Putting my dog to "sleep"

[underrated831]

What is the name of your state? California



My dog bit someone but he was on my personal property, and I have a hearing in 10 days, I need to find a "dog" lawyer, to keep my dog from getting euthanized,


i tried to use this website to find a lawyer but didn't find any, can anyone please help me? thanks

 

[msiron]

wow so much info... jeez why can't you people give DETAIL

OK baby steps.

Who was the person?

Did they tease the dog?

Did they try to harm you and your dog defended?

Was it in the house, land?

What kind of dog?

How bad was the bite, medical attention? stitches? death?

Is the dog a biter?

Go to the hearing!

 

[underrated831]

OK baby steps.

Who was the person?
The person was a room mate's friend. she informed me the night the person arrived that they were spending the weekend. because we already know that the dog has territorial aggression, she informed me that she would keep her guest in her room and that she would escort him if he needed to leave the room.

Did they tease the dog?

No, the dog got out of my room because she did not close it securely. he ran towards him barking and he slammed the dogs head in the door, the dog then squeezed out and bit him. I'm quite certain the person was kicking the dog

Did they try to harm you and your dog defended?

No

Was it in the house, land?
It was in my apartment

What kind of dog?
He's an American Staffordshire Terrier

How bad was the bite, medical attention? stitches? death?
I took the person to the hospital and he needed stitches. He is going to fully recover.

Is the dog a biter?
THe dog will bite strangers that come in the house. I am in a behavior modification training process with the dog and have very strict rules about room mates guests. This is a matter of her not following my rules. The dog can be rehabilitated

The animal control officer gave me no information about the hearing, so I would like to consult with a lawyer

 

[Just Blue]

OK baby steps.

Who was the person?
The person was a room mate's friend. she informed me the night the person arrived that they were spending the weekend. because we already know that the dog has territorial aggression, she informed me that she would keep her guest in her room and that she would escort him if he needed to leave the room.

Did they tease the dog?

No, the dog got out of my room because she did not close it securely. he ran towards him barking and he slammed the dogs head in the door, the dog then squeezed out and bit him. I'm quite certain the person was kicking the dog

Did they try to harm you and your dog defended?

No

Was it in the house, land?
It was in my apartment

What kind of dog?
He's an American Staffordshire Terrier

How bad was the bite, medical attention? stitches? death?
I took the person to the hospital and he needed stitches. He is going to fully recover.

Is the dog a biter?
THe dog will bite strangers that come in the house. I am in a behavior modification training process with the dog and have very strict rules about room mates guests. This is a matter of her not following my rules. The dog can be rehabilitated

The animal control officer gave me no information about the hearing, so I would like to consult with a lawyer

Why didn't you take the precaution of muzzling the dog during the guests stay?

 

[quincy]

California's Civil Code Section 3342 covers dogs. Yours is a strict liability state, which gives more power to the victim and less to the dog owner. Regardless of the dog's past history (which you indicate is a history of biting), you are responsible for any damage your dog causes. Your insurance might cover most of the expenses involved (medical costs to your roommate's guest, etc) but not court expenses.

Your problem is going to be that, as the owner of a dog that has bitten in the past, it is YOUR duty to ensure the safety of others, not your roommate's. In a strict liability state, with a dog that has bitten in the past, you may have a harder time proving that the guest "provoked" your dog into biting. You would have been in much better shape if the guy your dog bit was a trespasser.

The court, if there has been 2 or more actions against you and your dog in the past, may order the removal of your dog from your home or his destruction.

I would call the Humane Society, to see if they can recommend a lawyer that can defend your dog. He will need a good defense attorney and the Humane Society hates to see healthy animals euthanized. It would be a good start, at any rate.

A lawyer on this forum may post with additional action you can take.

 

[tammy8]

So you have a pit bull that has bite before? Let me guess, you don't have renter's or homeowner's insurance either do you?

Sorry but you are probably not going to get much symphony from anyone. I hate to see animals put down but this sounds like one that needs to *go to the farm* one way or another.

 

[underrated831]

So you have a pit bull that has bite before? Let me guess, you don't have renter's or homeowner's insurance either do you?

