List of fatal dog attacks in France
{{short description|List of French dog attack fatalities}}
{{Main|List of fatal dog attacks}}
File:Rottweiler kopf 2.jpg is classified as a potentially dangerous dog (category 2) under French law.]]
This is a list of human deaths caused by dogs in reverse chronological order, which have been documented through news media, reports, cause-of-death statistics, scientific papers, or other sources. For additional information on causes of death and studies related to fatalities resulting from dog bites or attacks, see Fatal dog attacks.
According to a publication, that examined fatal dog attacks over a period of 17 years, on average 5 people die per year due to a dog attack or as a late effect of a bite in France (data considered up to the year 2016). Eurostat data recorded 79 fatal attacks over the period examined.{{Cite journal |last=Ribeiro |first=C. |last2=Sallaz |first2=G. |last3=Fontanel |first3=A. |date=2010 |title=Les morsures et les griffures d’animaux en France métropolitaine |trans-title=Animal bites and scratches in metropolitan France |url=https://sofia.medicalistes.fr/spip/IMG/pdf/Les_morsures_et_les_griffures_d_animaux_en_France_metropolitaine.pdf |format=PDF |journal=Urgences 2010 |publisher=Société Française des Infirmier(e)s Anesthésistes |pages=1044}}{{Cite journal |last=Sarenbo |first=Sirkku |last2=Svensson |first2=P. Andreas |date=2021-01-09 |title=Bitten or struck by dog: A rising number of fatalities in Europe, 1995–2016 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0379073820304540 |journal=Forensic Science International |volume=318 |pages=110592 |doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110592 |issn=0379-0738|doi-access=free }}{{Cite journal |last=Sarcey |first=Guillaume |last2=Ricard |first2=Cécile |last3=Thelot |first3=Bertrand |last4=Beata |first4=Claude |date=2017-11-01 |title=Descriptive study of dog bites in France—Severity factors, factors of onset of sequelae, and circumstances. Results of a survey conducted by InVS and Zoopsy in 2009-2010 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787817301491 |journal=Journal of Veterinary Behavior |volume=22 |pages=66–74 |doi=10.1016/j.jveb.2017.07.006 |issn=1558-7878}}
{{Dynamic a-list}}
Fatalities in European France from 2000 to current
Fatalities in the overseas territories of France from 2010 to current
Legal consequences
In France, dog owners or dog handlers are liable for any damage caused by their dog. In case of a fatal dog attack, the responsible person can be prosecuted for manslaughter and face up to 5 years in prison and €75,000 of fine. Penalties can increase to 7 years imprisonment and €100,000 of fine if one of the following applies:
- possession or keeping of the dog has been prohibited by law or court order
- the dog owner was under the influence of alcohol or narcotics
- laws regarding 1st or 2nd category dogs (potentially dangerous dogs) were not complied with
- the dog was abused
- mandatory vaccination against rabies is not up to date
These penalties increase to 10 years imprisonment and €150,000 of fine when at least 2 circumstances were present when the dog attack occurred.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-05 |title=Que faire en cas de morsure par un chien ? |trans-title=What to do if a dog bites? |url=https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F24028 |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=www.service-public.fr |language=Fr}}
Legislation
= Animal cruelty =
File:01 American Staffordshire terrier.jpg
Laws regarding the keeping and well-being of dogs are regulated on a national and on a European level in France. France ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals in 2003. The treaty of the Council of Europe prohibits the docking of tails, debarking and removing of the four canine teeth (defanging). The article R214-21 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code also prohibits surgical procedures for cosmetic purposes, like the cropping of dog ears.{{Cite web |title=Article R214-21 - Code rural et de la pêche maritime - Légifrance |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000021647477 |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=www.legifrance.gouv.fr}} The articles 521-1 to 521-2 of the penal code regulate the penalties for animal cruelty.{{Cite web |title=Chapitre Ier : Des sévices graves ou actes de cruauté envers les animaux (Articles 521-1 à 521-2) |trans-title=Chapter I: Serious abuse or acts of cruelty to animals (Articles 521-1 to 521-2) |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/section_lc/LEGITEXT000006070719/LEGISCTA000006149860?init=true&page=1&query=521-1&searchField=ALL&tab_selection=all&anchor=LEGIARTI000044394119#LEGIARTI000044394119 |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=www.legifrance.gouv.fr |publisher=Légifrance}} If a dog shows signs of mistreatment it can lead to aggravating circumstances in a fatal dog attack case.
