Earlier this year, a report was published demonstrating that pit bulls still pose the greatest threat when it comes to attacks on people. The study shows that these types of dogs make up approximately 6 percent of the pet dog population, but they account for more than 66 percent of the reports regarding animal bites. They are also responsible for the most fatal attacks, including a Wisconsin resident who was killed by one of these dogs.
Along with the physical harm these animals can inflict on their victims, they are also behind a significant increase in the cost of insurance claims over the past few years. State Farm, which is one of the few insurance companies that will provide coverage for pit bulls, paid out an estimated $132 million last year to settle claims over dog attacks. Over all, the insurance industry stated that nearly one-third of all homeowner claims in 2017 involved animal attacks and that these claims have cost nearly $700 million.