, R, and Rindy, K. Anthrozoos, Volume 1, Number 1 pg. 2-8.
The authors of this study present the data they have compiled from sources, including the “press” as:
“In 1986 we received reports of 12 fatalities from dog attack.”
“A less comprehensive survey of fatal attacks between October 1983 and December 1984 yielded reports of 9 additional fatalities.”
However, data gathered from additional sources reveal that:
In 1986 there were 14 fatal dog attacks (not 12).
Between October 1983 and December 1984 there were 21 fatal attacks (not 9).
Thus, the authors failed to capture 14 fatal dog attacks. None were by pit bull type dogs. 11 of these attacks were on children. *
2. “Breeds of Dogs Involved in Fatal Human Attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998,” Sacks, JJ, Sinclair, L, Gilchrist J, Golab G, Lockwood R. JAVMA Vol. 217, 2000. (Center for Disease Control or CDC Study)
From examination of mortality tapes (death certificates), the CDC determined that at least 327 persons were killed in dog-bite incidents during the years 1979-1998. Since death certificates do not provide information on the circumstances of the attack or the breeds of dogs involved, the CDC relied on newspaper articles to capture this data. Newspapers articles were searched for information on these attacks and provided breed information on 238 of the 327 deaths due to dogs during this 20-year period.
No newspaper articles could be located on 89 of the 327 dog-bite-related deaths during this time period, and as such these deaths were not included in the CDC’s statistical data on breeds of dogs involved in attacks.
Extensive additional research* has resulted in locating and documenting 40 of the 89 fatalities for which the CDC could not locate newspaper articles reporting the incident and/or the breed of dog involved. Of the 40 fatal attacks not located in newspaper reports, 37 involved breeds of dogs other than a pit bull or pit bull type dog.
Given the small study population of the CDC study (n=238), the omission of 40 additional cases is significant.
Both the CDC and Dr. Lockwood warned that their enumerations were not an argument for breed legislation of any kind. They were righter than they knew. Not only are the published tabulations under examination impossibly unrepresentative of the total dog population, the tabulations themselves are inaccurate!
The CDC stopped tracking dog attacks by breed in 1998. They understand that such tabulations are not science and are no basis for public policy. See: avma-cdc-2008-final and AVMA Statement: avma-letter
National Canine Research Council