This is a list of human deaths caused by dogs, which have been documented through news media, reports, cause-of-death statistics, scientific papers, or other sources. The attribution of the dog type or breed is assigned by the sources. For additional information on causes of death and studies related to fatalities resulting from dog bites or attacks, see Fatal dog attacks.

Brazil is moving closer to the goal of eliminating deaths due to dog-mediated rabies. Since 1983 the incidence of dog-borne rabies has decreased by almost 98% with only six reported cases in 2021. Between 2010 and 2021, 39 cases of human rabies transmitted by various species were recorded. The last reported fatality due to dog transmitted rabies happened in 2010 in Ceará.

In 2023, the number of fatalities due to dog attacks increased significantly. São Paulo recorded the highest number of cases in the country, with 19 deaths, representing a 137.5% increase compared to the previous year. Rio Grande do Sul saw 7 deaths, reflecting a 40% increase, while Goiás experienced a 200% increase.

In April 2024, in response to a series of severe and fatal dog attacks, Member of Parliament Julio Cesar Ribeiro introduced an amendment to the penal code aimed at regulating such incidents. The proposed amendment suggests that walking certain dogs in public spaces without a muzzle should be deemed a criminal offense, carrying a potential prison sentence ranging from 15 days to 6 months. Ribeiro emphasized that these measures are not intended to penalize the dogs themselves but rather to hold owners accountable for failing to take necessary precautions to ensure community safety. Concerned about the increase in dog attacks and deaths Member of Parliament Mário Heringer pushes for a change in the law for some time. His drafted legislation (PL 7316) requires owners of specific dogs to possess a certificate of ownership for their animals. Furthermore, the draft proposes mandates for the containment of dogs within private properties through the use of appropriate gates and fences, aiming to prevent their presence on public roads. Criminal liability in the event of attacks is also addressed in the proposed legislation.

Summary counts of fatalities by year Official deaths per year from the Mortality Information System (SIM) of the Ministry of Health (Brazil):

*according to this list.

Fatalities in 2026 DateVictimAgeSexDog type (Number) CircumstancesAugust 5, 2026Édson Dutra da Trindade82MPit bullMinas Gerais, Rio Novo, Zona da Mata mineira — His neighbor's dog invaded the victim's backyard and attacked him. The man died one day after the attack at the Emergency Hospital (Hospital de Pronto-Socorro - HPS) of Juiz de Fora.August 1, 2026Rosa Maria Ajala da Silva66FPit bullRio Grande do Sul, Arroio do Sal — She was feeding her nephew's dog and was attacked and killed.July 31, 2026UndisclosedN/AFUndisclosed (3)Paraná, Londrina — A disoriented woman entered a property early in the morning and was attacked and killed by the company's dogs. She was found by employees.July 6, 2026Valéria Pereira59FPit bull (2)Goiás, Caldas Novas — She was bitten several times by escaped dogs and died after she developed complications from her injuries.April 14, 2026Undisclosed69MUndisclosedSão Paulo, Piracicaba, São Pedro — The man was found dead in his backyard where he kept 3 dogs.April 13, 2026Maria José Mariano49FPit bullMaranhão, Bacabal, Cordeiro — She was bathing her adult dog and was fatally attacked by it. Her husband was also attacked when he came home. The police had to kill the dog to help the man. The dog had exhibited aggressive behavior in the past.March 7, 2026Francisco Paulo da Silva62MPit bullRio Grande do Norte, Extremoz — The man worked in the backyard of a house when the property owner's dog attacked him. He died at the scene. The dog owners were accused of delaying to call for help. The dog was seized and placed with a dog trainer who reported unusual attack behavior that lasted for over 90 minutes.February 23, 2026; February 24 †Marlene Ferreira Leite69FPit bull (2)São Paulo, São José dos Campos — The woman was walking a little public path and was attacked by loose dogs for about 20 minutes, according to witnesses. She lost 2 arms and 1 leg. She was eventually rescued by first responders of the fire department and was airlifted to the Municipal Hospital of Vila Industrial. She died in the hospital the next day.February 1, 2026Analu Souza Paixão1FPit bullBahia, Jaguaripe, Cruzeiro — Witnesses saw the attack happen on a playground of a pizzeria. While the girl played, a dog from the establishment broke loose and attacked her. The victim was referred to the Hospital Regional de Santo Antônio de Jesus (HRSAJ) but died.February 1, 2026Undisclosed<1MPit bullSão Paulo, Socorro — The 11-month-old baby was seen on CCTV being dragged by the stepfather's dog. He did not survive and his mother and stepfather are investigated for murder.January 25, 2026Undisclosed80FPit bullCeará, Fortaleza, Vila Velha neighborhood — The woman was attacked by the dog inside her home. She died at the scene.

