How fast can a pit bull kill you? This is a very serious question that we will try to answer.
The public perception of pit bulls has no middle ground; you either love ’em or hate ’em. The term pit bull refers to a group of canines that spans across different dog breeds. Common pit bull breeds include American bully, American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, and American bulldog.
Pit bull-type dogs are usually affectionate, loyal, and gentle with their owners. The pit bull got its terrible reputation from the blood sport called dog-fighting.
In the early 1900s, dog fighting was a common sport for entertainment and high-stakes betting in high-class parties. Thankfully, dog-fighting is a felony offense in all 50 states of the US, and it is a felony offense under federal law as well.
How fast can a pit bull kill you?
It’s difficult for a pitbull to kill an adult human immediately. For a pit bull to kill within minutes, it will need to hit a structure like the jugular vein or carotid artery, which it can’t do except when the adult is lying down, a senior citizen, or disabled. However, a pit bull can kill a child in minutes.
Can a Pit Bull Kill?
First of all, all dogs tend to be aggressive. However, certain dog breeds have a shorter fuse or a higher prey drive. Some breeds are much bigger and stronger than the little Yorkie nipping at your feet.
The lethality of a pit bull will depend on its size, strength, prey drive, and activity level. A pit bull’s size and body weight is proportional to its level of aggression. The dog’s personality is also a determining factor.
Pit bulls are fast enough to outrun a human in seconds, and their powerful jaws can deliver significant damage. On average, the pit bull has a shoulder height ranging between 18-21 inches and can weigh up to 65 pounds with a speed of 30MPH.
Females are usually smaller. They have a height between 17-20 inches and can weigh up to 50 pounds. The pit bull has a shaking hold maneuver with a bite force of 240-330 PSI (pounds per square inch).
Once it grabs its prey, the pit bull will use a violent head shake to deliver the most damage, ripping the victim’s flesh. The pit bull’s jaw is powerful, but it doesn’t lock. Bred to chase livestock, they also have a high prey drive and fast speed. That’s why they are so passionate about games like fetch.
How Often do Pit Bulls attack Humans?
There are approximately 4.5 million pit bulls in the United States, making up 5.8% of the canine population. Even though pit bulls make up only 6% of the dog population, they’re responsible for 68% of dog attacks and 52% of dog-related deaths since 1982, according to research compiled by Merritt Clifton, editor of Animals 24-7.
Over the past 40 years, 63% of dog-related fatalities in America and Canada were linked to pit bulls. A study carried out in Denver found that approximately 25% of all aggressive incidents involved a pit bull.
During the 15 years from 2005 to 2020, dogs killed 568 Americans. Of these fatalities, Pit bulls contributed to 67% of them. Pit Bulls were also accountable for more than 50% of all reported dog attacks on other animals. 94% of pit bull attacks on adults leave the victims with fatal bodily harm.
Another report published in the April 2011 issue of the Annals of Surgery found that one person is killed by a pit bull every 14 days, two people are injured by a pit bull every day, and young children are especially at risk.
Between 2005 and 2008, 38 fatalities were attributed to pit bull attacks on children less than eight. Attacks by pit bulls can occur at any age and in any area of the body, especially the limbs. Any attack by a pit bull can result in a loss of limb or even life.
Why do Pitbulls Attack?
Over 700 cities in the US have banned pit bulls within their communities. Pit bulls remain the least adopted and commonly euthanized dog breed in the United States. Human negligence and naivety are frequently linked with pit bull attacks. And in most cases, rather than the owners taking responsibility, they’d rather euthanize the dog. Studies show that 84% of pit bulls involved in fatal dog attacks grew up in neglectful or abusive homes.
The pit bull has unfortunately suffered from overbreeding, and dog-fighting and is generally treated badly. The number of pit bulls that have endured abuse is why so many of them have the propensity to attack.
Unfortunately, children are frequently the victims of canine attacks. Because of a child’s small size to the attacking dog, facial, neck, and head wounds are most prevalent. These injuries can be life-threatening or cause serious scarring.
The pit bull is easier to anger than most dogs, probably due to the unusually high level of the neurotransmitter L-tyrosine. Pit bulls are also frighteningly tenacious; their attacks can last up to 15 minutes or longer, and nothing—hoses, violent blows, or kicks—can stop them. That’s because of a behavioral anomaly: the dog’s remarkable insensitivity to pain.
Most dogs beaten in a fight will submit the next time they see the victor. Not a defeated pit bull who will tear into his onetime vanquisher. This, too, has more to do with their brain chemistry. The body releases endorphins as a natural painkiller. Pit bulls seem extra sensitive to endorphins and may generate higher levels than other dogs.
How do Pit Bulls Attack?
A joint project between researchers in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) was carried out. This study aimed to survey the how and why of pit bull attacks.
The study defined dog attacks as “a human death caused by trauma from a dog bite”. Excluded from this study were deaths by disease caused by dog bites, strangulation on a scarf or leash pulled by a dog, heart attacks or traffic accidents, and falling injuries or fire ant bites from being pushed down by a dog.
When the pit bull attacks, it will attempt to disable the victim by hitting the limbs. Once the victim goes down, the animal usually bites the throat, neck, or skull. If the attack continues, death will finally result from asphyxiation, exsanguination, or a fractured skull and its complications.
Children are especially defenseless to mauls from domestic dogs for different motives. They are small and mimic small prey when running. They are unable to escape from an attacking dog and may unknowingly hurt or provoke the animal. They are also weak to offer defense if a large dog begins to maul.
The small size and plasticity of the infant’s head also means that a large dog can fit a young child’s skull into its mouth. This will exert considerable crushing forces, with a biting pressure of 200–400 pounds per square inch.
The extent of the damage is related to the vulnerability of the victim: young children, the elderly, and disabled persons have the highest mortality rates because of their weakness, defenselessness, and smaller body sizes.
Death from dog attacks may be caused directly or indirectly by blunt and sharp trauma, crushing, envenomation, anaphylaxis, or sepsis.
A fatal attack is typically repetitive, with uninhibited bites to the neck and devastating injuries to the blood vessels, the spinal cord, and the skull.
Signs that a Pit Bull Will Attack
Pitbulls are infamous for attacking animals, people, and even small children without warning. Social media and news websites are filled with reports stating that Pitbulls, which had been docile throughout their life, suddenly attacked or worse, even mauled people. But, there are signs that you should be wary which include,
- Low rumbling growl
- Ears perked up
- Showing front teeth
- Ears up or perked up
- Stalking
- Staring
What to Do if Your Pit Bull Attacks Someone
After a dog bite incident, the injured person and the animal owner should take steps to protect their legal rights. Contact the police immediately if your dog has attacked a person or animal. If a dog poses an immediate threat to the public, the police or veterinarian can order the dog to be put down or euthanized.
Related: Pitbull Poodle Mix
Conclusion
Pit bulls have the highest unprovoked attack rates. The fact remains that even though pit bulls aren’t naturally aggressive, they are a dangerous breed of dogs. Pit Bulls can be extremely dangerous if mishandled or forced to act a certain way. It will retaliate if abused, ignored, or mistreated.
Read Next:How to Euthanize a Dog With Over The Counter Drugs
