Pet adoption platforms label many pit-bull type dogs as safe for young children despite high attack statistics

Pet adoption websites are marking a substantial portion of pit-bull type dogs as “good with children,” despite evidence that these breeds are involved in a majority of serious dog-related injuries and deaths among kids. On PetFinder, just under half of the pit-bull type listings - 1,308 dogs - are flagged as child-friendly, accounting for more than 18 percent of the “good with children under eight” category while representing only about 6.5 percent of the site’s total inventory.

CDC records from 2024 indicate that pit-bull type dogs were responsible for 67 percent of the 124 fatal dog attacks in the United States, a rate far above their overall population share. Similar labeling practices appear on Friends of Homeless Animals, leading Virginia resident Lyndsey Fifield to question whether families are being misled into adopting higher-risk dogs. While many jurisdictions worldwide, such as Ontario, Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela, have banned or tightly regulated pit-bull ownership, no U.S. state has imposed a blanket prohibition.

Experts note that tools like “break sticks” can help owners intervene, but children under eight lack the ability to use such devices during an assault. Recent incidents, including the death of a 5-year-old autistic boy in South Carolina, underscore the ongoing public-safety concerns.