List of fatal dog attacks in Brazil


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 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 of the Ministry of Health (Brazil):

Fatalities in 2024

DateVictimAgeSexDog type Circumstances
UndisclosedMPit 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 †
December 19, 2024		Juarez Quadros Ribeiro62MPit bull Paraná, Wenceslau Braz — The dogs, who belonged to his daughter, attacked him inside their house. Police had to shoot and kill all three to be able to rescue the man. He had both of his forearms amputated due to the severity of his injuries. He died in the hospital.
December 1, 2024Roberta Vicentini Franco54FPit bullSão Paulo, Ribeirão Preto — She was attacked inside a plot of land, where the dog was tied up with a large rope which was attached to the railing of an abandoned house.
November 16, 2024
November 18, 2024 †		José Olegário dos Santos Souza75MPit bull
Dogo Argentino 		Rio Grande do Sul, Uruguaiana — José was mowing the lawn when the neighbor's dogs escaped and attacked him. He was taken to a hospital, where he died two days later.
Nilton Nivaldo De Souza37MPit bullSão Paulo, Ribeirão Pires — De Souza was doing renovations for the dog's owner when the dog broke through a metal door and attacked and killed the man.
November 1, 2024Wander Lucio de Moura54MPit bullMinas Gerais, Congonhas — The dog broke free from its chain and attacked the man, who was at the house as a guest for a party. He was bitten on the neck and face.
Heitor Livramento Cardoso4MPit bullEspírito Santo, Nova Venécia — He was playing on his house's backyard when the family dog attacked him, biting him on the neck and head. He was taken to a hospital, but succumbed to his injuries. The dog was shot dead by a neighbor.
Inez Francisca da Silva80FPit bullSão Paulo, São Paulo, Grajaú — The dog was chained up and, somehow, broke free and attacked the woman, biting her on the neck.
September 30, 2024Kael1MPit bullRondônia, Presidente Médici — The boy was playing in the backyard of his house when he was attacked by the family dog.
September 29, 2024Undisclosed25MRottweiler Santa Catarina, Criciúma — The man jumped over a property's wall in order to rob the place, but was attacked and killed by the property's guard dogs. His corpse was found hours later by the building's owner.
September 20, 2024Valdivino Custódio Pereira66MPit bull Minas Gerais, Patos de Minas — When the man entered his sister's house, the dogs, who belonged to her, attacked him, biting him on the neck. He died at the scene. Police had to shoot the dogs to retrieve his corpse and rescue two other people that were also injured.
September 16, 2024
September 17, 2024 †		Leonardo Lustosa da Silveira Castro68MPit bullPernambuco, Olinda — The man was talking to a neighbor, who was walking his dog. At one point, the man got closer and tried to pet the dog, who then lunged and bit him on the neck. He was rescued by relatives and taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Doctors noted that the bite had severed his jugular vein.
August 31, 2024
September 7, 2024 †		Dulcelina Firmino de Oliveira60FPit bullEspírito Santo, Serra — She was walking her dogs when the pit bull, which was loose on the street, lunged at them. She then tried to lift her dogs, but the leash got tangled on her leg, causing her to fall on her back. She went to a hospital, did an X-ray, was treated for a coccyx dislocation and was discharged. On September 4, she went to the hospital again due to urinating blood and was hospitalized after a kidney injury was found, caused by the fall. She died at the hospital.
August 31, 2024Enilton Fernandes Ribeiro73MPit bull mixRio Grande do Sul, Bagé — The dog belonged to the man's son. It bit the man on the thorax, inflicting several injuries.
August 18, 2024Anderson Alves Fernandes42MRottweilerGoiás, Anápolis — The man was caught naked sexually abusing a mutt on the street. After that, he opened the gate of the house where the other dog was. The dog then attacked him, biting him on the legs and tearing off a piece of his buttocks. The dog's owner tried to get it off him, but he was already dead.
August 15, 2024Luiza Pereira dos Santos57FUndisclosed São Paulo, Penápolis — The neighbor's four dogs invaded her property and attacked her. Her son found her unconscious with her chest covered in blood. She was taken to the city's emergency room, where she succumbed to her injuries.
August 12, 2024Claudio Gomes de Lima56MPit bullParaná, Matinhos — The dog escaped from its property, attacked a nearby woman and then attacked the man when he tried to help her. He was bitten on the neck and head.

