This is just a hypothetical Question that always makes me wonder..
Let say that a family owned a guard dog (somewhere along Rottweiler, Boxer, or Dobbermann).
A thief came at night to rob the house and he carried a gun.
And he got attacked by the dog causing the death of the thief (or serious injury).
Would the law in US put the owner to prison and killed the dog?
(and in the case of the thief is injured) Is the law permits the thief to sue the owner for physical and mental anguish?
My understanding is that the law actually will euthanize the dog..
Am i wrong? It seemed a bit unfair to me...
2006-07-28 12:13:05 · 10 answers · asked by dodolah 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
The theif would be put in jail and your dog would be quarantined and probably put down - rabies vaccines don't always work.
2006-08-03 17:30:04 · answer #1 · answered by iceni 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no the dog will be held to see if he has rabies (unless the owner can prove he had his shots) Now the thief might try to go after the owner in a civil suit I'm not sure depends on your state. Every situation will be judged differently. If the dog is a trained guard dog there might be some issues but just a family pet I doubt it. Unless he ate part of the thief. Then there might be a problem.
2006-07-28 12:24:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the intruder is on your property uninvited, then no. The law would be on your side and the dog protecting you and your property. However, if the thief escaped and you let your dog out to chase him down I think the law would side with the thief.
Also, if your dog attacked someone that had a right to be on the property like mail carrier or meter reader then your dog could be put down for that.
2006-08-04 07:18:34 · answer #3 · answered by Jenn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really doesn't matter if it is a theif with a gun or a teenager chasing his baseball into your yard, if you properly cover your a$$, you will be free of liability.
First, you need to have it properly posted that there is a guard dog on the premises. If the dog is a trained guard dog, that is exactly what the sign should say. You will need to post enough signs so that no one will be able to say they didn't see them.
Next, you need to have a fence to keep people out. Invisible fences are great for keeping a dog on your property, but they don't keep people out. If you have a dog that may bite people, it is your responsibility not only to keep the dog from running loose, but to keep people from coming in.
Last, you need to study up on your state and local ordinances that govern these kinds of animals, what your responsibilities are, and what kinds of liabilities you have if they bite someone.
If a guy with burglary tools enters a property that is patroled by a guard dog, and there are no warning signs and no fences, he will certainly be able to sue and will likely win.
It is not true that if a guard dog bites, injures, or kills someone, that they have to be euthanised. Then again, if an established ordinance demands this action, you must either comply, move away, or fight to get it overturned.
2006-07-28 14:59:08 · answer #4 · answered by elchistoso69 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there were signs up saying "Beware of Dog" and the dog was inside the house when the thief entered, I would say, "No." The law would look at it as the dog was protecting its family.
2006-07-28 12:20:15 · answer #5 · answered by PuttPutt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you lived in Germany around the 1930's then yes the owner and the dog would be punished but this is present day America so the thief would get jail time.
2006-07-28 12:19:31 · answer #6 · answered by life is short, I am not. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi! i have 4 guard dogs- they are pretty vicious to strangers. well i have had people on my property someteimes been bit- and we get violated by the law. although-we do have private property- at least now. so i can call the police on anyone who steps foot on my yard. but i havent had a theift robery ever. but that does sound very unfair if a dog had bitten a theif- and been put to sleep. whoever made that law up should consider putting the theif to sleep and not the dog who saved the house! it could be a kidnapper, murderer, who knows!
2006-07-28 12:18:52 · answer #7 · answered by . 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I bet if his family found the right lawyer. I agree that it's unfair, but so are SO many other lawsuits in this country. I guess thats just life though.
2006-07-28 12:27:21 · answer #8 · answered by JL's Mom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are protecting your property and if an intruder has broken into your home you have every right to defend yourself with a gun or a dog
2006-07-28 12:19:11 · answer #9 · answered by aussie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IN FLORIDA THEY WOULD HAVE A PARADE FOR THE DOG AND GIVE HIM A MEDAL WE'RE LEGALLY ALLOWED TO SHOOT ANYONE OR THING THAT IS THREATENING US - EVEN OFF OUR PROPERTY
COMON DOWN
2006-08-05 12:14:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