List of fatal dog attacks in Germany

Main article: List of fatal dog attacks

This is a list of human deaths caused by dogs, which became publicly known in the form of reports, cause of death statistics, scientific papers, or other sources. For more information on causes of death and studies related to dog bite-related fatalities, see Fatal dog attacks.

Since 1998 deaths have been collected according to ICD-10 International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. With the help of cause-of-death statistics, recommendations for action and strategies can be derived, for example, for epidemiological research, prevention of deaths, and so on.[1] Deaths from or after dog bites are very rare, they count as preventable deaths. W 54: Bitten or Struck by dog is the classification according to ICD-10.[2]

According to an evaluation of the number of deaths in the period from 2009 to 2019, an average of 3.3 people died per year throughout Germany. The states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen and Saarland had no deaths during this period. In 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2019, there were no deaths nationwide, according to statistics.[3][4]

Summary counts of fatalities by year

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Deaths per year according to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany:[5]

Fatalities from 2000 to current

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This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Date Age Sex Dog type (Number) Location Circumstances
January 24, 2024 35 M American Bully XL Schleswig-Holstein, Geesthacht According to the police, the dog had already seriously injured the owner's partner two weeks earlier when she fell on the icy road. The man was found by a passerby, he was covered in blood and suffered serious injuries to both his arms. When the officers arrived, the dog was sitting next to the 35-year-old. The dog then aggressively charged the paramedics who tried to help. The police shot the dog. The man died in hospital.[6]
January 9, 2024

January 10, 2024†

88 F German Shepherd Saxony-Anhalt, Halberstadt, Emersleben The woman was discovered with hypothermia and bite wounds. She died the next day. The autopsy concluded that she died from blood loss. The charges of involuntary manslaughter against the 53-year-old dog owner and breeder were dropped in August 2024. The investigation revealed that the dog was in a closed kennel on private property and could not have gotten out on its own. It remained unclear why the victim went into the kennel. The dog was not euthanized.[7][8]
April 6, 2023 81 M English Bulldog (4) Brandenburg, Worin The victim was bitten by the neighbor's four dogs while mowing the lawn. He suffered severe injuries to his arms and legs and died in hospital four weeks later.[9]
January 10, 2023 87 F American Bully Rhineland-Palatinate, Neuhofen, Rheinauen According to the police, the woman wanted to carry a package to her relatives' house when the family dog she knew well grabbed it. The relatives saw the attack but were unable to stop it in time. The woman died at the scene. The dog had not previously been noticed as aggressive. The police believe it was an accident. The dog was seized by the public order office and taken to an animal shelter. It was decided to euthanize the dog when resocialization was not possible.[10][11]
December 2022 40 M Labrador North Rhine-Westphalia, Weeze A racing cyclist collided with another cyclist's dog while overtaking him and fell. He died a few days later in hospital. The police believe it was a tragic accident because the dog did not run directly towards the racing cyclist.[12]
April 10, 2018 <1 M Pit bull type Hesse, Bad König The family dog "Kowu" bit the 7-month-old infant in the head, it died later in the hospital. Police described the dog as a possible Staffordshire mix.[13]
April 2018 52 F American Staffordshire Terrier cross Hanover The dog owner's sisters saw a lifeless body lying on the floor through the apartment window. Firefighters broke into the apartment and found the two victims covered in blood. The dog named "Chico" was taken to a shelter. Nearly 300,000 people signed the online petitions demanding that the dog be rescued and that it be given a chance for resocialization. The case was also made explosive by the fact that the dog was already known to the responsible authorities. Neighbors had already complained years ago about the barking and reported that he was not kept in a manner appropriate to the species. The dog was later euthanized. [14][15]
27 M
2018 52 F Unknown Lower Saxony The woman sustained a minor injury from a dog bite and died due to an infection with capnocytophaga canimorsus 4 to 6 days later.[16]
December 16, 2017 47 M Rottweiler Saxony, Chemnitz, Roßwein The man was attacked while walking the dog. His mother tried to get the dog away from him, which took about 15 minutes. He died due to blood loss.[17][18]
May 30, 2017 72 F Kangal Baden-Württemberg, Sigmaringen, Stetten am kalten Markt According to the public prosecutor's office, the Kangal attacked the victim when she passed the property on a footpath where the dog was kept. He killed her with bites to the head and neck. Police killed the dog.[19]
November 8, 2011 62 M Dobermann Thuringia, Nordhausen, Wülfingerode The son found his father, bitten to death by his own dog. It is unclear why the dog attacked the man.[20][21][22]
October 10, 2010 57 F Rottweiler x

