Legal responsibilities of dangerous dog owners in Venice

There have been a number of highly published dog attacks in Venice, Florida as well as the rest of the world. In certain countries, over ninety breeds of dogs have been classified as ‘threatening’ and placed on the dangerous dogs list.

Some of the dogs which are seen as ‘threatening’ include the Pit Bull Terrier, Doberman, Bull Mastiff, German Shepherd Dog, Rottweiler, Newfoundland, Border Collie and St. Bernard. In Florida, you aren’t prohibited from owning these dogs (most dogs aren’t naturally violent and dangerous to the public). You do, however, have a responsibility to ensure your dog doesn’t attack another human being.

Close to 5 million people are attacked by dogs each year. In Florida, responsibility is placed with the dog’s owner or the person who is in charge of the dog at that particular time to control the dog’s behaviour. At your home, for example, you will need to ensure that you dog cannot wonder into the streets. While walking your dog, you must ensure that your dog is kept on a leash.

In America, different states have their own laws about owning dogs and legal responsibilities of dog owners. In Florida, your dog will be classified as a threat to others (or a ‘dangerous dog’) if it has attacked somebody in the past or if the dog has been specifically trained to fight or attack. If your dog has attacked somebody in the past or is in the process of being trained for dog fighting, it will need to get a tattoo on the inside of its thigh and you are required to keep your dog within your property (or in secure place where it cannot roam free amongst the public).

If your dog escapes and causes harm or property damage, the owner of the dog is liable for all damages. Your liability will be reduced if you can prove that you were not negligent (for example, if the damage occurred on your property and you had warning signs for people entering the premises – these signs, however, do not apply to children under the age of six).

How Farrow & Pulice can help you

“Our promise to dog bite and dog attack victims: Our injury accident attorneys will work to get reimbursed for all the financial loss you sustained or you don’t have to pay us.”

Ease the stress of your dog bite or dog attack accident and contact Farrow and Pulice for a free personal injury consultation.

As experienced attorneys for dog attack victims, Farrow & Pulice can get you the help, representation and compensation you deserve, and we do so in a timely manner.

Our Florida office, based in Venice, has specialist attorneys who can assist in a professional and compassionate manner.