My daughter's dog bit the next door neighbor!

[Tracy Savage]

I think there are a surpising number of adults that can't read.

Ok. Maybe. But if you don't know what a big red WARNING sign looks like....not to mention the not so friendly looking dog barking his head off...would you still enter the gate?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I think there are a surpising number of adults that can't read.

Yep or think that they "know" how to handle dogs. If people keep opening up the fencing I would suggest a lock on the fence.

 

[Tracy Savage]

Actually, by having the signs up, they make you even more liable than if you had no signs at all. Due to the signs, you are admitting that you are knowingly harboring an aggressive dog.

I would change the signs to say that all deliveries must be made at the front door and then lock your gate. Do not post "Beware of Dogs" signs, as this just makes it easier for a person that is bit to prove that you knew you had an aggressive dog.

Crazy isn't it. I get that but on the other hand if it keeps someone away in the first place? There is no easy answer.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Sorry about your situation. My old dog bite me once ( He was old and hurting and I tried to help him, but I hurt him on accident, and he snapped.) He bit my wrist and because of the bone there it cut the skin pretty good. I did have to have a tetanus shot because they said it was an open dirty wound-dog spit. The dog we have now is fear aggressive. he is completely fenced in with warning signs on the fence. Would you believe people still open the fence for deliveries and such-we have a frount door-One guy tried with the dog out there, the dog was barking carrying on, I had to run out to tell him to stop, and go to the frount of the house. Duh. I wonder what would have happened in that case? If someone disregarded the warnings would see still be liable if the dog bit him? Mind you one sign is right next to the gate handle.

Crazy isn't it. I get that but on the other hand if it keeps someone away in the first place? There is no easy answer.

It is crazy! But in answer to your question, yes, you would be liable. And you would have a very, very difficult time defending yourself as you admitted you knew the dogs were aggressive by posting the signs.

The easy answer is to always have them supervised when they are out in the yard (never left unsupervised in the yard),have a secure kennel or run where they are contained when you can't supervise them and put locks on your gates, so people are forced to come to your front door to gain access to your yard.

This is especially important if you have utility lines that cross your property. Repair people have the right to access their lines, so if they are bitten and you advertise you know the dogs are capable of biting, you will be held liable for everything.

 

[Tracy Savage]

He's never left out alone. I dont trust him and we are very careful. It's such a shame because he is wonderful with us and people he knows. As much as I love dogs I think he will be our last for a while. Cats are sooooo much easier!

 

[DebbieB]

Ummm.... no, this is not correct. Only if the OP has an added umbrella policy on top of the homeowners insurance would a lawsuit be covered. Anyone can sue anyone, but all one can sue for are damages, which in this case would be the doctor's bill and some pain & suffering (not much for a small nip). As long as you are cooperative with the neighbors, I doubt they'd go that route.

I also agree that you should not try and have the dog make friends with the boy. It may work temporarily, but instinct will set the dog off at any time and the dog will probably bite him again. If you decide to take the dog to a shelter, his chances of getting adopted are almost zero because of the documentation that he has bitten someone.

I'm sorry you are going through such stress. Try not to worry because it most likely won't be as bad as you think -- unless the dog bites him again (or someone else).

I work in insurance, that is not correct. Homeowners coverage would cover it. What an umbrella does is provides coverage if the limits on the homeowners are used up. For example, if your homeowners has a liability limit of $100,000 and you are sued for $200,000, the umbrella would pickup the amount over $100,000 up to the umbrella limit.

I agree that I would not invite this boy over to play with the dog. That is asking for trouble.

 

[allison443]

I work in insurance, that is not correct. Homeowners coverage would cover it. What an umbrella does is provides coverage if the limits on the homeowners are used up. For example, if your homeowners has a liability limit of $100,000 and you are sued for $200,000, the umbrella would pickup the amount over $100,000 up to the umbrella limit.

I agree that I would not invite this boy over to play with the dog. That is asking for trouble.

I agree!

Also the case (if there even is a lawsuit) would not be difficult to prove. The dog has not only bitten before, but it bit this same kid before!

Anyway you won't lose your house, your insurance will cover it. They may tell you to get rid of the dog or they will drop your coverage, though.

