Iowa
Are Dogs A Real Danger?
A National Canine Research Council Perspective Report
Over the past 43 years (1965 - present) there have been two (2) fatal dog attacks in Iowa, or approximately one (1) fatal attack every 21 years.
Two different breeds/types of dogs were involved in the two cases of fatal attacks in Iowa.
Both cases involved unsupervised children attempting to interact with unfamiliar dogs:
One case was a child attacked by a dog while visiting her grandfather's farm (1990).
The only other fatality involved an unsupervised 2-year-old approaching an intact, male dog chained inside a pen (2002).
In spite of the reckless and negligent ownership practices of some dog owners, dogs still pose an incredibly low risk for causing a fatality:
Fatal Dog Attacks in Iowa as Compared to Other Selected Risks:
Snapshot of Iowa: Year 2005
| Persons killed by dogs: | 0 |
| Child death after being left in hot car: | 1 |
| Persons killed by lightning: | 1 |
| Persons drowned in tub or swimming pool: | 5 |
| Bicycle-related fatalities: | 13 |
| Child homicides: | 13 |
| ATV-related fatalities: | 19 |
| Alcohol-related traffic fatalities: | 117 |
| Total traffic fatalities: | 450 |
| Tobacco-related fatalities: | 4,900 |
According to Iowa Child Death Review Team Annual Report:
In 2005, thirteen (13) Iowa children were the victim of a homicide.
In a SINGLE YEAR, 2005, more than SIX TIMES as many Iowa children died as a result of homicide than the TOTAL from ALL dog attacks in Iowa over the past 43 years.
Dogs have only accounted for 2 deaths in Iowa over the past 43 years - yet in a single decade (1990-1999), fourteen (14) Iowans were killed by farm animals.
So, are dogs a danger? Fact is, people in Iowa routinely accept far greater risks from ATVs and swimming pools than any that are associated with companion animals.
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