California
Are Dogs A Real Danger?
A National Canine Research Council Perspective Report
Over the past 43 years (1965 - present) there have been 59 fatal dog attacks in California, or an average of 1 to 2 dog attack fatalities per year.
At least 14 different breeds/types of dogs have been identified as participating in a fatal attack in California. The breeds include small and medium-sized dog (Pomeranian, Schnauzer) -- up to large and giant breed dogs (Malamute, Presa Canario).
The victims were: 14 adults and 45 children.
In keeping with being the most populous state in the U.S., California is also the state with the most fatal dog attacks.
California also leads the nation in having the largest number of criminal, negligent and abusive owners receiving felony convictions after encouraging or permitting their dogs to exhibit behaviors which resulted in a fatal attack.
Since 1982, nine (9) owners/caretakers have been convicted of manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter in California after their dogs were involved in a fatal attack:
In 2002, C. Schneider was convicted of manslaughter after his two unsocialized yard dogs escaped and killed a boy. (Tehama)
In 2003, J. Batey was convicted of involuntary manslaughter after she left her own children and a child she was babysitting alone with her dog in the yard. The dog attacked and killed the visiting child. (Good Hope)
Other parents and/or owners exhibiting clearly dangerous or reckless behavior managed to escape convictions; such as a young Pomona woman who had given birth to an infant and three days later discarded the baby in a junk-strewn yard in which two dogs resided. The dogs mauled the infant to death (1994).
Occasionally, a victim exhibits reckless/dangerous behavior which clearly invited a dog attack; such as the case in Compton where a man scaled a fence and attempted to trespass onto a business property which posted a warning sign that three guard dogs were on the premises. Undeterred, he entered onto the property and was attacked and killed by the animals (2006).
Yet, in spite of the reckless ownership practices of some dog owners, victims, and /or parents, dogs still pose an incredibly low risk for causing a fatality:
Fatal Dog Attacks in California as Compared to Other Selected Risks:
Snapshot of California: Year 2005
| Fatal dog attacks: | 4 |
| ATV-related fatalities: | 53 |
| Bicycle-related fatalities: | 135 |
| Persons drowned in tubs or swimming pools: | 180 |
| Alcohol-related traffic fatalities: | 1,769 |
| All traffic fatalities (alcohol & non): | 4,333 |
| Tobacco-related deaths: | 37,800 |
Furthermore, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
In 2005, one hundred and forty (140)* California children died as a result of maltreatment (abuse or neglect).
In ONE YEAR, 2005, more than THREE TIMES as many California children died from maltreatment (abuse or neglect) than the TOTAL of ALL children killed by dog attacks in California over the past 43 years.
* The actual number of child deaths in California from abuse/neglect is underreported due to lack of funding and staff support in the collection and reporting of cases of child deaths.
So, are dogs a real danger? In fact, people in California routinely accept far greater risks from bicycles, ATVs, and swimming pools than any that are associated with companion animals.
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