Sorry but you are probably not going to get much symphony from anyone. I hate to see animals put down but this sounds like one that needs to *go to the farm* one way or another.

ACTUALLY TAMMY, i DO have renters insurance. and i have a behaviorist from UC DAVIS, who believes this was a case of people not following rules. i asked for help, not for your opinion. thank you

 

[msiron]

Contact your insurance company. Is the apbt on their list of no no dogs?

It is too bad the dog wasn't muzzled, this would have avoided the bite though many people don't realize even with a muzzle that certain dogs breeds can still do serious damage, hit like a freight train and take a grown man to the ground and keep him there!

What kind of dog?
He's an American Staffordshire Terrier

This may be a problem due to media hype, though your breed like mine can cause massive damage compared to a Yorkshire terrier.

Your insurance agent can help/should help you with a legal avenue since that's what you pay premiums for.

 

[las365]

The renters insurance should provide liability coverage for the damage to the bite victim, if there isn't an exclusion in the policy, and would therefor provide a defense if the bitee brought a civil case. But I can't imagine why renters insurance would provide assistance or a defense for the dog's "criminal" charges.

How many people has the dog bitten before, and of those, how many times did the police or animal control get involved?

The suggestion of turning to the Humane Society for help is a good one. You should also line up your behavior modification trainer and your other experts to testify on your behalf. Blaming your roommate and the person who was bitten isn't likely to go over too well in court.

 

[msiron]

underrated.. I know you want to believe the dog can be rehabilitate but I'm hard pressed to buy that. They will always resort back to what they really are, it's in their wiring, just like people do because that's how they are wired.

I have 2 PPD dogs that I love more than my husband but if they bite in an unprovoked situation, well, they be taking the farm ride. (provoked yes, upon aggression to me or my deployment YES) but unprovoked, NO.

Good luck. You have a major liability by keeping that dog.

and your roomie and guest should not feel unsafe. You should consider your options in a rational way.

 

[underrated831]

The renters insurance company is being contacted tomorrow morning. To my knowledge, they provide me with a lawyer and I just need to pay a deductible?

And I am still looking for a defense lawyer for the hearing. I got in contact with the behaviorist today and she is going to fax over to me all of Kash's instructions, history, and behavioral observations that she had. She is also writing a letter for me

 

[CJane]

Your biggest problem is that you KNEW the dog was aggressive and you did NOT take proper precautions to assure that a guest in your home was safe.

This isn't about whether or not your roommate can follow rules that you outline for him/her. It's about whether or not YOU as the dog's owner and a tenant in the home provided proper care/control of the animal.

The dog should have been crated and/or muzzled. It wasn't. It's technically your fault that your dog bit the guest. Honestly, if you're not capable of providing the care/control required for that particular type of dog with a known aggression issue, the dog likely SHOULD either be put down or turned over to a rescue.

 

[fairisfair]

I personally own a pit, and will be the first to defend them and their behavior against negativity.

You sir, however, have no business owning one. You acted irresponsibly, and now your dog will pay the price for your stupidity. YOU own the dog, not your roommate and not her friend, if you feel no responsiblity towards people to protect them from the dog, then you should at least have acted appropriately to protect your DOG.

 

[CJane]

I personally own a pit, and will be the first to defend them and their behavior against negativity.

I don't, nor have I ever, owned a pit bull. However, I've known many pits and have always (until I got this stupid fluffy collie mix) owned aggressive breeds - chows, german shepards, boxers, etc - and I will defend that 'type' of dog until I run out of breath. But I will ALSO (like you) ensure the safety of others AND my dog by properly controlling/training/socializing the animal.

Gawd, what if this had been a child?

 

[underrated831]

I personally own a pit, and will be the first to defend them and their behavior against negativity.

You sir, however, have no business owning one. You acted irresponsibly, and now your dog will pay the price for your stupidity. YOU own the dog, not your roommate and not her friend, if you feel no responsiblity towards people to protect them from the dog, then you should at least have acted appropriately to protect your DOG.

Did I ask for your opinion or help?