What legal recourse do I have to get the vet bill paid by the owner of a mean pit bull?
One of my neighbors seemingly a real trouble maker has 3 pitt bulls, none of them seem nice. I attribute their attitude to their owner who seem like a very mean bitter man. His dogs have attacked other animals in the neighborhood killing at least 2 cats. Said neighbor’s dogs attacked another neighbor’s dog causing great injury, how he got the dog back heaven only knows, part of the condition for his dog being returned was that if the animal was outside its cage it had to be monitored, on a leash, and muzzled. Said neighbor just opened the door and let his dog out to do its business with no supervision, no leash and not even muzzled. Said neighbor’s pitt got a hold of my kitten and had its mouth locked on it. It took the dog’s owner socking it in is head while my house mate poked it up its rear for it to loosen its grip enough for me to get the kitten from its mouth. The kitten I can happily say survived, but not unharmed. I am having my kitten checked out just in case there is something internal that was damaged other than the bites marks that can be seen. Seeing said owner violated the conditions he was suppose to follow after the last attack this attack would not have ended like it did. Becuase of which I feel he should foot the vet bill because there would be no need for it if he had been a more responsible owner. Has any of you Jellies had to encounter such? If so, how did you get the owner to repay you for cost you would not have occured had they don’t better controling their animal? Yes, I reported the dog.
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8 Answers
If you haven’t filed a complaint with the police, you need to do it now. Get pictures of the cat’s wounds asap, and pictures of the dog, if possible. If you get pictures of his dogs off the leash, even better.
Once your vet bill is complete (as in the cat has been released by the vet), mail the bill or (if you are brave) knock on your neighbor’s door and give him the bill. If he is not agreeable, be prepared to take him to court. You can also pursue things with animal control and/or the police. Give them copies of everything I don’t know what they would do to him for violating his the conditions of his agreement, but I expect they would be very interested in hearing about your adventures with your neighbor. Oh, and when you have the pics developed, have them stamp the date on there (more documentation for the courts).
If you do talk to the police, or end up in small claims court, it wouldn’t hurt to get other neighbors to go with you to register their own comments.
Does he own the home? If so, his home owners insurance should cover it. If the bill is under your states limit, you can take him to small claims court if he refuses to pay the bill. Thank goodness it wasn’t a neighborhood child!!!
First, where did the attack occur on your kitten? was your kitty in his yard or his dog in yours? this may have some bearing somewhere down the line. the dog owner apparently has violated the rules of the court and he will either be cited or physically arrested.
If you have not made a police report for damage to property, you should do so. this is further evidence to back the dog owners violation of the court order.
Paying the vet bill. this part will mainly be civil, not criminal. if the dog owner declines to pay, then you can file a suit in small claims court. if it goes this far, you will need photos of your kittys injuries and the date and time this occured. you might need the assistance of an attorney. this could get to be expensive.
For your defense, i would try to get the dog owner arrested for violating a court order. this will further back your vet bill case in civil court.
@Judi yes, most insurance companies will pay the vet bill for someone’s else’s loss…not your’s. Paid under liability. Even if the insurance company doesn’t think they owe it, they will usually pay to avoid the courtroom. Cheaper. As @snowberry said, documentation is everything when you get to small claims court. Also, @john65pennington pointed out the law is different in every state and every community. Check you local laws concerning liability.
I recommend you document with the police every incident involving these dogs. Hopefully the authorities will take them away from him before they kill a person.
What if it had been a toddler and not a kitten?
Please document what happened and call the police and animal control.
As others have said, if he refuses to give you his home insurer’s name or to pay the vet bill on his own, you can take him to small claims court.
Agree with all of the above. If you have a video camera, keep it nearby and film any incidents of the dogs off-leash. Also, try to get the other people to report the incidents as well.
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