How many dog bites occur every year in the United State?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, estimates that dogs bite nearly 2% of the U.S. population each year. This is more than 4.7 million people per year, most of whom are children. Q: How many people die every year as a result of dog bites? A: Ten to twenty people die every year as a result of dog bites in the U.S. By far, the majority of the victims are children. From January 1997 through December 1998, 27 people died after being bitten by a dog. Nineteen of these victims were children under twelve years of age. Of the eight adult victims, most were elderly. Q: Why do some dogs bite? A: There are many reasons why a dog may bite. Dogs may bite due to fear, to protect their territory, or to establish their dominance over the person being bitten. Some dog owners mistakenly teach their dogs that biting is an acceptable form of play behavior. Because dog bites occur for many reasons, many components of responsible dog ownership – including proper socialization
