Pit Bulls Maul a Six-Year-Old Boy in Chicago

Three pit bulls mauled a 6-year-old boy in Chicago on Friday according to an article written by Tina Fondeles, a staff reporter of Chicago Suntimes. Chicago police officers shot two of the pit bulls but the third one escaped. The child was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition. The dog owner was questioned by Chicago police.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites each year. Half of the victims are children. Of those injured, 386,000 require treatment in an emergency department and about a dozen die. The rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 to 9 years. Almost two thirds of injuries among children ages four years and younger are to the head or neck region. Injury rates in children are significantly higher for boys than for girl.

CDC has published a study on fatal dog bites, which lists the breeds involved in fatal attacks over 20 years Download file