List of fatal dog attacks in Austria

Fatal or nearly fatal dog attacks in Austria have led to tightening of existing laws on keeping dogs in some of the nine provinces. The keeping of dogs in general, certain breeds and "dogs with increased risk potential" is regulated differently from province to province. For example Vienna does not allow protection dog training for private individuals, no matter the breed.[1] Only the provinces Vienna,[2] Lower Austria[3] and Vorarlberg[4] have breed-specific legislation, as of 2023.

Main article: List of fatal dog attacks

This is a list of human deaths caused by dogs. For more information on causes of death and studies related to dog bite related fatalities, see Fatal dog attacks.

Fatalities from 2009 to current
DateVictimDog type (Number)Circumstances
October 6, 2023 52, Female Rottweiler Lower Austria, Wilfleinsdorf — The 52-year-old was walking along a road with her two grandchildren on July 26 when the dog "Kim" escaped from a garden, ran into the road and bit several times. The entire family had to be treated in the hospital, the children suffered minor injuries. The woman received intensive medical care for 2.5 months and died as a result of her injuries. The dog originally came from a breed of the Austrian Armed Forces. He was taken to the Military Dog Center Kaisersteinbruch in Burgenland after the incident and later handed over to an animal shelter. The dog's owner was reported and a dog-keeping ban was imposed.[5][6][7][8][9]
October 2, 2023 Herta A., 60, Female American Staffordshire Terrier Upper Austria, Naarn — The woman was out jogging near her home when she was attacked by the stud male with the pet name "Elmo". According to the owner, the dog was on a leash, but she could not get the dog off the victim in a timely maner and she was hurt herself too. The victim was dead before help arrived. Due to the severity of her injuries, the local woman could only be identified later that day with the help of her clothing. The dog was euthanized the same day. The owner faces criminal charges and decided to give up the remaining four purebred American Staffordshire Terriers and seven puppies.[10][11][12]
November 4, 2019 Dominik R., 31, Male Belgian Shepherd of the variety: Malinois (2) Lower Austria, Wiener Neustadt — The victim was tasked with feeding the service dogs. The dogs with the pet names "Hati" und "Ragna" where found running lose by an officer, the dog handler who was tasked with bringing the dogs back, found the victim dead in the dog's kennel. While "Hati" was euthanized, the younger dog "Ragna" was given back to his breeder and owner.[13][14]
September 10, 2018 Waris Chhabra, 1, Male Rottweiler Vienna, Donaustadt — The dog "Joey" broke away from his owner when he saw the child. The child died from his injuries in the hospital. The dog was taken to an animal shelter but later euthanized after attacking staff. A few months before the fatal incident, the dog had bitten someone else on the neck. The owner received an 18-month sentence, with 6 month actual prison time and a fine of € 65,000.[15][16]
April 24, 2014 Justine S., 62, Female Golden Retriever Burgenland — The woman was bitten on the upper arm by the neighbor's dog while she visited her sister-in-law. She died a week after the bite from multiple organ failure.[17][18]
February 05, 2010 Maria H., 79, Female Rottweiler (2) Lower Austria, Lassee — The woman was attacked by her son's two dogs named "Aaron" und "Tico" (or "Diko"). She was later found dead by a caregiver of the dogs. The two Rottweilers had been living in the 79-year-old's house for five years, and she had regular contact with the dogs. According to the police, there was one benign incident beforehand in which a person's hand was injured. Both dogs were euthanized.[19]
August 14, 2009 Hannah N., 1, Female Rottweiler Lower Austria, Staningersdorf — The young victim was attacked by the father's dog named "Odin". When the police officer came home from work and wanted to greet the dog and his daughter, who came to him holding her grandmother's hand, the dog attacked the girl. The dog is said to have attacked without warning and bitten into her head. The father eventually managed to get her released from the dog and rushed her to hospital where she subsequently died. The dog was euthanized.[20][21][22]

Fatalities due to rabies

Austria has been considered rabies-free since 2008.[23] The last imported case of rabies occurred in 2004. A man was bitten by an infected dog in Morocco and died later in Austria.[24]

Fatal dog attacks can be classified as accidents, negligent homicides (Strafgesetzbuch § 80) or grossly negligent homicides (Strafgesetzbuch § 81), depending on the circumstances.

In cases of dog attacks that result in life-threatening injury to humans, Austrian authorities can seize the dog and order its euthanasia. If a dog has shown aggressive behavior, authorities typically initiate a character test (Wesenstest) to assess the dog. If the dog is classified as dangerous, it will likely be required to wear a muzzle and be kept on a leash. Euthanasia after a dog bite is extremely rare and only occurs if the dog poses a danger to the public.[25] In 2018 the Rottweiler "Joey" broke away from its owner and attacked a one-year-old boy who was walking on the other side of the street. The boy was seriously injured and died 18 days later in hospital.[26] The dog was placed in an animal shelter, where they refused to euthanize a healthy animal and attempted to resocialize him. However, after the dog attacked the shelter staff, they made the decision to euthanize him after all.[27][28][29] In cases of fatal dog attacks, owners sometimes voluntarily choose to euthanize the dog.

