Dog Owners are Responsible for Actions of Pets

The trend for keeping certain aggressive breeds of dogs seems to be increasing each year. Unfortunately, as the popularity of these breeds increases, so does the number of incidents involving dog bites and attacks. What many people who choose to keep these breeds may not understand, is that owning a dog makes you liable for its behavior.

On December 5^th, a Colorado woman was mauled by two Pit Bulls, which witness say attacked the woman and pulled her across the lawn by her hair. Witnesses found pieces of the woman’s scalp at the scene, and were able to chase the dogs off and call for emergency help. The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital with serious injuries, but was expected to survive.

In August, three dogs, including a pit bull and a Rottweiler, tore through a screen window and chased a mail carrier, trapping him on a nearby porch. Police responded to the incident and killed two of the dogs after they attacked the responding officers. The owner of these dogs faced criminal charges, jail time, his dogs were destroyed, and he had to pay fines. Luckily no one was seriously hurt, or his responsibilities could have been significantly more costly.

Regardless of the cause for an attack, the owners of the dog are responsible for ensuring these types of situations do not happen. In these cases, the owners were charged with Unlawful Ownership of a Dangerous Dog, had to appear for a trial, and given heavy fines. In addition to criminal charges, if an attack were to happen, the owner can also be liable for medical costs, lost wages and pain and suffering.