National Canine Research Council

Over the past 45 years (1965-present) there have been 14 fatal dog attacks in Alabama, an average of one fatal attack every three years.

At least seven (7) different breeds/types of dogs have been identified in connection with these incidents.

All the dogs involved were intact (not neutered or spayed).

The victims were 5 adults and 9 children.

In two separate incidents, an 82-year-old man and a 47-year-old man were killed when they approached chained guard dogs at a business location.  (1988, Centreville and 2006, Phenix City).

In 1982, a child was killed by a chained dog that had been so relentlessly teased by children that it had broken its leg.  The dog’s owner, aware of its torment, had taken no action to prevent the teasing, nor did he seek medical attention for the dog after it was injured.  (Warrior)

In 1983, a young woman who had just given birth discarded her child behind a shed in the backyard. Neighboring dogs wandered over, found the infant, and mauled her.  (Montevallo)

In 2005, B.E. Marbury was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years in prison, after his dog, whom he had regularly abused, attacked and killed an elderly neighbor. (Lanett)

 In spite of the abusive and dangerous ownership practices of some dog owners, dogs still pose an incredibly low risk for causing a fatality:

Furthermore, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

In 2005, twenty-four (24) children died as the result of maltreatment (abuse/neglect) in Alabama.

In a single year,  (2005), more than twice as many Alabama children died from maltreatment than the total of all children killed by dogs in  Alabama over the past 45 years.

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Fact is, people in Alabama routinely accept far greater risks from ATVs, bicycles and swimming pools than any that are associated with companion animals.

National Canine Research Council