German Shepherd

Thuringia, Sömmerda, Kindelbrück The family dog attacked and killed the woman. The dog was euthanized.[23]
September 2010 3 M Rottweiler Saxony-Anhalt, Wittenberg, Zörnigall The boy was visiting his great-grandmother who was caring for the dog named "Spike", the pet of the boy's father. The boy had known the dog since birth. The police shot the animal several times to clear the way for the emergency doctor to get to the boy.[24][25]
May 21, 2010 3 F American Staffordshire Terrier (4) Thuringia, Oldisleben-Sachsenburg The girl was attacked by her aunt's dogs. The great-grandmother came to the rescue of the girl and was seriously injured. All dogs were euthanized by authorities with the aunt's consent.[26] The aunt was charged with negligent homicide.[27][28][29] The Nordhausen district court has sentenced the dog owner to one year of probation and 80 hours of community service for negligent homicide.[30]
April 2010 <1 F Husky x German Shepherd Brandenburg, Cottbus, Saspow The family dog named "Bingo" knocked over the stroller and attacked the 8-week-old child. The dog was brought to an animal shelter. His assessment showed no signs of increased aggressiveness towards people and animals, he was not euthanized. The owners agreed to rehome the dog.[31][32][33]
November 2006 <1 Rottweiler Lower Saxony, Cuxhaven, Samtgemeinde Land Hadeln The dog of a family member opened the door to the room where the 4-month-old child was and attacked it. The dog was euthanized the same day.[34]
July 24, 2006 92 F American Staffordshire Terrier Saxony-Anhalt, Gross Rossau The woman was bitten by the dog and succumbed to her injuries on the spot. The dog's owner was on vacation at the time of the incident. The dog sitter let the dog run around freely on the property where the woman lived. The reason for the attack is unclear.[35][36]
December 31, 2005
January 6, 2006† 		69 M Unknown Brandenburg The man sustained a minor injury from a bite by his dog and died a few days later due to an infection with capnocytophaga canimorsus.[37]
December 1, 2004 36 F Pit Bull Bremen The victim was killed in her apartment by her dog. An arriving police officer killed the dog.[38]
December 2002 86 F Rottweiler Brandenburg, Senzig When the woman brought water to the dog named "Brando", she was bitten and died a little later from her injuries. The dog was euthanized.[39][40]
November 2002 <1 M Rottweiler Saxony-Anhalt, Hobeck The 6-week-old child was in the yard in its stroller and started crying. The family dog knocked the stroller over and killed the infant. The father shot the dog with a hunting rifle.[41][42]
May 2, 2002 24 M Labrador mix Baden-Wuerttemberg, Untergruppenbach When a Jack Russell Terrier and a Labrador mix began fighting over a stick, the dog owner tried to protect the Jack Russell. The Labrador mix snapped and injured the man's carotid artery. The man panicked due to the profuse bleeding and ran away, leaving his companions unable to help him. He bled to death before the rescue workers arrived.[43]
March 28, 2002 6 M Rottweiler (2) Rhineland-Palatinate, Zweibrücken An adult woman and a boy were walking the dogs in the forest. When he fell, the unleashed female dog charged at him and bit. The male dog then got out of the collar and bit as well. The child died on the spot.[44]
August 8, 2001 11 F German Shepherd Schleswig-Holstein, Lutzhorn The girl was playing in the garden with the family dog when she was bitten several times and died.[45]
June 26, 2000 6 M Staffordshire Bull Terrier Hamburg See: Volkan Kaya

Two dogs jumped into a schoolyard and attacked about ten children, leaving two injured and one dead. The dogs were shot dead by responding police and two people were arrested.[46][47] Following this, another fatal dog attack earlier the same year, and a long series of serious injuries caused by fighting dogs, the German government enacted laws banning certain breeds, including penalties of up to 100,000 Deutsche Marks ($48,100 USD).[48][49]

