In Pennsylvania, dog owners are required by law to prevent attacks and injuries. Most city ordinances require the pet owners to use leashes or runners when their dog is outside. Some local ordinances require the dog to remain inside an enclosed space while outdoors. Local Personal Injury Lawyers in Luzerne County PA represent dog attack victims.
How Severe are the Victim’s Injuries?
The severity of the victim’s injuries determines if the animal control officer seizes the animal. Any dog attack that leads to life-threatening injuries could require an immediate seizure of the animal. However, minor to moderate injuries won’t require this step.
How to Report the Attack
The victim of the dog attack has the right to report the event to the animal control officer directly. Under most circumstances, the doctor contacts the animal control officer when the patient seeks medical attention. Once the attack is reported, the animal control officer contacts the dog owner and requires a full assessment of the dog.
What are Strict Liabilities?
A strict liability is applied if the dog was involved in previous attacks. The liability indicates that the dog owner was aware of an aggressive temperament. The owners also failed to prevent a new attack and placed the victim at risk. Under the circumstances, the dog owner is required to maintain control over their dog and prevent the dog from having any contact with neighbors or visitors.
What Happens After the Attack?
The pet owner must provide evidence of vaccinations for their pet. If they didn’t vaccinate their dog, the pet owner must surrender their dog to a licensed vet for a quarantine period. The quarantine lasts up to twelve days and provides the vet enough time to determine if the dog has rabies. The pet owner incurs the full cost of the quarantine plus a fine for failing to comply with rabies laws.
In Pennsylvania, dog owners are responsible for any injuries sustained by visitors or neighbors. All pet owners must comply with local laws that could present a risk for others. The laws apply to maintaining control over the pets and lowering the chances of a dog attack. Victims contact Personal Injury Lawyers in Luzerne County PA or Visit the website when they need legal assistance. You can also visit them on Google My Business.