Fatalities in 2025 DateVictimAgeSexDog type (Number) CircumstancesDecember 12, 2025, December 13 †Undisclosed72FPit bull (3)São Paulo, Ibúna, Paiol Pequeno — The woman was on her way to church when she was attacked and seriously injured. She died in hospital the next day.December 3, 2025Júlio César de Souza Oliveira39MPit bull and mixed breed (10)São Paulo, São José dos Campos — The man had an argument with the dog owner. He was attacked by her dogs and died at the scene.November 25, 2025Guilherme Lopes dos Santos30MPit bull (2)São Paulo, Cidade Líder — The man was attacked by two dogs and died shortly after at the hospital. The police shot one dog.November 23, 2025Juliana de Oliveira25FPit bullSão Paulo, Campinas, Vila Industrial — The woman was attacked in her backyard. A neighbor unsuccessfully tried to stop the dog with an iron bar.November 12, 2025Igor Pereira da Silva4 or 5MPit bullRio de Janeiro, Irajá — The boy was attacked at his grandmother's house by his aunt's boyfriend's 7-month-old dog named Enrico. He died 5 minutes after he arrived at Francisco da Silva Telles Municipal Hospital.October 20, 2025, November 28 †Lia Hollywood (Souza Ferraz)66FPit bullRio de Janeiro, São Pedro da Aldeia — She was attacked by the family dog and suffered severe injuries to her whole body, including open fractures. She was transferred to the Roberto Chabo Hospital where one arm had to be amputated.October 14, 2025, October 16†José Henrique Monteiro<1MPit bullRio de Janeiro, Campos — The 10-month-old baby was attacked and died 2 days later in Ferreira Machado hospital. His 2-year-old brother and his nanny were also injured by the dog.October 5, 2025Undisclosed57MRottweiler (3)September 13, 2025Paulo Roberto de Carvalho63MPit bull (2)Rio de Janeiro, Saracuruna, Duque de Caxias, Baixada Fluminense — He was on his was to work when he was attacked. The dogs escaped their owner when he opened the gate to his property. The victim was taken to the Estadual Adão Pereira Nunes hospital but died due to his severe injuries to his arms and face.September 9, 2025Vizinhos de Maria Natália Curado Fleury75FPit bullGoiás, Annapolis — She was attacked by her grandson's dog. First responders had difficulties rescuing her, due to the dog.September 8, 2025Undisclosed1MPit bullSão Paulo, Itanhaém — The family dog lived with the family for 7 years and was described as non-aggressive. The dog attacked the baby while it was sleeping.September 6, 2025Américo Sampaio de Souza63MPit bull (4)Minas do Leão — The man was attacked while delivering to an elderly customer and died after being in a coma for 5 days.August 21, 2025Hisako Nakashima89FUndisclosedParaná, Maringá, Jardim Liberdade — The woman with advanced Alzheimer's disease was outside her home in a wheelchair when the family dog injured her arm. She died at the hospital.August 21, 2025Samuel dos Santos45MPit bullSão Paulo, Iperó — The victim suffered severe injuries to his legs and died at the George Oetterer's ER.July 21, 2025Undisclosed2FPit bullSão Paulo, Hortolândia — The dog attacked the girl and did not let go of her. Bystanders were unable to help her. The police shot the dog 3 times.July 2, 2025Enzo Gabriel Silva Custódio4MPit bullGoiás, Itumbiara — The victim and his young siblings were home alone when the dog attacked and killed him.May 27, 2025Undisclosed<1Pit bullGoiás, Goiânia, Jardim