Neighbor's dogs killed another neighbor's dog

[isis297]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA

A woman in a dog group I belong to lost her dog when a neighbor's 3 dogs attacked and killed him. I need to double check if he was in his yard or if they were out for a walk because quite honestly, I think I spaced out of the horrible thought of what he went through. This is not the dogs' first offense, plus, they viciously attacked and killed a large dog so you can imagine our shock to find out the warden only cares if the dogs have had their rabies shots and are licensed! If not, he will fine them.

I have seen dogs confiscated for biting a human, but are there no laws when they attack another animal especially when so viciously and resulting in death? I would think there is no question these dogs are vicious and their next target may actually be a child.

Thank you.

 

[Ohiogal]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA

A woman in a dog group I belong to lost her dog when a neighbor's 3 dogs attacked and killed him. I need to double check if he was in his yard or if they were out for a walk because quite honestly, I think I spaced out of the horrible thought of what he went through. This is not the dogs' first offense, plus, they viciously attacked and killed a large dog so you can imagine our shock to find out the warden only cares if the dogs have had their rabies shots and are licensed! If not, he will fine them.

I have seen dogs confiscated for biting a human, but are there no laws when they attack another animal especially when so viciously and resulting in death? I would think there is no question these dogs are vicious and their next target may actually be a child.

Thank you.

It depends on where the dogs were. It also depends on what was going on at the time of the dog attack. There is a question that the dogs are vicious.

 

[Ben T]

Context is everything here. Where were the attacking dogs? Was the victims dog leashed, or unleashed? Were the attacking dogs in a safe, enclosed area? Did the owner have control over them?

If you watch Judge Judy there are many instances of dogs attacking, maiming other dogs on the show. If the attacking party is found guilty there are legal consequences.

And my condolences to your friend. When dog attacks occur they are violent and terrible events.

 

[isis297]

According to the owner who lost her dog, she lives in a rural area on 4 acres. Apparently fences are not a thing there as she mentioned two of the other neighbors' dogs will sometimes come over to her yard and spend the night. She just lets the owners know they are there. Her dog was in her yard and these other 3 dogs owned by the same person came into the yard and attacked her dog who wasn't able to survive his injuries.

 

[Silverplum]

According to the owner who lost her dog, she lives in a rural area on 4 acres. Apparently fences are not a thing there as she mentioned two of the other neighbors' dogs will sometimes come over to her yard and spend the night. She just lets the owners know they are there. Her dog was in her yard and these other 3 dogs owned by the same person came into the yard and attacked her dog who wasn't able to survive his injuries.

http://dogbitelaw.com/statutory-strict-liability-state/pennsylvania-dog-bite-law.html

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

A dog biting a person is not legally tolerated. A dog biting another dog is property damage. Apparently part of the issue is she allowed the neighbor dogs to come onto her property regularly and they then wanted to assume ownership. The dog warden would not likely get excited about a civil property issue. Her recourse is to sue for the dogs value in court.

 

[isis297]

Thank you for the link. I am still reading through it and I forwarded it to her as well. She's a single mom so I know she feels limited in what she can do since the warden won't do anything. I did see an ad for an attorney on that link that only charges if he wins so maybe she can call him.

This was her response when I asked about the dogs roaming:

"Not really wander. .Mostly stay at their own farm. Occational visit? I can't see any houses from my house, my neighbors are about a mile away. The other neighbor lives in the opposite direction, it also happened in her yard. She dropped a bill off for them yesterday for $1,600 dollars. These dogs are traveling in a pack far from their house."

I find it completely irresponsible the warden isn't taking control of these dogs and I advocate for shelter animals! Taking them to animal control is never something I normally suggest and try to help with rescues and adopters...even for the "deemed aggressive" animals since sometimes it really is just a fear thing that animals are responding to and such and they are actually fine once out of the shelters. In this case though, I would seriously be concerned that next it might be someone's child.

Though the animals didn't hurt this woman's children physically, her children and her are suffering emotionally as this dog saw them through many tough times in his 12 years. She found her daughter crying in the shower about how their dog whose name was Hero is being treated like he was "just a dog" vs an important part of their family who endured great trauma. I mean, this dog suffered 3 dogs tearing at him and suffered through the time after as they rushed him to the vet only to find out he couldn't be saved. This is not just a little bite.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

$1600 for the replacement value of a dog? Was it a registered breed? I don't know many single moms that have $1600 dogs. I can't imagine a court allowing unlimited vet expenses to attempt to preserve a dogs life, when it appears the dog should have been euthanized.

 

[Zigner]

The owner wants to recover the cost of the treatment. You know it's not going to happen. I know it's not going to happen. Heck, I'd bet even the OP knows it's not going to happen...

 

[isis297]

The $1600 bill is from the other neighbor whose dog got attacked by this pack. The mom I know hasn't done anything yet but get the warden involved and try to save her dog but quickly realized she couldn't. Why shouldn't the other neighbor get that money back? Based on that link you sent me, it says that in PA the dog owner can go after the attacking dogs' owner for vet bills.

 

[Zigner]

The $1600 bill is from the other neighbor whose dog got attacked by this pack. The mom I know hasn't done anything yet but get the warden involved and try to save her dog but quickly realized she couldn't. Why shouldn't the other neighbor get that money back? Based on that link you sent me, it says that in PA the dog owner can go after the attacking dogs' owner for vet bills.

You weren't clear on your prior post. You're really asking us to guess based on 4th or 5th-hand information at this point...