 

[minkydog]

Yes, you can be sued especially if the parents can prove that this is a vicious dog - ie: the second time it has bitten. Probably not a likely scenario.

However, what is more likely to happen is that they will go to the hospital and fill out a dog bite report (mandatory).

The police will come to your house and either take the dog for 10 days or the dog will be put under house quarantine.

You will be cited for having a dog that bites.

The most important thing is that you need to know you have a dangerous dog, at least according to authorities. It has bitten twice now. You need to invest in proper training and at the bare minimum, take precautions with the dog. It needs to be crated or put away ANYTIME a child is in your house or yard.

If you do not do anything, since this bite will be on record, the next bite can bring much, much bigger repercussions such as a much bigger possibility of being sued.

As for why would he have a tetanus shot? If your dog broke the skin, that is standard procedure.

I am just sitting here shaking my head. OF COURSE YOU CAN BE SUED IF A DOG WHO LIVES UNDER YOUR ROOF BITES A CHILD. And now that you have NO DOUBT that this dog will bite THIS child, you need to know it could bite others. Hopefully, the neighbors will show you some mercy (although if your dog had bitten *my* son TWICE there would be no mercy). Please, please find another place for the dog to live, preferrably where he can become properly trained. And I would NEVER have the dog back in my home. JMHO

That poor kid...

 

[handinpocket]

Sounds like the dog should be put down to me.

 

[Alesia]

A little background info. My daughter worked at the humane society and adopted a puppy from there about 2 years ago. She moved down to FL when the dog was about 6 months old. This winter, she moved back home and of course brought the dog with her. We have two dogs of our own - one of them loves to play with my daughter's dog, the other one does not but she tolerates her, no fighting or anything. My daugher's dog is on the small/medium size - a border collie mix - skinny dog with a tail that curls up over her back.

My daughter's dog is a barker. She barks when someone comes to the door, when the neighbors go in their yard, when the mailman walks by - well, she barks at just about anything. She's getting a little better, at least now when I tell her to stop, she listens most of the time. There is one boy who lives next door that she does not like for some reason. He has never done anything to her or teased her or anything like that. One day, when I was not at home, my son broke the rules and let the boy come in our yard to play - it was snowing and they wanted to build a fort. All three dogs were outside and my daughter's dog bit the neighbor boy. He was not injured - probably because of the heavy jacket.

So tonight, my son and his friend found a baby squirrel. My son brought the squirrel in the kitchen and we were all paying attention to that and somehow he let the neighbor boy into the kitchen too - and my daughter's dog bit him. This time he had on a t-shirt and he did get hurt. Not a big bite, but a bite just the same. He ran out of the house and I sent my son after him to see if he was okay. He came back crying saying that they were taking him to the hospital to get a tetanus shot (why?) and that the dog probably did not have it's shots, etc. So I told my daughter to get over there to see if he was okay. Of course her dog has all her shots, so that was not a worry, but I wanted to be sure that the boy was okay and that his parents were not upset.

My question is, can we get sued for this? Are we in any danger of having our house taken away from us in a lawsuit if this stupid dog bites this boy again or someone else? My daughter went over to their house right after it happened and apologized and assured them that the dog has had her shots and checked his bite. There was one tiny mark, but it probably still hurt. She asked the boy if he would be willing to come over to our house, another day of course, when she is home and has the dog on a leash so he can feed her some treats and try to "make friends" with her. He said he would be willing to try it. This kid is always over here - he spent a lot of time here last summer because we have a pool and I don't mind if they come over to swim with our kids, but I'm not going to live in fear that this dog will bite him every time he comes over.

Oh, the squirrel? He's in a box with a screen over it so in case he is more lively than he appeared that he cannot get out. Tomorrow morning I am calling some wildlife people in our area until I find someone to take him.

It seems like you're more concerned about getting sued than you are about the fact that your dog has bitten a child. Twice. I think that's pretty sad.

 

[Tracy Savage]

Ok it's time to go, I think it's gonna get nasty........

 

[handinpocket]

Ok it's time to go, I think it's gonna get nasty........

I don't know if it is my post to which you are referring, but, a dog that has bitten a child twice, needs to be put down. I'm surprised the OP is so blase about the whole thing. This is serious. I could just imagine what that dog could do to a helpless cat or very young child, scary.