Note on legal topics: Wikipedia:Legal disclaimer

See also

References
  1. https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=LrW&Gesetzesnummer=20000404
  2. https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/themen/freizeit_und_strassenverkehr/haustiere/1/2/Seite.742280.html
  3. https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/themen/freizeit_und_strassenverkehr/haustiere/1/2/Seite.742240.html
  4. https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/themen/freizeit_und_strassenverkehr/haustiere/1/2/Seite.742270.html
  5. red, noe ORF at/Agenturen (2023-10-18). "Frau zwei Monate nach Hundeattacke gestorben" [Woman dies two months after dog attack]. noe.ORF.at (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  6. red, noe ORF at (2023-07-27). "Rottweiler-Attacke: Anzeige gegen Hundebesitzerin" [Rottweiler attack: dog owner reported]. noe.ORF.at (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  7. "Nach Hundeattacke in Wilfleinsdorf: Frau (52) starb im Spital" [After dog attack in Wilfleinsdorf: woman (52) died in hospital]. nachrichten.at (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  8. "Frau starb mehr als zwei Monate nach Hundeangriff im Krankenhaus" [Woman dies in hospital more than two months after dog attack]. DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  9. Wammerl, Patrick (2023-10-19). "Tödliche Hundeattacke: Erfahrener Trainer arbeitet mit Rottweiler-Hündin" [Fatal dog attack: Experienced trainer works with female Rottweiler]. kurier.at (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  10. Fischer, Lisa (October 3, 2023). "Fatal Dog Attack Shakes Naarn: Tragedy Unfolds". Vienna Times. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  11. Kaltenecker, Christine (October 3, 2023). "Expertin erklärt, wie es zur Attacke kommen konnte" [Expert explains how the attack could have come about]. Heute (in German). Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  12. "Always Remember of Hopeful Soul". www.pedigreedatabase.com (in German). Archived from the original on 2023-10-11. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  13. "Austrian Army Says Soldier Mauled to Death by Service Dogs". Courthouse News Service. November 14, 2019. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  14. "Soldat von Hunden getötet: Ermittlungsverfahren eingestellt" [Soldier killed by dogs: investigation closed]. vienna.at (in German). December 30, 2020. Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  15. "Austrian court jails woman over fatal dog attack on toddler". abc7news. March 25, 2019. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  16. "Grieving family calls for muzzles for all dogs after son's death". News24. October 12, 2018. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  17. "Burgenländerin starb im Spital nach Hundebiss: Staatsanwaltschaft ermittelt" [Burgenland woman died in hospital after dog bite: public prosecutor's office is investigating]. DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  18. "Waisenhunde suchen ein neues Heim" [Orphan dogs are looking for a new home]. www.oe24.at (in German). 2014-05-15. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  19. "NÖ: Frau von zwei Rottweilern totgebissen" [Lower Austria: Woman bitten to death by two Rottweilers]. Vienna Online (in German). March 7, 2020. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  20. "Rottweiler Odin beisst Kind tot" [Rottweiler Odin bites child to death]. Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). November 13, 2009. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  21. "Einjähriges Mädchen von Rottweiler getötet" [One-year-old girl killed by Rottweiler]. kurier.at (in German). 2011-12-05. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  22. "Nach Biss: Rottweiler eingeschläfert" [After bite: Rottweiler euthanized]. noev1.orf.at. 2012-04-11. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  23. "Tollwut" [Rabies]. www.sozialministerium.at (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  24. "Nach Hundebiss in Marokko: Steirer an Tollwut gestorben" [After a dog bite in Morocco: Styrian died of rabies]. DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  25. Binder, Regina (2018). "Euthanasie von Heimtieren: Das Tierschutzrecht zwischen Lebensschutz und Leidverkürzung" [Euthanasia of pet animals: Animal protection law between protecting life and reducing suffering]. Wiener Tierärztliche Monatsschrift – Veterinary Medicine Austria (in German) (105 (2018)): 119–128.
  26. "Nach Hundebiss: Bub gestorben". wien.orf.at (in German). 2018-09-28. Archived from the original on 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  27. "Zwei Not-OPs nach Rottweiler-Attacke: Kind in Lebensgefahr - Hund wird nicht eingeschläfert" [Two emergency operations after a Rottweiler attack: child's life is in danger - dog will not be euthanized]. Oe24 (in German). September 12, 2018. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  28. "Bub nach Rottweiler-Biss gestorben: Frau drohen drei Jahre Haft" [Boy dies after Rottweiler bite: woman faces three years in prison]. Kurier (in German). September 28, 2018. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  29. Melcher, Daniel (2018-09-12). "Rottweiler biss Kleinkind: "Wir töten keine Tiere"" [Rottweiler bites toddler: "We don't kill animals"]. kurier.at (in German). Archived from the original on 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
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