Dear Legally: Most state laws will usually allow persons being attacked by dogs to take whatever means possible to stop such an attack, including killing the animal. Liability for the dog rests with the owner, especially if the owner knew his dog to
Dear Legally: Most state laws will usually allow persons being attacked by dogs to take whatever means possible to stop such an attack, including killing the animal. Liability for the dog rests with the owner, especially if the owner knew his dog to be vicious or he was careless, like letting a dog roam free. In some larger cities, new laws require owners of known biters to register the animal, similar to the sex offender registry.
If you are bitten, you have the right to press criminal charges and civil charges to recoup any medical expenses, lost wages and the usual pain and suffering award. And in most cases, if the bite is bad enough and the dog a future threat, a judge can order that the dog be put to sleep.
However, before you get all hyped-up about what to do âifâ the dog âshouldâ break through his electric fence and âmaybeâ bite you, I would take a proactive approach and talk to the dogâs owner directly. Ask the owner if it is at all possible to keep the dog in the house during the hour of your morning jog. This not only alerts the owner that you might be frightened of his dog but gives you a previous history of notifying the dog owner should something go wrong. Since the dog is in a new home and with strange surroundings, he too is just getting acclimated to his new territory. He doesnât yet know who is a good guy!
An even better solution would be to have the owner introduce you to his dog. Become the dogâs friend and learn his name. For a few days have the owner give you some biscuits to give to the dog when he comes to greet you curbside. Before you know it, a previously feared animal â who by the way can sense your fear â will become a friend.
Better to have a wagging tail greeting along your jogging route than a possible lawsuit.Â
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Lisaâs Pick of the Litter
If you own five or more dogs or breed just one litter a year and feed Purina brand dog foods (or know friends who do) you are in a unique position to help raise money for canine health research, purebred rescue and education.
A program called the Purina Parent Club Partnership (PPCP) links Purina with the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (AKCCHF) and the national parent clubs for AKC-recognized breeds. Individuals who are members of their parent club, meet the above criteria and become Purina Pro Club members can clip weight circles from qualifying Purina dog food products to earn donation dollars.
Weight circles are then turned into PPCP earnings with 50 percent of the monies going to donor-advised funds (research for a specific breed) and matched 100 percent by the AKCCHF. The other 50 percent of the funds goes directly to the parent clubs for research, rescue or education.
To find out more about this fabulous program visit http://www.akcchf.org/club/ppcp.htm or http://www.purinaproclub.com/.
To find out if your national parent club of your particular purebred breed participates in this program go to www.akc.org to find information for the corresponding secretary, health committee contact or club website.
Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is a Delegate to the American Kennel Club. Write Lisa at www.lisa-peterson.com or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.