 

[RitaZ.]

It seems like you're more concerned about getting sued than you are about the fact that your dog has bitten a child. Twice. I think that's pretty sad.

I got the same attitude from the owner whose dog bit me. She tried to come up with all kinds of ridiculous reasons why her dog attacked me. The fact is that she was an irresponsible dog owner.

If you are an irresponsible dog owner, it will eventually cost you. Maybe in the form of a lawsuit, maybe having to pay for the victim's medical costs, fines from Animal Control, losing your homeowner's insurance, etc. If you choose to keep an aggressive animal, especially after it has attacked a person, and don't seek proper training for you and your dog, then be prepared to pay. It's a matter of time.

 

[Tracy Savage]

I just know that people and animal topics tend to get very passionate, shall I say. I have never owned a dog with issues before until now. He reacts out of fear. He has had training and exceled at it. He is a joy to us but I know he cannot be around strangers and under our control at all times. It's hard when it's an animal that you love as family. That said, he has never bitten anyone. I feel bad for both parties.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

The dog does not need to be put down, they simply need to restrict non family members from coming into the house before the dog has been secured in another room. I've been bit by a dog more than once, there are certainly degrees of severity. The dog can do serious damage if it is intent on doing so, it doesn't sound like it even broke the skin. I wouldn't kill a dog over that, but I certainly would not allow kids to just wander into my house/yard whenever they wanted to like that kid apparently does. I also don't see what there is to sue over, I never sued anyone who's dog bit me because I didn't sustain any serious injury. Sure it was sore for a couple of days, I don't find that sue worthy.

 

[okeydokey]

That poor little boy. This is the kind of experience that gives people a fear of dogs. Yes, they can sue you. Maybe they won't but you need to be sure it never happens again.

 

[minkydog]

I also don't see what there is to sue over, I never sued anyone who's dog bit me because I didn't sustain any serious injury. Sure it was sore for a couple of days, I don't find that sue worthy.

YOU may not, but you'd be surprised what people will sue for. You don't ever want to give someone aaaannnnyyy reason to sue you. And I would think that goes double when children are involved.

 

[Ceila]

OP, I hope I'm reading your post incorrectly, but it does sound like you are more worried about getting sued than in making sure the dog never, ever bites another child again. You need to make sure the dog can't get anywhere near other people again.

I know a child who had his face bitten by a dog (the owners knew the dog had mildly bitten two other people before, but they didn't tell the boy's parents). The child required over 20 stitches - inside his mouth - and extensive, painful therapy. THAT is what you need to be worried about - not whether you might get sued.

 

[DebbieB]

I work in commercial insurance and recall a claim where the dog owner had the dog at his place of business. A dad and small child came in, the dad was not paying attention to the child, the child started being rough with the dog and got bit. I don't recall how severe the bite was but I know it went into a long lawsuit that ended up near 6 figures. There was no history of this dog being aggressive and the owner was not concerned about having his dog at his business. The child was being rough with him and the dad was not paying attention to his child. But the problem is when a child is involved, the court usually has sympathy.

In this case, this is the second time it has happened. That would not go good in court.

 

[Buckalew11]

My 7yo lab bite my 18yo nephew 3 weeks ago today.

He bit him on the hand while in his fenced in area when my nephew gave him a treat. This was not normal behavior for our dog--labs don't usually have biting issues.

We kept him for 11 days and then put him down. We think he may have had a brain tumor or something.
The day we put him down he growled and snapped and snarled at both my DH and I at separate times. All the while he was wagging his tail--but his face looked like he suddenly was far, far away and that he could eat us up.

We are heartbroken to have had to put him down but we also did not trust him anymore and since I have a business at home, we did not feel comfortable with all that.
I would have never forgiven myself had it been a smaller child because if would have done some major damage. As it was my nephew had to see a hand specialist (nerves etc.). So far, he is doing well.

I think you sound way more concerned about getting sued than you do for that poor little boy.


As far the baby squirrel, I've had 2 in the past and it is important that stay hydrated. Make sure they drink. And call someone asap who can help you with that. Baby squirrels are precious, precious little creatures.