Dog liabilities

[starvinar_dist]

Vermont

I have a few questions I desperately need answered. I'm currently renting a house in Vermont and the landlord's house is right next door on the same property. Although they are CT natives, they only come up to their house twice a year.

Now I own a pure bred pit bull (who is a big baby) and have had some problems with the landlords being convinced that the dog is safe to have around. We had already agreed not to let the pit bull outside while they are outside (for fear of him biting someone, the landlord's wife is scared of him).

Anyways to get to my question, my landlord states:

If a person comes on the property, whether they are welcome or not, and my dog would in fact go to them and bite them, he's telling me that he(the landlord) is liable for the attack and they could get sued, not me. So they are fighting to have me remove my dog from the premises because of the fear of him biting someone and then in turn having the victim sue the landlord.

Now another question, how could the landlord be liable if it is my dog? Are they liable because it is their property and I am the tenant? I'm just curious because I believe the landlord didn't do any prior investigating and I'd like to try and prove him wrong. Any suggestions or help will be gratefully appreciated.

[BelizeBreeze]

Originally Posted by starvinar_dist

Vermont

I have a few questions I desperately need answered. I'm currently renting a house in Vermont and the landlord's house is right next door on the same property. Although they are CT natives, they only come up to their house twice a year.

Irrelevant facts.

Now I own a pure bred pit bull (who is a big baby) and have had some problems with the landlords being convinced that the dog is safe to have around. We had already agreed not to let the pit bull outside while they are outside (for fear of him biting someone, the landlord's wife is scared of him).

perefectly reasonable.

Anyways to get to my question, my landlord states:

If a person comes on the property, whether they are welcome or not, and my dog would in fact go to them and bite them, he's telling me that he(the landlord) is liable for the attack and they could get sued, not me. So they are fighting to have me remove my dog from the premises because of the fear of him biting someone and then in turn having the victim sue the landlord.

they hare 1/2 correct. you BOTH could be sued.

Now another question, how could the landlord be liable if it is my dog?

because the landlord is liable for incidents he has knowledge of and he owns the property.

Are they liable because it is their property and I am the tenant?

yes

I'm just curious because I believe the landlord didn't do any prior investigating and I'd like to try and prove him wrong. Any suggestions or help will be gratefully appreciated.

You should be reading your lease. If there is no provision for pets, then legally the landlord can evict for breach. So, did you sign a lease with the landlord which included the right to have the dog.

[racer72]

Originally Posted by starvinar_dist

Now I own a pure bred pit bull (who is a big baby)

It is this thinking that makes your dog even more dangerous. My son-in-law had a pitbull that he said wouldn't hurt a flea. The dog was very well trained and would let kids climb all over him. One day, without provication, the dog broke through a fence and attacked a guy walking his Boston terrier. The little dog was killed seconds into the attack and the terrier's owner suffered permanant injuries trying to stop the pitbull. My SIL and daughter now owe over a quarter million dollars to this gentleman. They attempted to file bankruptcy to have the debt dismissed but the judge said no and the debt stands. Your "big baby" is a time bomb just looking for a place to go off.

[tammy8]

Do you hae renter's insurance? If not, get some immediately and make sure your liablity limits are atleast $300K. Also look into a personal umbrella policy to protect you up to a million dollars. Show these policies to the landlord and maybe he will feel a little better about his liability issues.

[fairisfair]

Originally Posted by racer72

It is this thinking that makes your dog even more dangerous. My son-in-law had a pitbull that he said wouldn't hurt a flea. The dog was very well trained and would let kids climb all over him. One day, without provication, the dog broke through a fence and attacked a guy walking his Boston terrier. The little dog was killed seconds into the attack and the terrier's owner suffered permanant injuries trying to stop the pitbull. My SIL and daughter now owe over a quarter million dollars to this gentleman. They attempted to file bankruptcy to have the debt dismissed but the judge said no and the debt stands. Your "big baby" is a time bomb just looking for a place to go off.

yes, and the same thing has happened numerous times throughout history with every breed of dog imaginable. Actually the breeds most likely to bite are the small and toy breeds, it's just that nobody remembers those attacks because the damage is usually much less severe. The same things that make pit bulls great fighters (god forbid) also make them great pets, they have a very high tolerance to pain, and there fore rarely attack when accidentally provoked, they are rarely aggressive to humans, they are aggressive toward other dogs, (although not all are aggressive to anything) and most humans are injured when placing themselves in the middle of a fight, such as what happened in the instance of your son in laws dog. I have three pit bulls, two of them are almost 15 years old. If they are time bombs waiting to go off, they better hurry up before their "tickers" run out. By the way, none of them have ever bitten anything or been bitten by each other.

[xylene]

I can't stand being in the room with any dog I couldn't easily destroy with my bare hands.

But that's just me.

[rdrector]

Originally Posted by xylene

I can't stand being in the room with any dog I couldn't easily destroy with my bare hands.

But that's just me.

