New Report Reveals Near Tripling of Severe Dog Bite Injuries in Austin and San Antonio — Provides In-Depth Examination
The report, " Rising Dog Maulings in Two Central Texas Cities (2018-2023): What Public Safety Policy Got Wrong—and How to Fix It,' represents an 18-month investigation that required multiple Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain detailed bite severity data from both cities. The report includes extensive data analysis, charts, and statistics.
While local media outlets reported the sharp rise of severe bites in early 2024, this analysis goes much deeper, examining 12 years of data from 2012 to 2023 to provide historical context. The research reveals that the dramatic increases weren't sudden spikes but part of a sustained trend that accelerated during and after the pandemic.
Key findings include significant demographic shifts in bite victims, with adults 40 years and older experiencing the steepest increases — 433% in Austin and 396% in San Antonio. In both cities, the report shows that pit bulls were disproportionately responsible for severe injuries — over four times higher than any other breed. In Austin, severe bites inflicted by pit bulls surged 533% from 2018 to 2023.
In Austin, the research establishes a clear connection between the city's aggressive no-kill shelter policies adopted in 2019 and rising severe bite injuries. The Austin Animal Center recycled 352 dogs with moderate or severe bite histories back into the community between 2019 and 2023, with some of these dogs later inflicting severe injuries on the public.
The report documents what researchers call a 'sustained effect' of increased dog bite injury severity following COVID-19 lockdowns, aligning with findings from a UK study published in August 2024. That study, the first to examine post-lockdown dog bite trends, found a 47% increase in dog bites and significantly more severe injuries requiring operative management and longer hospital stays.
Both cities have since implemented policy changes. Austin adopted the Dunbar Bite Scale in February 2024, restricting the rehoming of dogs with a Level 4 or higher bite history. San Antonio launched a strategic plan increasing dangerous dog investigations and compliance rates. Despite these efforts, San Antonio reported a 54% increase in severe bites in fiscal 2025.
About DogsBite.org
DogsBite.org is a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks. Through our work, we hope to protect both people and pets from future attacks.
Contact Information:
DogsBite.org
Colleen Lynn
512-650-8510
Contact via Email
https://www.dogsbite.org
Read the full story here: New Report Reveals Near Tripling of Severe Dog Bite Injuries in Austin and San Antonio — Provides In-Depth Examination
Press Release Distributed by PR.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
12 minutes ago
- Fox News
Top Georgia football commit arrested for aggravated assault with deadly weapon in apparent road rage incident
Georgia football commit Chace Calicut was arrested in Texas this week and faces a second-degree felony charge over his alleged involvement in a violent driving incident involving a gun, according to online records. Calicut, a 17-year-old football player at North Shore High School, was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following an alleged road rage incident in which shots were fired. According to court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital, a 17-year-old man and another passenger, 17, were driving in a blue Hyundai Sonata in Harris County, Texas, on July 6 when Calicut and another person, identified as Isaiah Phillip, were spotted driving behind them in a black Cadillac Escalade. Calicut was allegedly driving the vehicle when the victims claimed that the college football prospect got around in front of their car and began to hit his brakes, forcing the victim to hit on his brakes to avoid colliding with Calicut. According to court documents, the victim tried to get away from Calicut, who continued to chase him down in his car. Calicut allegedly drove "erratically in front of him and alongside of him," rolling his window down as he neared the Hyundai. At some point during the pursuit, the victim claimed that he witnessed Phillip inside the Cadillac "with a handgun pointed towards" their vehicle. The victim then managed to get away, but told law enforcement that he heard what he believed were gunshots "fired towards him." The motivation behind the alleged incident was not stated, but according to court documents, the victims told law enforcement that they were familiar with Calicut from school and that Calicut had allegedly been "threatening to harm via statements made at the school" and on the phone for "several months." Calicut was ordered by a judge on Wednesday to remain in custody and his bond was set at $75,000. According to online jail records, Calicut was still in custody as of Wednesday afternoon. Calicut will turn 18 on Friday. Fox News Digital reached out to the University of Georgia for comment. A four-star defensive back, Calicut committed to Georgia last month over other top programs, including Texas and Michigan. Speaking to On3 last month after announcing his decision, Calicut explained what went into choosing the Bulldogs. "I picked Georgia because of the program, the way they work and how they do things in Athens. It is different from other places I have seen. They work, they take no days off, and the coaches will be on you always," he told the outlet. "The coaches at Georgia will not kiss anyone's butt, and that is the kind of coaches I want to play for. Georgia treats you like a zero-star, and you have to earn it, and I love that."
New York Times
12 minutes ago
- New York Times
At Texas Flooding Hearing, State Officials Look Elsewhere for Blame
Texas' emergency management chief on Wednesday defended his agency's actions in the July 4 floods that ravaged the Texas Hill Country, suggesting at the first legislative hearing on the disaster that local emergency officials were not adequately trained to respond. At several points during the hearing on the state's handling of the catastrophic floods that killed at least 136 people statewide, W. Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, directed attention to the role of local emergency managers in disaster response in Texas. 'The responsibility of being in charge rests with local officials,' Mr. Kidd testified at the hearing of State Senate and House committees for disaster preparedness. He also pointed to the lack of specificity and urgency in National Weather Service forecasts until shortly before floodwaters began surging early on July 4. While Mr. Kidd did not describe any particular failures by local officials, he stressed the need for 'a deliberate conversation about the credentialing of emergency managers at the local level.' At the moment, there are no requirements for credentials. 'We can do better than that,' he said. The testimony opened a daylong hearing at the State Capitol in Austin, part of a special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott to address the flooding, as well as to redraw congressional maps to benefit Republicans in response to pressure from President Trump. The state is still reeling from the flooding. At the hearing on Wednesday, the director of the state police, Freeman Martin, told lawmakers that another person missing in the flood, an adult woman whom he did not identify, had been found dead. Two people, including a child from Camp Mystic, remain missing in Kerr County, he said. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Times
12 minutes ago
- New York Times
Texas A&M mascot Miss Reveille X undergoes surgery to remove eye diagnosed with glaucoma
Texas A&M's official mascot, Miss Reveille X, was diagnosed with glaucoma, according to a statement from Texas A&M president Mark A. Welsh III. Miss Reveille X, a rough collie, experienced 'discomfort' and 'cloudiness' in her right eye. Veterinarians at Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital recommended that Miss Reveille X undergo surgery. Out of 'an abundance of caution,' her eye was removed. Advertisement 'I'm grateful to report that Miss Rev has come through the surgery successfully, has been discharged and is resting comfortably. Our priority is her health and well-being, and we are blessed to have access to the remarkably talented and caring Texas A&M veterinary team who will continue to monitor Miss Rev on her road to recovery.' Miss Reveille X became the Aggies' mascot on April 30, 2021. She, along with the past mascots, is cared for by the Corps of Cadets Company E-2. On football game days, Miss Reveille X can be seen running out on the field with her handler. The First Lady of Aggieland will take a 'brief hiatus from engagements' as she makes her recovery. 'According to her veterinary team, we can expect Miss Rev to be back to enjoying all her favorite activities — cruising on Rev Force One, attending classes, cheering on the Aggies and keeping our campus squirrels in line — this fall.'
