Dog bite statistics demonstrate that certain breeds are more likely to be involved in attacks on people and other animals. There are genetic reasons why some breeds are more dangerous than others, but the most important factor in determining how dangerous a dog will be is the way it has been treated by its owner.
When dog owners mistreat their pets or train them to engage in violent behavior such as fighting, these animals become a serious threat to society. This is a particular concern to parents because most dog bite victims are children.
All types of dogs have the ability to harm people, but some dogs pose a greater threat due to their size, strength, and highly aggressive tendencies. In New York, it’s against the law to mistreat a dog, and dog owners are liable for the harm their pets cause.
What Dog Breeds Pose the Most Danger to People?
Dogs are animals that have an instinctive tendency to defend themselves when they feel threatened. Dog breeds that have been bred for hunting, fighting, and guarding are more likely to attack people, and aggressive dogs that are big and agile with muscular legs and powerful jaws pose a serious threat. When these animals attack people, they cause severe injuries and fatalities.
Dogs that are involved in the most attacks include pit bulls, mixed breeds, and German shepherds. Pit bulls, which were originally bred for fighting, are responsible for more than one out of five dog attacks. Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that pit bull attacks account for 28 percent of dog bite fatalities.
Dog breeds with characteristics that make them more likely to attack people and animals include:
- Pit bulls
- German shepherds
- Doberman pinschers
- Chow chows
- Rottweilers
- Mastiffs
- Akitas
- American bulldogs
- Labrador retrievers
- Presa Canario
- Tosas
- Huskies
- Alaskan malamutes
What Makes Some Dogs More Likely To Attack People?
Certain types of dogs are intentionally bred to be defensive and wary of strangers, especially guard dogs. Dogs are naturally territorial animals, and guard dogs are bred to show aggression when threatened.
Some dog breeds are more dangerous than others, but the way an animal is treated and trained by its owner plays a major role in how it reacts to people.
Cruelty and negligence cause dogs to become more violent. Owner behaviors that increase the chances that their dog will attack people include:
- Training the dog for fighting
- Encouraging the dog to act aggressively
- Failing to feed the dog regularly
- Chaining the dog up for long periods of time
- Extended isolation
- Failure to exercise the dog regularly
- Failure to socialize the dog with people as a puppy
- Taunting and teasing the dog
What Is a Dangerous Dog?
In the state of New York, dog owners are liable for injuries caused by their dogs, even if the dog hasn’t displayed violent behavior in the past.
To protect children and others from attacks, dogs that harm people or animals or act in a way that makes a person perceive them as a serious threat may be declared as a dangerous dog. Signs that a dog may be ready to attack include baring its teeth, narrowing its eyes, growling, snarling, raising its hackles, and barking.
If you feel threatened by a dog, call NYC311 to report the issue to a trained representative who can help. When an animal is declared to be a dangerous dog by a judge, the owner faces serious consequences that may include:
- Mandatory training paid for by the owner
- Mandatory liability insurance for up to $100,000
- Humanely confining the dog to prevent escape
- The dog must always be leashed in public and with a handler over 21
- The dog must be humanely muzzled when in public
- Criminal charges if the dog attacks someone in the future
Have You Been Injured by a Dangerous Dog in New York?
The experienced NY dog bite lawyers at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP have been getting justice for accident victims in New York City for over 50 years. Our attorneys will file a claim or lawsuit to help you get the resources you need to care for yourself and your family.
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