I was recently mauled by someone’s pit bull at a party he was hosting. So far as I can tell the attack was unprovoked (the dog had approached me and was licking my face) and the owner tried to convince me not to go to the hospital. After being stitched up and told that I may need plastic surgery I attempted to file a lawsuit and the property owner proceeded to tell animal control that I had trespassed on their property and punched the dog, the animal control officer is also being uncooperative and has not sent me a bite report. I have a witness that corroborates my claim. Do I have cause to sue for slander in addition to my injury claim?

i was curious about my rights as a dog owner, if someone were to break into my house and my dog were to attack that person, what type of consequences would i find myself in.

Can a Homeowners Association be held liable for negligence if a dog bite victim is injured by a resident’s unrestrained dog in the HOA common area? There are no enclosed dog exercise areas within the HOA, and no signs prohibitting dogs from running at large within the HOA common areas. Over the years, there have been numerous complaints made against the owner of this aggressive dog yet she continues to exercise her unrestrained dog in the open common area and the HOA refuses to do anything about it. All the HOA does is refer people to the Animal Control Authorities to look into the incidents that have occurred.

My boyfriend was bit by my soon to be neighbor’s dog what rights do we have? We were moving things into a house that we have put a security deposit on but have not signed a lease yet. The neighbor had a dog tied where it could reach our drive-way. My boyfriend was going to the car to leave and the dog bit him. The neighbors were standing outside and watched the whole thing. He was not severely hurt but I do have a 2 year old son who I am now concerned about. We told the landlord and she said she would have them move the dog…can we do anything if the dog is still there and tries to attack one of us again?
worthington , pa

My dog nipped at my neighbor and sightly broke the skin. The neighbor told me it was his fault, because the dog was scared and he should have not backed her into a corner. There was no police report filed, as the neighbor took responsibility for the incident. It has been 3-1/2 years since then, and no other incidents have occurred. Can he decide to press charges now after all this time and when there was no report filed?

The other day we were walking to School to pick up our kids with Boomer (our 5 yr. old Labrador). He was, as always on a leash. Boomer is the most placid calm dog but I always have him on a tight leash at Nayatt as there are so many people. Our neighbor came with their new puppy (who has been over to play with Boomer in our yard). Their puppy was annoying Boomer by constantly jumping up and down in his face so I moved him a bit back. The puppy then proceeded to bite his ear by hanging off his ear. Boomer then swung around and growled (the whole thing lasted about 1 second) and now they say that the vet says that Boomer bit the puppy and it has broken it’s back leg and must be in leg brace for 5 weeks. The owner of the dog was there when it happened and there were no bite marks, blood or any visible signs of any damage. Boomer was completely calm except for that 1 second response and the husband of the owner of the puppy agreed that he should have held the dog back and that it was an accident. We have apologized that this happened (but made it abundantly clear that it was an accident )and even sent them some money to help with their medical bills but they now the wife insists we pay all their bills. I have looked into the RI Dog Bite Law and as far as I can see it only imposes liability if the dog wasn’t taunted before hand.

I have a hidden fence system. My dog stays within her boundaries, but both of my neighbors’ dogs run free. The neighbors’ lab puppy (about 5 mos old, but approx. 40-50 lbs) came into my yard and my dog bit him (supposedly putting a tooth hole in his ear). My neighbor called the “dog catcher” and told us he would shoot my dog if it gets out and hurts his kids (who throw rocks and crabapples into my yard at my dog). Am I liable that his dog provoked my dog by coming into my yard? I have a 3-4 year old pitbull mix (rescue dog). She is great with people but hates other animals. I made sure my homeowners insurance has my dog and her breed info on my policy and she is registered as a pitbull with the county I live in (Union County). I am in rural central PA. I am installing a privacy fence between my property and their drive way, should I also post beware of dog signs?

My 85 y.o. grandmother lives in her own home in suburban Cincinnati. Her neighbor recently acquired an Italian Mastiff dog, a male that I estimate weighs over 100 pounds. The dog is often left alone outside in a yard fenced with chain-link. He is a nuisance, barking at anything that he sees. That’s not why I’m writing. He has recently started escaping from the yard. My grandmother mows her yard and tends her flowers outside. If the dog is out, he charges the fence and barks menacingly. He escaped the last time she mowed and charged her, she was smart and was able to keep her mower between them while she backed into her house. We spoke to her neighbor about this and he minimized the issue, saying that the dogs were docile. He states he intends to alter the fence so that it is more secure at the bottom where the dog is pushing under. The fence is already low and will be lower when he “fixes” it. The still growing young dog already is able to put his chest above the top. He will come over the top without a doubt. What are our rights to force the issue? My grandmother shouldn’t have to be scared in her own back yard.

was wondering how long we have before getting a lawyer for my daughter who got bit by a dog a month ago

I live in an apartment complex in Alpharetta, GA on the first floor, which is ground level. Tonight I was sitting on my balcony, which is surrounded by shrubbery, talking to a friend on the phone, when a neighbor came by walking his small (I’d guess 25lb) dog off-leash. This dog charged through the shrubbery, THROUGH the railing on my porch, grabbed my small 10lb maltipom by the neck and dragged him through the railing, and continued attacking him while I jumped the railing and the other neighbor separated the dogs.

He stated to me, “are you okay? My dog – she’s an alpha female” and walked away without waiting for me to answer. His words make me believe that he knows his dog has prior aggression issues.

My apartment has everyone owning pets sign a leash agreement. His dog was off-leash. While I take my dog out off-leash and other neighbors do as well, none of these dogs are aggressive- we actually have play dates. However, in order to prevent this from happening again, I have no problem keeping my dog on leash from now on.

My dog was not hurt physically, he was just very very shaken up. I just want to know what my rights are as far as what actions I can take to keep this from happening again. Clearly this neighbor is negligent, he knows his dog is aggressive but fails to keep his dog on leash or seek behavioral training. Since it is an apartment complex I’m not sure what I’m able to do except report to the leasing office, which if they haven’t reported their pet to avoid the pet fee, the office won’t know who the tenant was as he ran away before I could get his information.