Utah
Are Dogs A Real Danger?
An Overview of Fatal Dog Attacks
Over the past 43 years (1965 - present) there have been three (3) fatal dog attacks in Utah, or approximately one (1) fatality every 14 years.
Two different breeds of dogs have been identified as participating in fatal attacks in Utah.
All three victims were young male children.
One case involved a large number of chained dogs being kept on the premises. The dogs were used soley for breeding/profit. One of the dogs fatally bit a 2-year-old in the head when the boy approached the dog. The owner/parent admitted this dog had regularly been teased and harassed by his children. (Hildale, 2001).
All the dogs involved in fatal attacks in Utah were intact (not spayed or neutered).
Two of the three fatalities involved dogs which were maintained on chains.
In spite of the negligent or reckless ownership practices of some dog owners, dogs still post an incredibly low risk for causing a fatality:
Fatal Dog Attacks in Utah as Compared to Other Selected Risks:
Snapshot of Utah: Year 2005
| Persons killed by dogs: | 0 |
| Persons killed by lightning: | 1 |
| Death from contact w/hornets, bees or wasps: | 1 |
| Persons drowned in bathtub or swimming pool: | 5 |
| Bicycle-related fatalties: | 6 |
| ATV-related fatalities: | 14 |
| Alcohol-related traffic fatalities: | 40 |
| Total traffic fatalities (alcohol & non): | 282 |
| Tobacco-related deaths: | 1,100 |
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
In 2005, ten (10) Utah children died as the result of maltreatment (abuse or neglect).
In a SINGLE YEAR, more than THREE TIMES as many Utah children died as the result of maltreatment (abuse/neglect) than the TOTAL of ALL children killed by dog attacks in Utah over the past 43 years.
So, are dogs a danger? The fact is, people in Utah routinely accept far greater risks from bicycles, ATVs, and swimming pools than any that are associated with companion animals.
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