• During 1979–1998, dog attacks killed more than 300 Americans.
• Nearly 800,000 people sought medical care for dog bites in 1994; half of them were children under 18.

Characterizing deaths from dog attacks
In studies conducted by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control during 1979–1998, it was found that at least 25 breeds of dogs had been involved in the fatal attacks. However, pit bull-type dogs and Rottweilers were involved in more than half of the deaths for which the breed was known. Of the 227 fatal attacks for which data were available, more than two-thirds of attacks involved a single dog, and more than half involved dogs that were unrestrained on their owner's property. The findings of this study provide insight into the circumstances surrounding deadly dog attacks that may help shape prevention efforts.

Children are at greater risk of injury and death from dog bites. Many children do not know how to behave around a dog. Children's small size and inability to fend off an attack may put them at additional risk.

• In 1994, approximately 2.5% of U.S. children under 14 years old were bitten compared with 1.6% of adults over 18 years old.
• In 1997–1998, 27 people died from dog bites; 19 of them were children under 15.
• Children, especially boys ages 5 to 9, have the highest incidence rate for emergency department visits resulting from dog bites