Property Owner's Liability (Slip & Fall)

• Kurita's Bill Would Toughen Pet Laws

  Susy Owen | March 01, 2008 6:08 PM | 0 CommentsSanta Clarita, CA

  Tennessee's State Senator Rosalind Kurita of Clarksville is looking for accountability. And now she will introduce a bill that will provide that accountability for pet owners. The bill is known as "permissive legislation." In the event of a dog attack the case would go to General Sessions Court. Currently a dog attack case would go before a Circuit Court judge, which would assure a fine of $50...

• Fort Worth Bans the Chaining of Dogs

  Susy Owen | February 20, 2008 2:58 PM | 0 CommentsSanta Clarita, CA

  In 2007, Texas House Bill 1411 was passed making it a misdemeanor to chain a dog overnight, in extreme weather, or for more than three consecutive hours. That is a start. Now, the City Council of Fort Worth has improved on that law and has banned chaining dogs in front and back yards, period. The cost to anyone violating this law is a $500 fine for the first offense. If that does not get the...

• Dr. Files Suit Against County Due to Lack of Protection

  Susy Owen | February 09, 2008 4:07 PM | 0 CommentsSanta Clarita, CA

  The law protects dog owners' rights as much as it tries to ensure public safety. Accordingly, the county Animal Services Department will not remove your dog just because someone merely thinks the dog is vicious. Dr. Nancy Matthews, a 47-year-old Valley Center equine veterinarian, says she suffered as a result. In November 2006, Dr. Matthews was with her two sons, 8 and 11-years old when she was...

• Criminal Charges Loom for Dog Owner

  Susy Owen | January 14, 2008 3:38 PM | 0 CommentsSanta Clarita, CA

  After 7-year-old Ethan Westergard, was attacked by a pit bull mix, the owner told conflicting stories to authorities as to the dogs whereabouts. As a result, she now faces criminal charges. This case has also exposed shortcomings in the way animals are supposed to be quarantined for the purposes of rabies testing. Initally the owner said the dog was dead and buried. However, when authorities...

• Dog Bites Police Officer

  Susy Owen | January 08, 2008 6:25 PM | 0 CommentsSanta Clarita, CA

  While on duty in the early hours of January 1, 2008, Officer Jada Burgin was bitten by the dog. The dog bite occured due to the fact that the dog's owner failed to control his dog at the time of the incident. The officer was responding to a call pertaining to James Powell and his sister Jamie Powell. It had been reported that they were yelling at each other. When the police arrived on the...

• Dog Owners to Face Tougher Rules In Switzerland

  Susy Owen | December 15, 2007 6:30 PM | 0 CommentsSanta Clarita, CA

  So how is Switzerland handling the dog bite issue? Well, to begin with they want people to be responsible for any damages their dog(s) do to others. Under a draft law, dog owners would also have to take out mandatory insurance. Great idea.Switzerland is currently dealing with approximately 300 dog attacks on people by dogs each and every year. The justice ministry would like to ensure that...

• The Pit Bull and the Service Man

  Susy Owen | December 08, 2007 12:28 PM | 0 CommentsSanta Clarita, CA

  When Scott Saterbo heard screams coming from his neighbor's yard, he ran to assist Greg Young who was being viciously attacked by a large pit bull. Saterbo beat the pit bull off Young with a shovel and is sure that if he had not done so, Young would not have lived. How brave is the 19 year-old Saterbo.Young, who works for Suburban Propane, was on a service call at the house. By the time Saterbo...

• Victims Dog Attacks Assailant

  Susy Owen | November 30, 2007 3:30 PM | 0 CommentsSanta Clarita, CA

  Everyone's nightmare came to a South Austin woman's front door on November 11. When she heard a knock on her door, she opened it only to find a stranger who forced his way inside her home and pinned her against a wall. Once he had her pinned against the wall, he put a hunting knife to her throat. " The woman did not know the man, but he made a comment to her about her boyfriend, who had just...

• Pit Bull Attacks Family

  Susy Owen | November 16, 2007 7:50 PM | 0 CommentsSanta Clarita, CA

  It has been said that the owner of a pit bull that attacked an innocent family took every precaution to keep the dog on his property. It has also been said that the pit bull found a low spot in the fence. At the risk of sounding harsh, if every precaution had actually been taken, the dog should not have been able to escape through a "low point" in the fence. In fact, there should not have been...

• Dangerous Dog Ordinance Wins Approval

  Susy Owen | October 27, 2007 6:09 PM | 0 CommentsSanta Clarita, CA

  In Livermore, California residents voted 34-19 to adopt an ordinance that will put restrictions on dogs that are declared to be dangerous by the court. The liability insurance required to own what is concidered to be a dangerous dog would be $300,000. The ordinance is stricter than the current state law in several areas. This ordinance is not breed specific, but does include attacks on...