How could you fight someone sueing you for an attack on a cat by a dog?

Answer 1

Hire an attorney.

Answer 2

It depends on the nature of the attack.

If there are leash laws in your area and your dog was running free; or if your dog was not properly confined on your property; or if your dog already has a history of biting -- and your dog attacked a cat, you would do best to settle OUT of court. If you go to court and lose, you'll not only have to pay damages, you'll also have to pay all of the other person's court costs and attorney's fees... and the court may demand that you put your dog down.

If the cat was on your property when it was attacked, then you have a better case. You can claim that the owners of the cat were negligent in allowing their cat to roam around the neighborhood. (There might be problems if you stood by and watched the attack and did nothing to stop it, however.)

The cat owner will have to be able to prove that it is "more likely than not" that your dog was the attacker, so if you have credible witnesses that can come to court with you (hearsay and affidavits aren't good enough) and testify under oath that your dog was not the attacker, then you'll have a better chance of winning.

Unless the suit is for thousands of dollars, it will most likely be heard by a small claims or superior court -- and an attorney would be far too expensive to hire for a case that small. You'd have to defend yourself in the court.

((If your dog isn't properly licensed and vaccinated, you may also get fined for that, so make sure everything is up-to-date.))

If your dog was at fault, be a good neighbor and settle with the cat owner out of court. Most of the time in these cases, the owner of the injured animal just wants an apology and help with the vet bills...

Answer 3

It depends. Was the cat on your property? Did it approach you on the street while your dog was on a leash? Are you sure your dog is the culprit? If you can answer yes to the first two or no to the last one you can claim the cat was lose and approached your dog. If you aren't sure the dog is the one how attacked the cat and they have no proof, then there's plausible deniablity. If your dog was lose then you are going to have to pay for the vet bills.

Answer 4

My dog attacked and killed my friends cat (on their property).
It depends where it happend, were they on leashes and any previous problems your dog or their cat have had. In my case although my dog was on a leash and their cat was not, I was at fault because my "property" damaged their "property". I was told that I needed to pay the vet bills or else they could press charges and there was a possibility that my dog would have to be put to sleep. After that I actually put a special rider on my homeowners insurance in case this happened again...this way I would never have my home or property taken away in a lawsuit.

Answer 5

By proving that your dog didn't attack the cat, or that the cat should not have been in the area of the dog to begin with.

Answer 6

I even have 2 eighty pound canines and a 12 pound cat, however the cat is unquestionably the boss. It makes a low growling noise while the canines are dozing in a niche the cat needs to be, and the canines purely upward thrust up and pass. The cat additionally chases them around the homestead. They have not bodily fought yet, besides the fact that it appears that evidently such as you apart from could have an alpha-cat.

Answer 7

Why did your dog attack the cat?
Why didn't you have control over your dog?
If your dog was not under your control (i.e. on a leash then you have very little defense.)

Answer 8

Plead insanity, or settle the case by paying for the vet bills.
If the dog was not on a leash, there really is no defense.

Answer 9

If the dog was on a leash, fenced in, or tied up in your yard you are not liable other wise your are. UNLESS both pets were roaming the neighborhood. They you both may be fined for a leash law.

Answer 10

i would try to find PROOF BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE JUDGE WILL NEED...RE: this issue..if there is no proof, what can the judge go on?......bring veterinary bills, take pictures of the cat...build your case...HOPE THAT HELPS...AND GOOD LUCK...I AM SORRY ABOUT YOUR CAT...Make a booklet on the animal...even a receipt as to the cost of the cat may help....