Will They Put My Dog Down for Biting?

Following a dog bite, there is often a good deal of chaos and confusion. The victim usually needs medical treatment and depending on the circumstances the police may be involved. You probably feel terrible for the victim and worry about what will happen to your dog.

Generally speaking, if your dog has bitten someone and they have not been deemed a vicious or dangerous dog by the court previously, your dog will not be euthanized. However, the courts can then decide that your dog poses a risk to the general public, deeming them vicious or dangerous, which then requires the owner to follow strict guidelines in keeping the dog. These guidelines can include:

• Paying a public safety fine
• Getting the dog spayed or neutered and microchipped if this is not already done
• Keeping the dog leashed when off your property
• Possible muzzling when on public property
• Installing a six-foot fence with a gate
• Keeping the dog on your property at all times unless there is an emergency
• Registering your address and alerting officials if you decide to move

Of course, while your dog may not be put down following a dog bite attack, you can still face legal ramifications if the dog bite met the parameters of the Illinois Dog Bite Statute.

Law 510 ILCS 5/16 states:

“If a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack, or injures any person who is peaceably conducting himself or herself in any place where he or she may lawfully be, the owner of such dog or other animal is liable in civil damages to such person for the full amount of the injury proximately caused thereby.”

This means that to prove that the owner of a dog, or other animals, that has bitten is liable for the bite, the injured party must prove three things:

• The dog or other animal attempted to attack, attacked, or injured the victim.
• The victim had the legal right to be in the place where the attack occurred.
• The dog or other animal was not in any way provoked into attacking.

If the attack meets these three parameters, you can reasonably expect to face a claim against your homeowner’s insurance or a lawsuit, fines, and depending on the severity of the attack and your negligence in the attack, possible jail time.

We at 844 See Mike are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, including when you or a loved one has been injured in a dog bite attack, and we are fully committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that the other party is held legally accountable when negligence occurs. We will fight until the very end to ensure that you are fully compensated for all injuries and losses resulting from the accident, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and you won’t owe us a dime for our services.

We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at what we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at 844 See Mike, we put People, First.

Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 900 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 120 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at michael@agrusslawfirm.com or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.