My dog was bitten by a pitbull?

Question

Yesterday on 7-19-07 a man somehow he let hes pitbull loose and attack my dog almost in the entrance of the Dog Shelter in Baldwin Park, leaving my dog with a big wound in her head. During the attack they where two animal control officers as witnesses. and a big chance of camera surveillance as well.I was able to get the pitbull owner information. Now my pet is at a vet animal hospital. The full medical expenses for my dog will be a total of $843.00, and so far I have only pay $185.00 just for my dog get treatment in her 2 inch round wound showing her skull. My dog needs urgent surgery to cover the wound, and this cant be done until I pay at least half, and I dont have the money to pay half. I contacted the owner of the pitbull, and he denied to pay the full total cost of my dog medical expenses. He said, hes only willing to pay half and nothing else. Then, I attempted to make a deal with him by paying me half, and I will give him month to pay me the other half, and he said no, only half, and I want him to pay the full total amount for hes irresponsibility. By the way my dog has license and all her vaccine shots, and was leash during the attack. I really dont know what do. What legal actions can I take? Is there any way the city could pay the dog emergency surgery needed to save my pet life, and then the city charge the owner of the pitbull, since I got all hes information (phone,address,licence).

Answer 1

He is responsible for ALL expenses. If he is not willing to voluntary pay for the vet bills, then you need to sue the owner of the Pit Bull for ALL expenses concerning your dog.

Answer 2

I'm not sure if Baldwin Park is a park in your community or if it is they city in which you live so I'll try to give some general suggestions.
The other owner may not think he is entirely responsible is this happened at a dog park. Sometimes when dogs are together they will fight or get attacked over perceived territory. Contact those animal control officers especially if the other owner was not cited for his dog's actions. They will probably advise you to take the other owner to small claims court.

If you have to go to small claims court you may have to come up with all of the pay the vet costs yourself and then try to recover the cost by suing. See if the vet will set up a payment plan for you or if you can borrow the money from close friends or family so that your pet can receive the care he needs. Check the place where this occurred. Bring proof of rules that govern animal behavior and owner control.

If the area that this occurred is a dog park and animals are allowed off the lease you might not be able to get the other owner to pay 100% of the vet cost. Good luck.

Answer 3

I don't think you can get the city to pay for the surgery. You will have to borrow the money for the surgery and then later sue the pitbull owner in small claims court for your money back. You could try calling the pitbull owner and telling him you plan to sue, but he might just get difficult then. The other option is to take the half he's offering just so you can pay for the surgery, and then later try to sue him for the other half. But by taking half the money now, you might lose your lawsuit because it might be seen as accepting half the cost of the surgery as enough to settle the matter. If it were me, and I couldn't use a credit card or borrow the money anywhere (like a bank), I'd take the half and try to sue him later. There's no reason for your dog to die for not having enough money.

Answer 4

I doubt the city will do anything, the man likely violated a leash law since most places have them now. Even if they did, your dog might die before getting through all the red tape it would require. The pit bull owner is fully responsible. See if you can get a quick loan, or even sign a promissory note for the vet. Maybe they would let you make payments until you get the money out of the guy through suing him, which you are going to have to do. Probably small claims court, but ask a local attorney. Good luck!

Answer 5

First, call the police to file a report of the incident with the names of all witnesses. Make sure to do that double quick. Then call a lawyer that lists "General Practice", or "Civil Litigation", or "General Civil Law" or words to that effect. When you call, ask if the initial consultation is free. (They usually are, depending where you live.)
Can you transfer the dog to a place that would work with you on the financial questions? Some vets are motivated more by their hearts than their wallets. (No, I'm not slamming ALL vets--they have to make a living too, but sometimes!!!)
That should get you started. I'll say a prayer for your dog. Good luck.

Answer 6

I agree with one response and that's to take the owner to Small Claims Court to recover your veterinary fees, make sure you keep copies of all paperwork, bills, receipts etc, get the Animal Control officers to either be witness's for you in court or have them fill out and sign an eye witness statement, the better prepared you are the better your chances of winning. There are leash laws in affect to protect people and their dogs. If you accept the Owner's payment for 1/2 of the Vet bills you won't be able to claim for the other 1/2, you will relinquish your rights to the other half since you agreed to accept only 1/2.

Have the vet call around to animal rescue groups for your breed of dog (ie Weimaraner Rescue/ Beagle Rescue) sometimes they are willing to finance the cost of the vet bills. I saw on Emergency Vets they had a Weimaraner that had bloat and required $3000 surgery, the owner couldn't afford it so they paid for it.

See if the vet will take monthly installment payments, if you cannot afford the vet there are animal shelters that have low cost clinics that will help you out. Adequate medical care is the law for your pet so they should be able to help out an owner that cannot afford the expense but needs the treatment. Don't settle, ask around and I'd definately look into filing a small claim in court, don't get greedy, just ask for what it cost you in medical treatment and follow up visits along with the cost of any medication you had to purchase.

The City won't pay for the surgery and go after the owner to get him to pay, that's the responsbility of the dog owner. You also need to report the dog as dangerous to Animal Control, they have the responsibility to follow up on any dangerous animal reports. TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS OF YOUR DOG in case you go to court. If you decide not to go to court take them anyway, you have up to a year to change your mind. Remember you are responsible for your dogs actions (ie bites someone) so the owner of the Pitbull needs to be responsible for the damage his dog inflicted on your dog. If his dog attacked and bit you he would be responsible for paying your medical bills, otherwise you could have his dog put to sleep, dog bites must be reported immediately to animal control, see if that applies to dog bites to another dog.

If you were in an off leash dog park, usually if you pay to visit the park then there should be rules in place regarding your dogs behavior, Unfortunately you take your dog at your own risk, however, if there is a problem with an aggressive dog the Parks and Rec department can revoke Dog Park privledges to any owner who's dog is causing problems.

Good luck with your dog, I hope she's ok.

Answer 7

First, file a police report, then consult a lawyer. The pitbull ownder is responsible for 100% of the cost, plus more if you sue for it. You should defnintely take him to small claims court and have him pay for everything. You have witnesses, his info, and your dog was leashed (I'm assuming his wasn't?) so you're in the right here. You need to do this ASAP and have him be responsible. See what the lawyer says about taking care of the bills for now. You need to get your dog cured asap. Good luck.

Answer 8

Take them to court... there is a clear precident.. Owners of viscious dogs, in a public place off leash can be thrown in jail.. Since your dog was leashed at the time you are not at fault.. Since he is resisting the only way is through the court system.. try to get the money taken care of by yourself.. (to assure timely care for the dog because courts may take awhile).. but you should be paid fully.. (and they will have their dog listed as a viscious dog.. if it really is a pitt and not one that just resembles one, it will most likely be taken away.. I don't necessarilly like this policy.. but, in a case where another was injured it's not a bad thing if nothing else they will be under strict rules regarding keeping it leashed in public places)

Answer 9

Contact a lawyer immediately. The pitbull owner is responsible for ALL of the costs since your dog was leashed.

Answer 10

you're going to need to press charges and have the two witnesses testify. you'll probalby need to pay up front then just get that money, plus the cost of court fees back from the other owner. his dog should have been taken away from him too if there were animal control watching the whole thing.