Settling Disputes in Dog Bite Accidents
Who’s really the aggrieved party – the Biter or the Bitten? If your dog happens to be involved in dog bite incident, what should you do? Who pays for the medical expenses incurred following a dog bite accident – the dog owner or the dog bite victim?
SEC. 5. of Republic Act No. 9482, otherwise known as the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, clearly states that the pet owner must “Assist the Dog bite victim immediately and shoulder the medical expenses incurred and other incidental expenses relative to the victim’s injuries.”
The law is very straightforward regarding the issue. Dog owners are strictly liable for damages or injuries caused by their animal. However, disputes arise when the dog owner is reluctant to pay for the treatment of the victim. He tries to negotiate a lower amount or tries to blame the dog bite victim to avoid paying.
My rule is simple: Your dog, Your responsibility.
If your dog is off-leash, escapes from your property, or roams the streets alone and and he bites – or worse, kills – a person, it is your responsibility to offer compensation. You have no right to negotiate the bill or blame the victim.
If your dog is off-leash, escapes from your property, or roams the streets alone and he attacks and kills another person’s pet, poultry, or other farm animals, it is your responsibility to offer compensation. You have no right to use “prey drive” as an excuse, nor disrate the sentimental value of the person’s dead animal.
If your dog is leashed and out in public, you should maintain control over your dog and do all necessary precautions to protect the safety of other people and other animals. Remember that you’re sharing the space with them too.
If your leashed dog bites or attacks a person or another animal while in a public place, it is your responsibility to offer compensation.
If your dog has aggressive tendencies and he’s out in public, he should be muzzled. This prevents any untoward incidents from happening. You may tie a Yellow Ribbon on your dog’s leash, but not everyone is aware that it means “This dog needs space.” Why should society adjust to your dog’s aggressive tendency, anyway? Keep your aggressive dog muzzled instead, especially if he’s still undergoing training. (Refer to Sec. 5., Rule 5(c)1. of the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007: “Aggressive dogs shall be muzzled in public places.”)
If someone is teasing your dog, you can tell them to stop provoking your dog. BUT, it is still your job to keep your animal under control.
If an intruder – say, a thief – enters your property and gets bitten by your dog, then I would agree it’s no longer your responsibility to have that person’s injuries treated.
Everyone else, with the exception of thieves and other criminals, should be safe from your dog. Regardless whether the victim provoked your dog, entered your property despite the “Beware of Dog” sign, or ignored the warning you gave them prior the bite, such instances don’t excuse you from maintaining control over your dog. Again, YOUR DOG, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
ABOUT LESTRE ZAPANTA (LZ)
WITH 38,000+ FANS REACHED BY THE PINOY DOG WHISPERER FACEBOOK PAGE, LZ HAS BECOME AN OPINION LEADER IN THE PHILIPPINE DOG-OWNING COMMUNITY. HE REGULARLY CONDUCTS “TRAINING FOR DOG OWNERS” AND HAS BEEN INVITED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO DO HIS DOG WORKSHOPS. HIS GOALS ARE TO OFFER A NEW PERSPECTIVE ABOUT DOGS, TO REDEFINE THE MEANING OF RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP, AND TO HELP DOGS OWNERS TO SUCCESSFULLY CONTROL AND CORRECT THEIR DOG’S BAD BEHAVIORS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LESTRE ZAPANTA, VISIT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/LESTREZAPANTA.
LESTRE ZAPANTA 