Can I file charges against my local animal shelter?

Question

my dog got out of my yard and was taken to the pound,after $50 to bail my buddy out i recieved a ticket for not having his shots, and not being neutered which he has is shots he just slipped out of his collar, s far as the neutering I had an appointment set the day e got out, it has since been rescheduled. The shelter said they gave him a shot so he would not get kennel cough, now he has at and gave it to my other dog. I know I can file for an extension for my court date which is no problem, but can I file charges regarding all the expenses I now have for both dogs not just the one that was picked up but my 5 year old as well

I just wanted to add its not the fines that are the big deal, its the fact my dogs got sick because of something i did not do and I was told he got a shot so he would not get it. Plus they are both hurting bad and it makes me sad to see my dudes suffering

Answer 1

Let's sort out some facts: Your dog was out of your yard (he was NOT on a leash).

He did not have a license.

He did have his shots.

He is not neutered.

He was given an injection to prevent kennel cough, at your expense.

He contracted kennel cough despite the injection.

He carried the kennel cough infection to your other dog.

If these are the facts, you are guilty of owning an unlicensed dog running at large.
In most states, that a violation of state statute and punishable by fine(s).

When the animal shelter took custody of your poochie, the injection, at your expense, was a prudent veterinary precaution against the spread of a contagious infection.

That injection was a preventative, not a reversing medication. So, if the animal had been previously exposed to the highly contagious infectious canine disease, that injection would be advisable but not effective in stopping the progress of the infection.

I doubt that you can definitively prove in a court of law that doggie who got out of the yard (and who was put in doggie jail!) infected doggie #2 (who stayed home!) and not vice versa.

So, if these are the facts, pay the fine, get the dogs veterinary care for their kennel cough, love your pooches back to health.

Unless there's some ordinance peculiar to the local jurisdiction, I would research animal law specific to your state and laws of the US Department of Agriculture concerning the neutering issue.

Frequently when a pup too young to neuter is adopted from a shelter, the adoptive owners sign an agreement to later neuter the animal.

This is an agreement, not a law.

Best of luck. Pet the pooches for me!

When one of mine got kennel cough, I used a mild dose of children's cough syrup to ease his constant cough distress; I did this on the advice of my vet.

Answer 2

Good luck with that. BTY, they're in the business of making money, not losing it. Also, you can't fight City Hall, and that's what you'd be trying to do. In regards to the tickets, I've never heard of a law that required your dog to be neutered. That's a first for me...

Answer 3

Sure you can fight City Hall. But it ain't cheap and it ain't easy. It will be cheaper to pay the fine and go about your business.

The only way you have a chance to beat it is to hire a good attorney, and be ready to appeal a time or two to higher courts.

Answer 4

I don't see why not.