this annoys me (animal planet content)

I did this research once to compare the actual data. Here is some actual math for the number people:

There are about 30 to 35 fatal dog attacks in the USA annually. Each year, more than 350,000 dog bite victims are seen in emergency rooms, and approximately 850,000 victims receive some form of medical attention. Based on data collected in the USA between 2001 and 2003, the CDC concluded that there were 4.5 million dog bite victims per year, but that figure appears to be rising.
Source: Dog bite statistics

Compare to reptile fatalities:

According to the Animal Protection Institute (API) website and various news sources, 19 people were killed by captive reptiles in the USA between 1995 and 2008, which is just one and a half death per year (for all captive reptiles, of any sort).
None of these deaths were caused by reptiles at large. Instead, all victims were either individuals voluntarily on the property where the animals were kept, or were the owners themselves at their own homes. No members of the public have been killed by captive reptiles in USA since 1995. Some of these deaths were from salmonella poisoning.
Two deaths resulting from the venomous snake bites occurred during voluntary serpent handling religious services in the church, while the remaining 7 involved the owners at their own home at their own risk and discretion.
Two of the deaths caused by large constrictors occurred to the children of the snake owners, at their own home, resulting in the parents being rightfully charged with child endangerment, some also with reckless endangerment and involuntary manslaughter. The remaining five fatalities were owners themselves, whom have accepted and know extremely well the potential risk of their hobby.
Source: Breakdown on reptile related fatalities in USA - Experts Forum at VenomousReptiles.org

Now let's crunch the numbers.

There are 45.6 Million homes with dogs in the US. These account for 30 to 35 deaths annually.
There are Reptile 4.7 Million homes with captive reptiles in the US. These account for 1.5 deaths annually
Source: Python Attack Raises Safety Concerns about Housing Exotic Pets | Poynter.

If you account for the inflated number of homes with dogs, it would seem that a person would be 10 times more likely to be killed and/or maimed by a dog than a reptile if each were equally dangerous. What we find is that when you compensate for the numbers, you are actually more than twice as likely to be killed by a pet dog as you are by a pet reptile. I could not easily find statistics for hospitalizations and other injuries resulting from captive reptile attacks.

To sum up, the world would statistically be a much safer place if everyone traded their domesticated pet dogs for some exotic pet reptiles.

Bees actually kill more people annually in the US than any other animal. Ban all the beehives!

Editing to add resource links:

http://dogbitelaw.com/dog-bite-stati...tatistics.html

http://www.venomousreptiles.org/forums/Experts/33914

http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/a...g-exotic-pets/

Wow, all of those questions, for any of the animals, are so stupid! Can you keep a bison in your garage, yes, but it wouldn't be a good idea.....

I'd just like to say that Water is one of the top 5 killers in the world claiming the lives of 3533 people annually . . . Sure, it's good to bath in. Fun for swimming. And we have so much clean water that we use it to deficate in (Sorry Africa). But I feel the need to push a ban on water. Who's with me??

Source:
http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreation...factsheet.html

One thing I know about statistics is that you can make them say anything you want to match your agenda. A pro-dog person could easily manipulate those exact same figures to paint a different picture.

The biggest issue I have with this sort of analysis is that you just can't compare reptiles and dogs. A dog is smart, and shows affection toward its owner (not all but you get the idea), despite what some people think, your snake isn't going to come when you call it and sit on your lap :D It's apples and oranges.

Bottom line, is my ball python dangerous, no. Is your yorkshire terrier going to rip out your neighbors throat, no. Would a 20ft burm be a bad idea to let roam your house, uh yeah. But a dingo kept as a pet would be just as bad (especially since they like to eat babies)!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by VooDooDoc

Bottom line, is my ball python dangerous, no. Is your yorkshire terrier going to rip out your neighbors throat, YES. Would a 20ft burm be a bad idea to let roam your house, uh yeah. But a dingo kept as a pet would be just as bad (especially since they like to eat babies)!

---

Sorry, my wife owned a yorkie until recently (died of old age). I had to fix that statement! :D :rofl:
Oh, and a dingo ate my baby!