Pitbulls ---Dog Bites — Continued breed-specific population data (i.e., number of deaths involving a given breed divided by number of dogs of that breed). However, such denominator data are not available, and official registration or licensing data cannot be used because owners of certain breeds may be less likely than those owning other breeds to register or license their animals

Editorial Note: During 1979–1996, fatal dog attacks occurred in 45 states

In 1986, nonfatal dog bites resulted in an estimated 585,000 injuries that required medical attention or restricted activity; in that year, dog bites ranked 12th among the leading causes of nonfatal injury in the United States (5 ).

In 1994, an estimated 4.7 million persons (1.8% of the U.S. population) sustained a dog bite; of these, approximately 800,000 (0.3%) sought medical care for the bite (6 ).

The findings in this report are subject to at least two limitations. First, because death-certificate data were not available, the two sources used for case finding in 1995–1996 probably underestimated the number of DBRFs and may represent only 74% of actual cases (1,2 ).

Second, to definitively determine whether certain breeds are disproportionately represented, breed-specific fatality rates should be calculated.

The numerator for such rates requires complete ascertainment of deaths and an accurate determination of the breed involved, and the denominator requires reliable data obtained from the Humane Society of the United States registry, NEXIS database accounts, and death certificates.

For 1995–1996, data from death certificates were not available. FIGURE 1. Number of dog-bite–related fatalities, by state — United States, 1979–1996* Vol. 46 / No. 21 MMWR 465

Dog Bites — Continued breed-specific population data (i.e., number of deaths involving a given breed divided by number of dogs of that breed). 

However, such denominator data are not available, and official registration or licensing data cannot be used because owners of certain breeds may be less likely than those owning other breeds to register or license their animals 

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm4621.pdf