†		Veraci de Paula87FPit bullSão Paulo, — The 87-year-old was attacked by loose dogs while looking after her plants. She was hospitalized and died a month after the attack.
July 15, 2024Eleandro Dimas Malone Neto2MRottweilerSão Paulo, Tanabi — The boy was bitten on the neck by the family dog. He was taken to the emergency room, but did not survive.
Benedita Francisca da Fonseca83FPit bullSão Paulo, Icém — She fell and was bitten on the neck by her son's dog. She died at the hospital. The son had the dog for 7 years. A neighbor who tried to help was also bitten.
Isis da Silva Sobrinho<1FUndisclosedGoiás, Cidade Oeste — The 5-month-old girl was left home alone and was attacked by her grandparents' dog. They had the dog for 5 years. Her uncle tried to save the girl, but she died in the hospital.
Juliano Barcelos da Rosa39MPit bull Santa Catarina, Criciúma — The man was tasked with doing work on the property. He was attacked when he entered the area where the dogs were confined. Due to the presence of the dogs, first responders were unable to help the victim. The police shot the dogs, but he had already died at the scene.
Elza Maria de Souza85FUndisclosedSão Paulo, Itaberá — She was attacked in her yard by one of her neighbor's three dogs.
Jamiro Coelho Ferreira77MPit bullSão Paulo, Cruzeiro, Natividae — He was attacked by a dog he was tasked with feeding in the past. The dog was with the owners since he was a puppy. He died at the hospital.
Undisclosed38MPit bull Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Ingleses — The man wanted to do some repair work on the property and was attacked by the dogs he knew. 3 dogs were fatally shot and one was brought to the veterinarian for treatment.
UndisclosedFPit bullRio de Janeiro, Campo Grande — A woman died in the hospital after she was attacked by a dog.
Undisclosed57MRottweilerMinas Gerais, Montes Claros, Roxo Verde — The man was attacked by his dog and died from his injuries.
Hugo Otávio Tobias30MPit bullSão Paulo, Mogi Mirim, Vila Dias — A young man was killed by his dog. He was having an epileptic seizure at the time of the attack. The family was not able to stop the dog from attacking, so a neighbor had to shoot the dog.
Franciele Vitória Soares dos Santos9FPit bullPiauií, Santa Bárbara, Teresina — The child was attacked by the dog while she was sleeping. She was taken to the hospital but did not survive. The family dog had been in the family home for seven years.
Jeferson Gomes dos Santos24MPit bullEspírito Santo, Linhares, Aviso — The owner was attacked by his dog and died at the scene. He had injuries to his neck and face.
Antony Ricardo Oliveira da Silva6MRottweilerAcre, Rio Branco, Segundo — According to police, the child was used to feeding and playing with the family dog. Family members found him bleeding in the yard and transported him to the hospital. He did not survive his injuries.
Undisclosed49MPit bullSão Paulo, Ponte Rasa — The man tried to save his dog from an attacking loose dog and died in hospital. His dog was able to escape and survived.
Undisclosed<1FPit bullSão Paulo, Bebedouro, Jardim Marajá — An 11-month-old baby was attacked in her sleep by a dog at her aunt and uncle's house. She was taken to hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Sidney Aparecido Anastácio62MFila Brasileiro Rondônia, Presidente Médici — The pair was attacked while trying to remove porcupine quills that were on the snout of one of the dogs. A family member found the pair and alerted police. 4 of the dogs were shot, 1 fled into the nearby forest.
Valdelice de Oliveira Anastácio55FFila Brasileiro Rondônia, Presidente Médici — The pair was attacked while trying to remove porcupine quills that were on the snout of one of the dogs. A family member found the pair and alerted police. 4 of the dogs were shot, 1 fled into the nearby forest.
Arthur Felipe Oliveira3MRottweilerBahia, Teofilândia — The boy followed his mother into the yard and was attacked by the family dog.
Maria Gomes Ferreira78FPit bull Roraima, São João da Baliza — The woman went to visit her son and was attacked by his dogs. Her daughter was also attacked and injured.

†		Dirceu de Carvalho60MPit bullMato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Los Angeles — The man was bit in the hand and died four days later.
Henrique Borba70MRottweilerPará, Juruti — The owner was attacked and killed while feeding the dog.