Dog bite

[greyhoundlady]

What is the name of your state? Maine
Wednesday I came home from work around lunch time, I noticed a dog running lose in my yard, it looked like my neighbors dog and I got worried about it's safety so I went outside to try and catch it to take it home, it had no collar on, it came right up to me wagging its tail so I had my roommate bring me a collar, as soon as I tried to collar the dog it lundged at me and bit my face and ran off. I called 911 to report the lose dog and that I had been bitten, the professionals arrived and went on a search for the now loose dog, when they went to he neighbors house it came running out of the yard that has an 8 foot fence but the gate was open. The animal control officer looped the dog with a special leash and as soon as she did the dog got aggitated and was taken away. I have suffered one deep gash that reguired 4 internal stiches and two less serious cuts on my cheek.
Are the owners considered negligent in this matter?
I also have dogs and am not afraid of them due to this issue but I am very leary of any loose dog now and have vowed never to go near another no matter what. Some adivce would be nice here because I do not want the dog destroyed, it is a young female lab and it is kept fenced in most of the time, although I do disagree about the hours that the dogs spend in the yard, barking at all hours. Do I have any say as to whether or not the dog gets destroyed and should I stop that from happening if I do? I must say that I do worry that now that the young dog has had a taste of human that maybe this won't be the last incident, and what if the next time it is a child or older person who isn't so lucky. I am very confused.
Donna

[BelizeBreeze]

Originally Posted by greyhoundlady

What is the name of your state? Maine
Wednesday I came home from work around lunch time, I noticed a dog running lose in my yard, it looked like my neighbors dog and I got worried about it's safety so I went outside to try and catch it to take it home, it had no collar on, it came right up to me wagging its tail so I had my roommate bring me a collar, as soon as I tried to collar the dog it lundged at me and bit my face and ran off. I called 911 to report the lose dog and that I had been bitten, the professionals arrived and went on a search for the now loose dog, when they went to he neighbors house it came running out of the yard that has an 8 foot fence but the gate was open. The animal control officer looped the dog with a special leash and as soon as she did the dog got aggitated and was taken away. I have suffered one deep gash that reguired 4 internal stiches and two less serious cuts on my cheek.
Are the owners considered negligent in this matter?

If the court says they are.

I also have dogs and am not afraid of them due to this issue but I am very leary of any loose dog now and have vowed never to go near another no matter what.

which you should have done in the first place.

Some adivce would be nice here because I do not want the dog destroyed, it is a young female lab and it is kept fenced in most of the time, although I do disagree about the hours that the dogs spend in the yard, barking at all hours.

your part in this is over.

Do I have any say as to whether or not the dog gets destroyed and should I stop that from happening if I do?

no you have no say in anything having to do with the dog at this point.

I must say that I do worry that now that the young dog has had a taste of human that maybe this won't be the last incident, and what if the next time it is a child or older person who isn't so lucky. I am very confused.
Donna

this is irrelevant.

[fairisfair]

No offense, but taste of human?? the dog bit you, it didn't eat you.

This site should give you all the information you need.

[url]http://www.dogbitelaw.com/[/url]

[greyhoundlady]

I was using a metaphore, obviously it didn't eat me but something can snap in a "pet" once it bites, call it what you want - hope it never happens to you.

[fairisfair]

Originally Posted by greyhoundlady

I was using a metaphore, obviously it didn't eat me but something can snap in a "pet" once it bites, call it what you want - hope it never happens to you.

oh, and by the way, of course, you're welcome!! you have certainly made friends in your short time here. If I was a dog . . . . .