Forensic approach of fatal dog attacks: a case report and literature review

Abstract.

Over 1 million dog bites occur every year in the USA, however, fatal dog bites are rare and mostly affect children under 4 years of age and old people. Usually pet dogs are involved and only recently has public awareness of this health problem increased. As an example of a forensic approach we present the case of a 6-year-old girl who was killed by the three pet Rottweilers of her father. The present report includes the investigation of the death scene, the autopsy findings and the results of the examination of the dogs. Dog bite wounds in this case typically were limited to the head and neck regions and classic features of these wounds have been described in various studies. We emphasise the particulars of canine dental features, discuss the resulting bite wounds and, reviewing the literature, try to come up with a strategy for prevention.