Pit Bull
March 5, 2000 86 F Rottweiler North Rhine-Westphalia, Gladbeck, Rentfort-Nord The victim was taking out the trash when the dog attacked her. The dog bit into the pensioner's head and neck and severed her cervical spine. Neighbors rushed over and hit the animal with spades but couldn't save the injured woman. According to the public prosecutor's office, the daughter of a Rottweiler breeder was taking a walk with three Rottweilers who were not on a leash in the early hours of the morning. The dog named "Easy" disappeared for a while and returned to the nearby breeding grounds by herself. The dog had attacked and injured a child three years before the fatal attack. The Essen public prosecutor's office alleged negligent homicide. The 21-year-old was sentenced to ten months for negligent homicide (juvenile sentence to probation).[50][51][52][53]
May 11, 1998 48 F Pit bull (2) Brandenburg, Uckermark, Milow She was in front of her house with her two dogs. When a 13-year-old girl cycled past the property, her dogs chased after the girl. When the owner tried to stop the dogs they turned on her and killed her. [54]
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Qualitätsbericht - Todesursachenstatistik". Statistisches Bundesamt (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  2. ^ "BfArM - ICD-10-WHO". www.bfarm.de. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  3. ^ "Durchschnittliche Anzahl von Todesfällen durch Hundebisse nach Bundesländern 2009-2019". Statista (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  4. ^ "Todesfälle durch Hundebisse in Deutschland". Statista (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  5. ^ "Todesfälle durch Hundebisse in Deutschland" [Deaths from dog bites in Germany]. Statista (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  6. ^ NDR (2024-01-27). "Nach Hundeattacke in Geesthacht: 35-Jähriger verstorben" [After dog attack in Geesthacht: 35-year-old man dies]. www.ndr.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  7. ^ "Tödlicher Hundebiss im Harz: Ermittlungen gegen Halter eingestellt | MDR.DE" [Fatal dog bite in Emersleben: Investigation against owner closed]. www.mdr.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  8. ^ Lotzmann, Dennis. "Nach Tod von hochbetagter Seniorin ermittelt Polizei gegen 53-Jährigen" [Police are investigating a 53-year-old after the death of an elderly woman]. www.volksstimme.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  9. ^ "Mann wird von vier Hunden gebissen und stirbt" [Man is bitten by four dogs and dies]. www.rbb24.de (in German). 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  10. ^ "Familien-Hund beißt Frau (87) in der Pfalz tot – American Bully wird eingeschläfert". www.ludwigshafen24.de (in German). 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  11. ^ "Tödlicher Zwischenfall mit Frau: Hund wird eingeschläfert". Süddeutsche.de (in German). 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  12. ^ Latzel, Sebastian (2021-12-22). "Nach Unfall in Weeze: Rennradfahrer stirbt nach Kollision mit Hund" [After an accident in Weeze: racing cyclist dies after collision with dog]. RP ONLINE (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  13. ^ Zeitung, Süddeutsche (2018-04-10). "Hessen: Baby stirbt nach Hundeattacke". Süddeutsche.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  14. ^ Connolly, Kate (April 9, 2018). "German dog that killed owners may not be put down after outcry". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  15. ^ Hertreiter, Laura (April 16, 2018). "Chico: Deshalb wurde er eingeschläfert". Süddeutsche.de (in German). Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  16. ^ Tretschok, Andreas (2018-11-16). "Hundebiss mit tragischen Folgen" [Dog bite with tragic consequences]. Aller-Weser-Klinik (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  17. ^ Fricke, Maria (2018-01-01). "Roßweiner starb am Hundebiss" [Roßwein man died from dog bite]. www.saechsische.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  18. ^ "Rottweiler-Attacke dauerte eine viertel Stunde" [Rottweiler attack lasted a quarter of an hour]. www.dnn.de (in German). 2018-01-02. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  19. ^ dpa, Lena Müssigmann (2018-05-28). "Sigmaringen: Kangal tötet Seniorin: Hundebesitzer vor Gericht". SÜDKURIER Online (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  20. ^ "Thüringen: Mann wird von eigenem Hund tot gebissen - inSüdthüringen". www.insuedthueringen.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  21. ^ Landeszeitung, Thüringische (2011-11-09). "Dobermann in Wülfingerode tötet sein 62-jähriges Herrchen". www.tlz.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  22. ^ Feuerriegel, Jens (2011-11-09). "62-Jähriger stirbt in Wülfingerode nach Hunde-Attacke". www.thueringer-allgemeine.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  23. ^ "Thüringen: «Familienhund» tötet seine Besitzerin". www.mz.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  24. ^ "Rottweiler beißt kleinen Jungen tot". www.fr.de (in German). 2019-01-23. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  25. ^ "Rottweiler beißt Kind (3) tot - B.Z. – Die Stimme Berlins". www.bz-berlin.de (in German). 2010-09-12. