California boasts some of the toughest dog bite laws in the nation. It is one of the few states that assess strict liability against owners with no actual knowledge of their dog’s propensity for violence. In other words, an owner whose pet has never bitten another person in the past can still be held civilly and criminally liable whereas many other states require scienter, or knowledge of the animal’s violent tendencies.
One Aliso Viejo resident feels California’s laws should be even tougher- and for good reason. She recently lost part of her ear after an unprovoked attach by a Rhodesian Ridgeback canine at the home of a trusted neighbor. The victim, just ten years old at the time, remembers feeling little pain as she turned away from the animal as he attacked her. Not long after that attack, her stepfather was upon his own property when two pit bull terriers approached an open door to the garage. Aware that these particular dogs were violent, he motioned for them to leave. At that point, the dogs lunged at him and viciously bit his shoulder. The victim relents “this could have been a lot worse.”
After these two vicious attacks upon the same family within weeks of one another, the family is seeking more responsibility for dog owners across the state. These victims, and others, wonder why there are not tougher guidelines governing aggressive dogs. One suggestion from the family is to mandate training for particularly aggressive breeds of dog, such as the pit bull terrier or perhaps the German Shepard. The child victim’s mother would also like to see mandatory insurance policies for owners of these breeds to protect children and adult victims who happen to sustain serious injuries as a result of canine attacks.
California state law currently disallows legislation which specifically targets certain breeds of dog. If mandatory training were to be implemented, it would have to apply to all dog breeds regardless of violent tendencies. San Bernadino County passed a spay/neuter policy directed at pit bull terriers in response to multiple deadly attacks by the breed. Orange County reported over 2.300 dog bites in 2010.
If you have recently experienced a vicious dog bite or animal attack, you are likely curious about how California laws can help you commence a civil suit. We would love to meet with you for a free legal consultation. Contact our office right away at (800)-300-0001.