= Dangerous dogs =
France changed its laws in 1999 with the intention of reducing attacks and serious injuries caused by dogs. In 2008, the relevant laws were tightened, introducing behavioral assessment and mandatory training sessions for all dogs that bit a person. Furthermore it was made easier to seize potentially dangerous dogs.{{Cite web |title=Chiens catégorisés |url=https://www.loire-atlantique.gouv.fr/layout/set/print/Actions-de-l-Etat/Protection-et-sante-animales/Chiens-categorises |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Les services de l'État en Loire-Atlantique |language=fr}}{{Cite web |title=Animaux mordeurs ou griffeurs |url=https://www.loire-atlantique.gouv.fr/Actions-de-l-Etat/Protection-et-sante-animales/Animaux-mordeurs-ou-griffeurs/Animaux-mordeurs-ou-griffeurs |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Les services de l'État en Loire-Atlantique |language=fr}}[https://www.loire-atlantique.gouv.fr/contenu/telechargement/6757/38967/file/chiens_dangereux_reglementation_detenteurs.pdf Réglementation applicable aux détenteurs de chiens classés ou potentiellement dangereux.] The articles R211-11 to R211-18 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code regulate dangerous dogs and list several measurements to prevent danger.{{Cite web |title=Section 2 : Les animaux dangereux et errants. (Articles L211-11 à L211-28) |trans-title=Section 2: Dangerous and stray animals. (Articles L211-11 to L211-28) |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/section_lc/LEGITEXT000006071367/LEGISCTA000006167705/#LEGISCTA000006167705 |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=www.legifrance.gouv.fr |publisher=Légifrance}}
French rural and penal codes distinguishes between two categories of dangerous dogs.
Category 1: Attack dogs (fr. chiens d'attaque) are dogs from crossings morphologically similar to dogs like the American Staffordshire Terrier (commonly known as pit bull), Mastiff (commonly known as boerbulls) or Tosa. The American Pit Bull Terrier is not recognized as a dog breed in France, instead they are seen as a type of dog (pit bull).
Since January 6, 1999, any transfer (buying, selling, importing) of a category 1 dog is an offense. This applies to European France, overseas departments and regions of France, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. Violations are punishable with 6 months imprisonment and €15,000 of fine. This also adheres to tourists or people who only pass through France with their dog.
Category 2: Guard or defense dogs (fr. chiens de garde et de défense) are purebred dogs such as the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Rottweiler or the Tosa with a pedigree as well as dogs morphologically similar to Rottweilers (without pedigree papers).{{Cite web |title=Avoir un chien de catégorie : quelles sont les règles ? |trans-title=Having a category dog: what are the rules? |url=https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1839 |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=www.service-public.fr |language=Fr}}{{Cite web |title=Arrêté du 27 avril 1999 pris pour l'application de l'article 211-1 du code rural et établissant la liste des types de chiens susceptibles d'être dangereux, faisant l'objet des mesures prévues aux articles 211-1 à 211-5 du même code - Légifrance |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000000210847#LEGIARTI000006608538 |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=www.legifrance.gouv.fr}}{{Cite web |title=Chiens catégorisés |url=https://www.loire-atlantique.gouv.fr/layout/set/print/Actions-de-l-Etat/Protection-et-sante-animales/Chiens-categorises |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Les services de l'État en Loire-Atlantique |language=fr}}
Owners of category 1 and category 2 dogs have to fulfill certain requirements and adhere to certain rules, like having a civil liability insurance or having their dog secured on a leash and with a muzzle, for example.{{Cite web |title=Having a category dog: what are the rules? |url=https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1839?lang=en |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=www.service-public.fr |language=Fr}}
Prevention measures
= Collecting loose or stray dogs =
Local authorities are responsible for collecting loose or stray dogs. Each municipality must have suitable facilities to house those dogs. If the owner of the dog can be identified, he will be informed by the authorities and can claim the dog within 8 days. The dog owner is liable for all costs that arise when a dog has to be caught and cared for. If the dog is not claimed within 8 days it will be transferred to an animal shelter and put up for adoption.{{Cite web |title=Article L211-20 - Code rural et de la pêche maritime - Légifrance |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000019065679 |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=www.legifrance.gouv.fr}}{{Cite web |title=Animaux errants et/ou dangereux |url=https://www.loire-atlantique.gouv.fr/Actions-de-l-Etat/Protection-et-sante-animales/Animaux-errants-et-ou-dangereux/Animaux-errants-et-ou-dangereux |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Les services de l'État en Loire-Atlantique |language=fr}}
= Health surveillance and behavioral assessment =
Anyone with knowledge of a dog attacking a human is required to make a report (including health care workers treating bite injuries) of the incident to the local authorities. Two proceedings are mandatory in case of a dog bite:
- health surveillance of the dog
- behavioral assessment of the dog
The health of the dog must be surveilled by an authorized veterinarian for a period of 15 days. The dog must be seen by the same veterinarian 3 times (within 24 hours of the bite, 7 days and 15 days later). This health surveillance is obligatory, even if the dog is vaccinated against rabies.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{Cite journal |last=Sarenbo |first=Sirkku |last2=Svensson |first2=Andreas P. |date=2021 |title=Bitten or struck by dog: A rising number of fatalities in Europe, 1995–2016 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0379073820304540 |journal=Forensic Science International |location=Sweden |publication-date=2021-01-09 |volume=318 |issue= |doi= |via=Elsevier}}
- {{Cite journal |last=Sarcey |first=Guillaume |last2=Ricard |first2=Cécile |last3=Thelot |first3=Bertrand |last4=Beata |first4=Claude |date=2017-12-05 |title=Descriptive study of dog bites in France—Severity factors, factors of onset of sequelae, and circumstances. Results of a survey conducted by InVS and Zoopsy in 2009-2010 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787817301491 |journal=Journal of Veterinary Behavior |publication-place=France |volume=22 |via=Elsevier}}
{{Lists of fatal dog attacks|state=expanded}}
{{French dogs}}