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  26. ^ Mudra, Kai (2010-05-25). "Schock nach Hundeattacke". www.thueringer-allgemeine.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  27. ^ "Thüringen: 44-jährige Tante nach tödlichem Hundeangriff in Oldisleben angeklagt - inSüdthüringen". www.insuedthueringen.de (in German). October 15, 2010. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  28. ^ "Attack dogs kill German toddler". Tehran Times. 2010-05-22. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  29. ^ Hellner, Petra (2011-03-24). "Prozessauftakt nach Kampfhunde-Attacke in Sachsenburg". www.thueringer-allgemeine.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  30. ^ Allgemeine, Thüringer (2011-04-01). "Bewährung nach tödlicher Kampfhund-Attacke in Nordhausen". www.thueringer-allgemeine.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  31. ^ "Cottbus: Hund beißt Baby tot". FAZ.NET (in German). 2010-04-25. ISSN 0174-4909. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  32. ^ "Nach tödlichem Angriff auf Baby: Husky wird nicht eingeschläfert". Der Tagesspiegel Online (in German). ISSN 1865-2263. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  33. ^ "Dieser Hund biss das Baby Emily tot - B.Z. – Die Stimme Berlins". www.bz-berlin.de (in German). 2010-04-26. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  34. ^ "Staatsanwaltschaft: Kampfhund-Angriff war tragischer Unfall - WELT". DIE WELT (in German). 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  35. ^ "Hundehaltergesetz: Rentnerin von Kampfhund getötet". FAZ.NET (in German). 2006-07-24. ISSN 0174-4909. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  36. ^ ONLINE, RP (2006-07-24). "Grund für Attacke unklar: Kampfhund tötet 92-jährige Frau". RP ONLINE (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  37. ^ Fallbericht: Infektion mit Capnocytophaga canimorsus nach einem Hundebiss. Epidemiologisches Bulletin 2006 Nr. 24. Robert Koch-Institut (2006), S. 186–187. https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/Infekt/EpidBull/Archiv/2006/Ausgabenlinks/24_06.pdf?__blob=publicationFile
  38. ^ "Bremen: Frau von Kampfhund getötet" [Bremen: Woman killed by fighting dog]. www.morgenpost.de (in German). 2004-09-02. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  39. ^ Rost, Susanne (2002-12-09). "Amtstierarzt ließ Hund nach Attacke einschläfern: Rottweiler biss 86-jährige Frau tot" [Official veterinarian had dog euthanized after attack: Rottweiler bit 86-year-old woman dead]. Berliner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  40. ^ Lukaschewitsch, M. (2002-12-11). "Rottweiler beißt Frau tot" [Rottweiler bites woman to death]. www.morgenpost.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  41. ^ "Säugling von Rottweiler getötet". Die Tageszeitung: taz (in German). 2002-11-18. p. 7. ISSN 0931-9085. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  42. ^ "Staatsanwaltschaft: Kampfhund-Angriff war tragischer Unfall - WELT". DIE WELT (in German). 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  43. ^ Eckert, Günter (2002-05-03). "Mann verblutet nach Hundebiss" [Man bled to death after dog bite]. Stimme. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  44. ^ "Zwei Rottweiler töten Sechsjährigen" [Two Rottweilers kill six-year-old boy]. Der Tagesspiegel Online (in German). ISSN 1865-2263. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  45. ^ "Schäferhund biss elfjähriges Mädchen tot" [German Shepherd fatally bites 11-year-old girl]. DIE WELT (in German). 2011-11-16. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  46. ^ "Dogs kill boy in Germany". BBC News. June 26, 2000. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  47. ^ "Pit-bull breeding banned in Germany after attack". Reading Eagle. June 29, 2000. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  48. ^ "Customs online - Dangerous dogs - Dangerous dogs". www.zoll.de. Archived from the original on July 28, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  49. ^ "Customs online - Private individuals - Provisions imposed by individual federal states". www.zoll.de. Archived from the original on July 28, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  50. ^ "Verhandlung beginnt am Donnerstag: Prozess: Rentnerin von Rottweiler-Hündin zerfleischt" [Trial begins on Thursday: Trial: Pensioner mauled by Rottweiler dog]. RP ONLINE (in German). 2000-07-17. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  51. ^ "Nach tödlichen Bissen: Rottweiler „Easy" soll eingeschläfert werden" [After fatal bites: Rottweiler “Easy” should be euthanized]. RP ONLINE (in German). 2000-03-15. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  52. ^ Lüning, Maria (2012-12-03). "Mehr Freilauf für Hunde" [More free running for dogs]. www.waz.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  53. ^ "NACH DER ATTACKE: Rottweiler-Suche hält an" [AFTER THE ATTACK: Rottweiler search continues]. Die Tageszeitung: taz (in German). 2000-03-07. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  54. ^ Rost, Susanne (1998-05-12). "Sie wollte ein Kind vor den Hunden beschützen: Hundehalterin von eigenen Pitbulls getötet" [Dog owner killed by her own pit bulls]. Berliner Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
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