América — The 10-month-old child was in her mother's arms when the grandparents' dog attacked.May 26, 2025Aldemir Gomes50MPit bullSão Paulo, Campinas, Vila Industrial — The dog owner was attacked by his dog and died shortly after being rescued. The dog was shot by police.April 27, 2025Geny José Nunes Lopes66FPit bullSão Paulo, Votorantim — She was attacked inside her house and neighbors called the police when they saw her injured near her house's wall. The police had to put the dog down to get to the victim. She was rescued, but succumbed to her injuries.April 20, 2025Sônia Maria Benício da Costa75FPit bullRio de Janeiro, Barra Mansa — The victim entered her sister's house and was attacked by the dog. She died at the scene.April 14, 2025Lucas Levi dos Santos<1MPit bullPernambuco, São Lourenço da Mata — The pitbull, who was in the house's backyard, invaded the house and attacked the victim. He died at the scene.April 13, 2025Stefane Xavier da Silva31FPit bullGoiás, Cidade Ocidental — The dog bit the victim on the neck, who suffered severe blood loss. When a rescue team arrived at the scene, she was already dead. Neighbors killed the dog.March 30, 2025Isamara Eleoterio Balbino40FPit bullMinas Gerais, Três Corações — The woman was on the street, near the gate of the house where the dog lived, when the dog attacked her. Neighbors had to intervene to stop the attack. The Fire Brigade was taking her to the hospital when she suffered a cardiopulmonary arrest and was revived, but did not resist and later died.March 18, 2025UndisclosedMRottweiler (2)São Paulo, Piracicaba — The man tried to break into a house and was attacked and killed by 2 dogs.March 14, 2025Hieda Pariz Hildebrand<1FMixed breedSão Paulo, Leme — The baby was in a carriage when the dog, who was tied to a chain, got close to the carriage and attacked her, biting her on the head.March 12, 2025, March 16 †Guilherme Gabriel Couta da Silva12MRottweiler (2)Minas Gerais, Itabira — The boy was attacked by two escaped dogs while walking down a street.March 3, 2025*Aline Poppe49FPit bullRio de Janeiro, Irajá — She was attacked by her nephew's dog. Her neighbors rescued her, but she died later. *date of the news reportFebruary 22, 2025Célia Faria71FPit bullRio de Janeiro, Niterói — The woman was in her backyard when the dog, who belonged to a neighbor, escaped its house and attacked her.January 24, 2025Sérgio Renato Freitas62MPit bullPará, Belém — The man's wife found him dead in their house, with his body pierced and torn apart. He was alone with the dog in the house.January 15, 2025Ravi Lucas Nascimento de Melo4MPit bull (1) Mixed breed (1)Rio Grande do Norte, Touros — The dogs belonged to the boy's grandmother, who went to the neighbour to get some medicine. While she was away, the dogs, who were loose in the yard, got inside the house and attacked the boy. He suffered a deep lacerating injury, which involved part of his skull and exposed his brain mass, as well as his neck.

Fatalities in 2024

DateVictimAgeSexDog type (Number) CircumstancesUndisclosedMPit bullEspírito Santo, Nova Venécia — A man tried to escape from angry people he was allegedly trying to steal from. He jumped over a wall into an adjacent yard and was attacked by the dog living there. He managed to jump back over the wall but died on the site as a result of his injuries.December 23, 2024 †