Exactly how I feel! A pet is still an animal and should be expected to act like one at anytime, even if it's an unexpected act. I'm not crazy about having an animal around that would require a gun to put it down. You just can't predict how they will act in every situation, this is certainly seen everyday in "civilized" people. lol

[gawm]

Originally Posted by fairisfair

yes, and the same thing has happened numerous times throughout history with every breed of dog imaginable. Actually the breeds most likely to bite are the small and toy breeds, it's just that nobody remembers those attacks because the damage is usually much less severe. The same things that make pit bulls great fighters (god forbid) also make them great pets, they have a very high tolerance to pain, and there fore rarely attack when accidentally provoked, they are rarely aggressive to humans, they are aggressive toward other dogs, (although not all are aggressive to anything) and most humans are injured when placing themselves in the middle of a fight, such as what happened in the instance of your son in laws dog. I have three pit bulls, two of them are almost 15 years old. If they are time bombs waiting to go off, they better hurry up before their "tickers" run out. By the way, none of them have ever bitten anything or been bitten by each other.

I concur!

[zippysgoddess]

I have to agree as well, it was more than likely the other dog as the reason that Pit freaked out. I have a friend who has several, they have had valid reasons to attack and still won't. A dog is what it is raised to be, no matter the breed, if you raise it to be mean it will be, if you raise it and keep it away from other animals at all times, it will be alarmed by them, if you raise it as a big old baby, it will be. They can be perfectly safe when raised and treated properly.

[divgradcurl]

fairisfair and zippysgoddess,

all of what you have written is all well and good, but it has nothing to do with the landlord wanting to limit his liability with respect to this animal on his property. It doesn't matter if your dog is well-trained, or a big baby, wouldn't hurt a flea, whatever -- the dog's owner (and the dog's owner's landlord, if they are a renter) will still be liable for the dog's actions. It doesn't matter if the OP's landlord's fears about the pitbull are justified or not -- if the landlord doesn't want to take on the added liability of the pitbull, the landlord shouldn't have to.

[zippysgoddess]

Actually, they would have to base that on their lease. If the dog is included in their lease, there is nothing the landlords can do about it, until it is time to sign a new one, if the lease doesn't specify or says no pets, then yes, they can make them remove the animal or make them move out of there altogether.

[nextwife]

I consider my shipperke mix to be a very safe, well-socialized, friendly dog. But I also know that he COULD be provoked because he is an animal. And at least I know, that in his foulest, worst mood, he is simply NOT physically capable of readilly inflicting great damage. And he loves and gets along well with other dogs and all sizes and shapes of people, because I have taken the time to socialize him.

I don't get it. With all the many hundreds of dog breeds who are NOT physically capable of the kinds of maulings that pit-bulls (because of jaw shape and strength) are renowned for, what is it with those of you who want to have this breed and the accompanying liability, in your home? Can't you feel macho with a Golden Retriever or a basset hound at your side?

[fairisfair]

Originally Posted by nextwife

I consider my shipperke mix to be a very safe, well-socialized, friendly dog. But I also know that he COULD be provoked, and at last I know, that in his foulest, worst mood, he is simply NOT physically capable of readilly inflicting great damage.

I don't get it. With all the many hundreds of dog breeds who are NOT physically capable of the kinds of maulings that pit-bulls (because of jaw shape and strength are renowned for, what is it with those of you who want to have this breed and the accompanying liability, in your home? Can't you feel macho with a Golden Retriever or a basset hound at your side?

Yes, considering that I am a 5'4 110 pound blue eyed blonde female, feeling macho is one of my top priorities!!

[fairisfair]

Originally Posted by divgradcurl

fairisfair and zippysgoddess,

all of what you have written is all well and good, but it has nothing to do with the landlord wanting to limit his liability with respect to this animal on his property. It doesn't matter if your dog is well-trained, or a big baby, wouldn't hurt a flea, whatever -- the dog's owner (and the dog's owner's landlord, if they are a renter) will still be liable for the dog's actions. It doesn't matter if the OP's landlord's fears about the pitbull are justified or not -- if the landlord doesn't want to take on the added liability of the pitbull, the landlord shouldn't have to.

I totally agree with the landlord limiting his liabilities regarding his tenants owning dogs, what I object to is the discrimination against the breed.

[gawm]

Originally Posted by divgradcurl

fairisfair and zippysgoddess,

all of what you have written is all well and good, but it has nothing to do with the landlord wanting to limit his liability with respect to this animal on his property. It doesn't matter if your dog is well-trained, or a big baby, wouldn't hurt a flea, whatever -- the dog's owner (and the dog's owner's landlord, if they are a renter) will still be liable for the dog's actions. It doesn't matter if the OP's landlord's fears about the pitbull are justified or not -- if the landlord doesn't want to take on the added liability of the pitbull, the landlord shouldn't have to.

They were replying to racer72. In the seventies it was dobermans, today it is pit bulls, tomorrow it will be rottweilers, then Shepards etc.