It happened in Philadelphia just two days into the new year. A 53-year-old man was found unconscious outside his home on Medary Avenue. His wife found him after coming home from work. He had a bite on his ankle. Inside the house, three pit bulls lay dead—the man had shot them before he collapsed.
Paramedics rushed him to the hospital, but it was too late. He died.
This is the reality of dog attacks in the news right now. It isn’t just one-off freak accidents anymore. Honestly, 2025 was a brutal year for these statistics, and 2026 is starting off just as heavy. We are seeing a record-breaking streak of fatalities and disfigurements that has both pet owners and lawmakers scrambling for answers.
The Numbers Nobody Wants to Talk About
If you look at the data from 2025, the picture is pretty grim. There were 84 dog-related deaths in the U.S. and Canada. That’s a record.
Out of those 84 deaths, 64 were attributed to pit bulls. That’s about 76%. Now, before the "it's the owner, not the breed" debate starts—and it always does—we have to look at the sheer scale of the injuries. It’s not just about who is biting; it’s about what happens when they do.
Stuart Hayward from the Omega Law Group recently pointed out something fascinating and terrifying. In emergency room cases involving children, 73% of the bites are to the face, head, or neck. For adults, that number drops to 30%, but if the attacker is a pit bull, that adult facial injury rate jumps to 54%.
It’s a different kind of attack.
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- 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year in the U.S.
- 885,000 of those require medical attention.
- 1,200 people were likely disfigured by dogs in 2025 alone.
Why Is This Spiking Now?
You’ve probably noticed more "Beware of Dog" signs or heard stories of delivery drivers getting cornered. There are a few things going on.
First, the "post-pandemic dog" is a real factor. During the lockdowns, people flooded shelters. Dogs weren't socialized. They didn't see other people, other pets, or even the mailman. Now, those dogs are older, stronger, and significantly more anxious.
Then there’s the shift in who is getting hit. For a long time, it was mostly kids. But lately, attacks on adults have actually outstripped those on children—the ratio is now roughly 56% adults to 44% kids.
Basically, the "family pet" is turning on the people who feed it. In 2025, a young mother in Missouri named Angel May Rawlings was killed in her own home by her two pit bulls. It happened right after Christmas.
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The Legal Hammer is Dropping
Lawmakers aren't just sitting around. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 593 in 2025. It’s a tough one. It requires—doesn't just authorize, but requires—that dogs involved in severe attacks be immediately confiscated and held.
Over in Jersey, they’re pushing through the Draft Dogs Law Amendment to align with the UK’s ban on XL Bullies. There’s a lot of pushback from owners, obviously. People hate being told what kind of dog they can have. But when 50% of dog-related deaths in the UK in 2023 were caused by a single type of dog, the government tends to stop asking nicely.
What Most People Get Wrong About Prevention
Most people think if a dog growls, you should run.
Don't run. Running triggers a "prey drive." It makes the dog think you’re a squirrel or a rabbit. Its brain flips into "chase and kill" mode.
If you find yourself facing an aggressive dog, animal behaviorists suggest turning your body to the side. Avoid eye contact. Direct eye contact is a challenge in dog language. Keep them in your peripheral vision, stand still like a tree, and stay quiet.
If things go south and the dog actually lunges:
- Feed it something else. A jacket, a bag, a stick—anything to put between your body and its teeth.
- Protect the "vitals." If you're knocked down, curl into a ball. Cover your ears and the back of your neck with your hands.
- Don't pull away. This sounds insane, but if a dog latches onto your arm, pulling back causes more tearing. You have to wait for a moment to push into the dog or use a tool to break the grip.
Real Stories from the Streets
It’s not just about the deaths. The "minor" stories in dog attacks in the news are just as life-altering.
In Philadelphia, a miniature pinscher named Ziggy had to have his leg amputated after a pit bull clamped onto him in Center City. His owner, Brian Lovenduski, had to get two bystanders to help pry the dog off. It took minutes.
Minutes is an eternity when bones are being crushed.
Another owner, J. Bazzel, spent $20,000 on surgeries for his sheltie after a similar attack near Chestnut Street. These aren't people who hate dogs. They’re people who are realizing that the "roaming dog" problem is becoming a public health crisis.
Actionable Steps for Safety
You can't control every loose dog in your neighborhood, but you can change how you move through the world.
- Carry "Deterrent Tools": Many walkers are now carrying pepper gel or even high-decibel personal alarms. They won't always stop a determined dog, but they can buy you seconds.
- Report Every Roaming Dog: Don't "be nice" and ignore the neighbor's loose German Shepherd. In Western Downs, Australia, they launched a massive inspection program in 2026 because they realized only a fraction of attacks were being reported. Documentation is the only way the city can take action.
- Check Your Insurance: If you own a high-risk breed, check your homeowner's policy. The average cost per dog bite claim has jumped to over $44,000. If your dog bites someone and you aren't covered, that's your house on the line.
- Socialize Properly: If you have a dog, "training" isn't just sitting for a treat. It's exposure. Take them to different environments. If they show "whale eye" (showing the whites of their eyes) or go stiff when a stranger approaches, get a professional trainer immediately.
The news cycle for dog attacks isn't slowing down. Whether it's a change in how we breed them or just a lapse in how we lead them, the streets feel a little less safe than they used to. Staying informed isn't about fear—it's about not being the next headline.