If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, you know that it can be a very traumatizing experience. Your immediate concerns are your health – both physical and mental. Then finding a dog attack lawyer so that you do not face economic burdens, through no fault of your own.
Once your immediate needs are taken care of, you may begin to wonder about the animal that attacked you. As you’ve been thrown into this situation, through no fault of your own, what happens to the dog that attacked you? Was it a dangerous dog breed?
Dangerous Dog Breed and Behaviour Law
Although some states create lists of dangerous dog breeds, it is individual dogs that bite or attack, not breeds. Although there are several states that have breed-specific regulations in place, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not. Laws change and evolve and this is an area of law that has raised considerable debate in recent years. It can be argued that breed-specific laws are not effective at keeping individuals in the community safe. It is suggested that the best course of action is to use behavior-based regulations rather than breed based. Behavior-based laws apply in the state of Pennsylvania. That means when a dog has exhibited a specific type of behavior, such as attacking a person unprovoked, that specific dog is labeled as a dangerous dog. Once a dog is considered dangerous, there are requirements the owner must comply with. Read more about that in our blog on “Are There Dangerous Animal Laws in PA?”
Dangerous Dog Registry
Specifically, the owner must list their dog on a registry maintained by the State of Pennsylvania. The owner of the dog must register annually. If the dog goes to another owner, the new owner must also register the dog each year. The list is sorted by county, so individuals can see if there is a dangerous dog in their area. This awareness can help you to avoid a potentially dangerous situation. There are other reasons that a dog may attack that we’ve written about that may help you stay clear of dogs that may charge. It may be important to you to know that the dog that attacked you is listed on the registry. You want the owner to take steps to keep the dog from attacking someone else.
Owners are responsible for the actions of their pet. Often it is proper training that will be the difference between a lovable dog and a dangerous dog. Owners that are held accountable for their pet’s actions may take steps to provide a better environment for their animal. A dog does not have to bite to be considered dangerous or to inflict injury on a person.
If you or a family member has been injured in a dog attack, you’ll want a caring and compassionate lawyer. Contact Jeffrey Harlan Penneys, he is available at any time to discuss your dog bite case.