Posts Tagged ‘subparagraph’

Although many dog attacks occur near the animal’s home, dog bites can happen in any public space. For example, a pet owner lets their dog off its leash in a park, and the dog, once free to roam, is now free to bite. Even though most municipalities have strict leash laws meant to prevent dogs running “at large”, a leash-less dog in a park or other public area is an all too familiar scenario, cropping up in many of my cases.

Out of the 4 million dog bites a year, the majority are minor and heal quickly. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and over the years we have represented many clients who have been badly injured by dogs.

Just because dogs are pets does not mean they are not dangerous, and any bites should be taken very seriously. Dog bites can cause the following serious injuries:

• Bone Fractures
• Severe scarring
• Infections
• Nerve damage
• Rabies
• Emotional scarring

What happens to the dog

(a) Confinement.–Any dog which bites or attacks a human being shall be confined in quarters approved by a designated employee of the Department of Health, a State dog warden or employee of the Department of Agriculture, an animal control officer or a police officer. The dog may be detained and isolated in an approved kennel or at the dog owner’s property or at another  location approved by the investigating officer. Where the dog is detained is at the discretion of the investigating officer. All dogs so detained must be isolated for a minimum of ten days. Any costs incurred in the detaining and isolation of the dog shall be paid by the offending dog’s owner or keeper or both. If the dog’s owner or keeper is not known, the Commonwealth is responsible for all reasonable costs for holding and detaining the dog.

(b) Bite victims.–The following shall apply:

(1) The investigating officer shall be responsible for notifying the bite victim of the medical results of the offending dog’s confinement. Any cost to the victim for medical treatment resulting from an attacking or biting dog must be paid fully by the owner or keeper of the dog. The Commonwealth shall not be liable for medical treatment costs to the victim.

(2)(i) For the purpose of this subsection, the term “medical results of the offending dog’s confinement” shall mean, except as provided in subparagraph (ii), information as to whether the quarantined dog is still alive and whether it is exhibiting any signs of being infected with the rabies virus.

(ii) If a nonlethal test for rabies is developed, the term shall mean the results of the test and not the meaning given in subparagraph (i).

(c) Exception.–When a dog that bites or attacks a human being is a service dog or a police work dog in the performance of duties, the dog need not be confined if it is under the active supervision of a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine.