Santa Clarita Personal Injury Lawyer - Dog Bites

Kurita's Bill Would Toughen Pet Laws

Susy Owen — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:08:33 GMT

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 at most. If the bill passes such a case would be sent to General Sessions, where a judge could have the dog destroyed or impose a higher fine.

"I do believe in accountability," Kurita said Wednesday. "We can not have dogs hurting people in Montgomery County." At David Selby, animal control director for Montgomery County put it "All we can do is cite the person for a dog at-large," Selby said of current laws. "It's a joke." He backs the senator on this one. Selby added "There are certain breeds ... you're looking at 2,000 pounds of bite pressure." I think we should all be taking this type of threat seriously. Keeping the public safe is paramount, and enforcing strict vigorous laws is the only way to make some pet owners take responsibility.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Fort Worth Bans the Chaining of Dogs

Susy Owen — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:58:53 GMT

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 message through, the law breaker will face a possible stay in jail, which may actually be better conditions that they left their pet in. The fines can go from $500 up to as much as $2,000.

Education is key. Some people just don't get the cruelty aspect of their behavior towards pets and some, the worst kind, just don't care. As Ghandi pointed out "you judge the morality of a country by the way they treat their animals." For people who have pets but lack a conscious, and/or awareness, the law is there to guide them to do the right thing. In a 20-year study done by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, it documented that tethering a dog brings out and increases aggressive behavior in animals. Dogs that are chained are almost three times more likely to bite people, according to this study. Cruelty aside, those facts should be reason enough not to chain a dog.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Dr. Files Suit Against County Due to Lack of Protection

Susy Owen — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 16:07:23 GMT

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 mauled by two dogs. These particular dog, boxers, had previously bitten two other people and were on the loose near her house. Due to that fact, she is suing Animal Services, alleging that the department failed to investigate previous bites by the dogs and take steps to protect the public. Imagine your children watching their mother being attacked by two dogs. These boxers were tearing at their mother's scalp, arms, legs and back, which necessitated blood transfusions amoung other forms of treatment. The attack left a multitude of scars on the doctor in addition to indentations on her body where tissue was torn away from her body during the dog attack.

According to the county Animal Services, no mandatory duty was breached by them. As far as they are concerned, the culprit is the owner of the dogs. They claim they have to jump through hoops in trying to restrain dangerous dogs (see original article for full details). According to the county, the best action is self-defense. The best of luck to all of us with that advise.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Criminal Charges Loom for Dog Owner

Susy Owen — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:38:46 GMT

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 asked her to produce the body she could not. Then she claimed that the dog escaped. The authorities want to make sure to apprehend this dog as this is the second attack by the pit bull mix in the past 6 months.

"The aggressive dog charge is a gross misdemeanor and is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. The interference charge is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of $1,000." Hopefully, nobody else is victimized by this dog before it is apprehended.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Dog Bites Police Officer

Susy Owen — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:25:41 GMT

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 scene, they heard Mr. Powell yelling at his dogs. It was around that time that one of the two dogs bit the officer. At this time, a search is being conducted for the two dogs belonging to Mr. Powell. The dogs were either let out, or they escaped.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Dog Owners to Face Tougher Rules In Switzerland

Susy Owen — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:30:25 GMT

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 victims receive financial compensation from the dog owner if they are attacked. Under the current law, dog owners are not responsible for any damage their dog may do if they can show the dog was "kept" correctly, which doesn't make much sense. Why should a victim be stuck with the cost of a dog attack. He/she would really be getting the short end of the stick, so to speak, not once but twice. "The draft legislation comes amid debate over dangerous dogs in the wake of a deadly incident in Zurich two years ago, when three pit bulls killed a boy."

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Premises Liability.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

The Pit Bull and the Service Man

Susy Owen — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 12:28:25 GMT

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 got to him Young was bleeding profusely. Satebo could actually see the bone in Young's leg. Young, who was also bitten in the face, was dragged out of the yard by Saterbo and rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery in an attempt to repair the extensive damage to his body. In the meantime the pit bull was impounded.

Leon County Emergency Medical Services and Animal Control statistics show dog bites have increased quite a bit in the last two years. According to Mac Kemp, deputy chief of operations at EMS, "...the breeds weren't always specified, but the most common were pit bulls. A couple were Rottweilers and beagles." As Kemp put it "You just don't know what a dog will do."

In this situation the pit bull has been quarantined and is scheduled to be put down. Although, pet owners have the opportunity to contest a decision to put a dog down, they have not received a stay order from the court in this case, to date. The owner will not be charged criminally since his dog was on his property. That's not to say that Young will not seek damages in civil court.

Dog bite prevention week

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Premises Liability.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Victims Dog Attacks Assailant

Susy Owen — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:30:52 GMT

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 left the apartment, said Detective Michael Zeniecki." It turns out, the victim happened to have a great pet that is part dog part wolf. The dog attacked the assailant at which time the man fled. Good job. Here's to man's best friend.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Pit Bull Attacks Family

Susy Owen — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:50:17 GMT

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 any "low points."

Tehama County Animal Regulation officers responded to a 911 in Rancho Tehama. They arrived to find that two small children and their father had been attacked as they walked by the fence, which was supposed to keep the pit bull on the property. Can you imagine the horror of being attacked by a pit bull only to than see your children being attacked. The children have several puncture wounds to their legs, while their father has wounds to his arms and legs. They were taken to St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, where they were treated and released. The dog is currently being quarantined at the Tehama County Animal Care Center.

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Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Dangerous Dog Ordinance Wins Approval

Susy Owen — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:09:41 GMT

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 livestock.

The ordinance A) prohibits transfer of the dangerous dog, B) requires special restraint including outlining where the animal could be kept in secure enclosures on the property, and C) requires owners of dangerous dogs to have $300,000 in liability insurance." Sanborn, who initiated the ordinance said after the hearing" I'm very excited because I've gone a long way through the process so with everything going on I feel very confident in myself."

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Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen