Dogs are considered to be a great family pet and one of the best friends that a person could have. They are loyal, great fun to have in your home, and they can easily become a valued member of your family.
For this reason, most dog owners do not even think about the chances of their dog biting someone. However, it can happen. In fact, most people are surprised at just how often dog bites do occur in Canada.
The main question that people wonder is what is it that makes a dog want to bite someone? There is really no clear-cut answer as to why a dog may bite. However, some of the cases that have been seen throughout the world include:
In other cases, the dog may be targeted by someone and they may not treat the dog properly, resulting in the dog defending themselves and thus biting the person who has targeted them.
No matter why the dog has bitten someone, the results are the same for the owner. They are dealing with a dog who has bitten someone.
When a dog bites someone, what happens to the dog owner? First off, you need to recognize who the law says is the dog owner. The dog owner is defined as the person who is responsible for the dog.
This can be the registered owner of the dog. Or if the dog is technically owned by a minor, then it is the parent/guardian of the minor that is responsible.
In addition, those dog sitters out there can be held responsible if the dog bites while in their care since they are taking on the responsibility of this dog during this time frame.
When a dog bites someone, the Ontario Dog Owners Liability Act is going to come into play. This is an act that was put in as the dog biting problem became what it is. This act is what prohibits certain breeds of dogs from being inside the city, such as Pitbull’s. The other aspects of this act include:
Ultimately, the dog owner is the one that is responsible for a dog bite. Whether this is the registered owner or a dog sitter at the time, this will be determined based on when the bite occurred.
For those who own dogs, they never want this dog to bite someone. So, what can be done to prevent this from happening? Here are a few ideas:
You need to take whatever precautions that you think are necessary to ensure that your dog is safe and that they are not put into the temptation to bite someone.
Despite many safeguards that may be put in place, there are times in which dogs may bite someone. So, what happens in these cases? This is going to depend. However, it could mean:
What will happen to your dog will greatly depend on the bite and the situation surrounding this?
For example, while the dog act put into effect is meant to ensure that all owners are held accountable if it is determined that a person was taunting the dog into biting, then the courts may not do anything other than penalizing the owner with a small fine.
Once again, this will all be decided upon based on a case by case basis!’
If your dog does bite someone, the way in which you act is going to determine just how well your case will go. If you can prove that the person was antagonizing the dog, then you need to do so and inform the authorities.
If the person that has been bitten never gets medical treatment, this is something that you need to note as well. You do not want it coming back on you later that the dog bite is being taken to court. In essence, you need to be prepared. Here are a few recommendations:
The chances of your dog biting someone is not as high as you would think. However, it is something that dog owners need to think about, especially if you are a first-time dog owner.
Being a dog owner is a huge responsibility, and you need to make sure that you are doing everything that you can do to ensure your dog is protected and that others out there are protected from your dog.
If you have a dog that has bitten someone, or if you have been bitten by someone’s dog, be sure to contact us.
We have experience in dealing with dog bites, so we can give you the legal help that is needed to ensure that your case is taken seriously and that there are no repercussions to what has happened.
Contact us today for a FREE Consultation.