Dog altercation question

[ssherian]

I have a question regarding a recent incident involving a neighbor's dog and one of my own. The incident occured in Ventnor City, NJ.

I was in my back yard, walking my dog, which weighs approximately 60-65 lbs, on a leash. At this time, a neighbor was walking his dog, (about 10-15 lbs) past my house WITHOUT A LEASH.. and his dog came charging into my front yard towards the backyard area where my dog and I were.

My dog's reaction to this was pretty aggressive. I then lost control of the leash, and my dog went after his dog on my front lawn, and proceeded to do serious damage to his dog.

He is asking for 1/2 of the Vet bill ($200 of $400 total), which I originally agreed to pay. However, after reviewing the laws in the City I live in, it clearly states that all dogs must be on leashes at all times, and not be allowed to run at large.

I then proceeded to offer him a much smaller ammount, and told him that if this went to court, I would win because it was on my property, and his dog was not on a leash, and would probably NOT have to pay him anything.

Am i correct in this assumption ?

Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated !!

Thank,

Steve

 

[Antigone*]

I have a question regarding a recent incident involving a neighbor's dog and one of my own. The incident occured in Ventnor City, NJ.

I was in my back yard, walking my dog, which weighs approximately 60-65 lbs, on a leash. At this time, a neighbor was walking his dog, (about 10-15 lbs) past my house WITHOUT A LEASH.. and his dog came charging into my front yard towards the backyard area where my dog and I were.

My dog's reaction to this was pretty aggressive. I then lost control of the leash, and my dog went after his dog on my front lawn, and proceeded to do serious damage to his dog.

He is asking for 1/2 of the Vet bill ($200 of $400 total), which I originally agreed to pay. However, after reviewing the laws in the City I live in, it clearly states that all dogs must be on leashes at all times, and not be allowed to run at large.

I then proceeded to offer him a much smaller ammount, and told him that if this went to court, I would win because it was on my property, and his dog was not on a leash, and would probably NOT have to pay him anything.

Am i correct in this assumption ?

Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated !!

Thank,

Steve

I am a true dog lover and I'll probably get flack for this; but I do have to say this: If you had your dog on your property, and this other dog came onto your property, then I wouldn't pay either.

For that small amount of money, let a judge decide.

 

[Mass_Shyster]

I am a true dog lover and I'll probably get flack for this; but I do have to say this: If you had your dog on your property, and this other dog came onto your property, then I wouldn't pay either.

For that small amount of money, let a judge decide.

There's a flaw in your thinking. I don't know what it is, but it must be there, because I agree with you.

 

[Antigone*]

There's a flaw in your thinking. I don't know what it is, but it must be there, because I agree with you.

Woo Hoo. Time for drinks!!!

 

[!CuriousGeorge!]

Then why pay him anything at all? Of offer to pay him anything...

 

[Antigone*]

Then why pay him anything at all? Of offer to pay him anything...

Probably because the OP feels for the dog & the dog owner; but legally he has no obligation.

Also, the offer can be legally retracted at any time and is not an admission of any guilt.

 

[ssherian]

RE: Dog Altercation

I am a true dog lover and I'll probably get flack for this; but I do have to say this: If you had your dog on your property, and this other dog came onto your property, then I wouldn't pay either.

For that small amount of money, let a judge decide.

Thanks for the response. I am a dog lover as well, and his dog got hurt to the point that it needed stitches. I feel truly bad about this, but the law is the law, right ? He refused my original offer, and I have since rescinded it, and, and told him to go ahead and take me to court.

I hate to be "that guy" but this is not the first time this has happened with him. Luckily, the other times, I was able to restrain my dog.

 

[!CuriousGeorge!]

Thanks for the response. I am a dog lover as well, and his dog got hurt to the point that it needed stitches. I feel truly bad about this, but the law is the law, right ? He refused my original offer, and I have since rescinded it, and, and told him to go ahead and take me to court.

I hate to be "that guy" but this is not the first time this has happened with him. Luckily, the other times, I was able to restrain my dog.

Sounds like he would have a ruff case in court.

 

[sally1]

I would not pay anything since his dog was loose and in your yard. I had a neighbors dog come onto my property and rip into my dog. They paid the $400 bill.

If my dog had been running loose and/or in their yard I would have paid the bill for my dogs injuries. Your neighobr is responsible for his dogs vet bill.