Still Not Leashed/Fenced After Biting!
By kittiepaws
@kittiepaws (23)
United States
April 26, 2007 1:17am CST
My son was bitten by a neighbors dog at the end of our block on the last day of March. The dog drew blood. After reporting the incident the owner was given a "Dog at Large" citation and the dog was quarantined for 10 days. The animal control officer advised me to have a tetanus shot for my son, to which the bill was $520.00 for the ER visit, since the incident happened on a weekend. Now the dog is out of quarantine and he's still running loose!!! The man who owns the dog also screamed at my son a few days later and accused him of "lying" about his dog and now I guess he thinks he's above the law! We have a leash law in our town and I personally feel like if the man can't leash him or put him behind a fence or on a dog run or kennel that the dog should be completely removed or the man should spend some time in jail for allowing a dog that bites to roam freely in a neighborhood with more children than you can count. So how about it? Does anyone here agree with me that a dog that's bitten a child should be restrained from roaming free?
4 people like this
3 responses
@dragonstar13 (1465)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Each time you see the dog loose call animal control and file a complaint. If they don't do anything about it, call the newspaper and TV stations. The dog is a hazard and it sounds like his owner is an even bigger hazard. The dog has proven it will attack, don't take a chance that he will attack your child, or another, again.
And I would present the dog's owner with the hospital bill, he is responsible for his animal and any injury or damage it causes. His homeowners insurance should cover the cost. If not, you can ask him to pay you out of pocket, file a small claims lawsuit against him or check with your own insurance to see if it's covered (then let your insurance go after him for reimbursement.)
2 people like this
@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
26 Apr 07
excellent suggestions. definatly keep filing the complaint..that way if a child does get bitten again (heaven forbid) there will be a standing record of irresponsibility on the owners part..which will make a difference in being able to prosecute in court.
1 person likes this
@kittiepaws (23)
• United States
27 Apr 07
What makes me mad is that this man thinks he doesn't have to follow the law. He's of Minnonite religion and owns a processing plant (butchering animals). His plant is at the end of our block. My husband worked for him years ago. When my husband worked there, he had his 10 year old son working in that plant. Like all the other laborers. When he got turned in to CPS, he walked away with flying colors because his "religion" allows him to force his children to start working at young ages. His son used to get by with driving the family car when he was 11 and 12!! The man thinks that he's above the law and it makes me sick.
@KrazyKlingon (5005)
• United States
26 Apr 07
dragonstar pretty much said it all. That need for a tetanus shot is evidence right there that the owner is the liar & not your son. The weird thing is that I thought when a dog drew blood like that, they are usually put to sleep, as once they taste human blood, that's pretty much it. Was there at least a picture taken of the bite wound? More evidence. If the doctor also checked the wound, you at least have an witness.
1 person likes this
@KrazyKlingon (5005)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I'm thinking complain to the hospital about sending the bill to the wrong place. Although it is likely a good case, unless the guy REALLY pulls a fast one ... well - if that happens, it may also push back the due date of the bill.
@kittiepaws (23)
• United States
27 Apr 07
After the neighbor cussed at my son and accused him of lying about the dog I had a good friend who is a neighbor come over while I took the pictures of the bite. It was two days after the bite, but I got a picture none the less. Each tooth mark had almost quarter size bruise around it. Not each tooth mark drew blood. Just one. I too, thought that they were supposed to put a dog down after it drew blood, but not in our town. Hell, we have so many dogs in our dog shelter it's not even funny. There was a police officer and animal control officer who saw the bite after it happened. The ER nurse and Doctor saw it as well as the neighbor who came to witness me take the picture. I'm not going to be stupid with this. The dog catcher actually told me to have the hospital send the bill to the dog owner. His own daughter had been bitten and he said that's what he had the hospital do. Instead of sending it to him, they tried sending it to my ex-husband (who isn't responsible for his medical bills since I have custody.) That made me mad too, because it was like the hospital just ignored what I told them to do! My intentions with the bill is to send him a certified and notarized letter giving him the chance to pay the bill on his own. If he doesn't I WILL pursue it in small claims court! But I'm very angered that the dog is still being allowed to run free, like he didn't BITE at all. I figure if I make several complaints about him being out and they still don't do anything, then I could have a law suit against the city for not enforcing their own ordinances.
@vhansen (2029)
• United States
22 Jul 07
I totally agree.If you're not going to be responsible and take care of an animal then you don't deserve to have it.It just breaks my heart to see a dog run over on the road because of a careless owner.Dogs should be kept safe where they can't get harmed or do harm.This man doesn't seem to care about the dog or his neighbors so I'd see if I couldn't have it removed or just catch it and take it to a shelter myself.
