Readers, dog owners, can I ask you a question? Or, actually, a few related questions:
If you had to put a dollar figure on it, what would your dog’s life be worth to you? How would you justify that figure?
And, for those of you who have actually HAD TO put a dollar figure on your dog’s life in a lawsuit, or who received compensation after your dog’s life was taken by another – whether through negligence or cruelty or whatever: How much compensation were you able to receive?
Another dog lost his life unnecessarily
I’m asking these questions as I ponder the story of a friend’s pup, who was killed as he lay, on leash, at a public park, by two off-leash dogs, in front of my friend, his nine-year-old daughter, her friend, and other children and parents. I just can’t fully fathom the emotional damage done to my friend and especially his daughter, who had just completed a “puppy kindergarten” training class with her beloved dog. My friend’s daughter, an active, athletic girl, has told her dad she doesn’t want to play at the park anymore, it hurts too much. Is there a price you can put on this pain?
The owner of the attacking dog had released his dogs to run off-leash, in violation of the local leash laws. In my mind, that makes him liable for a bit more in damages, should a suit find him responsible for the loss of my friend’s pup and damages for the bites my friend sustained as he tried to save his pup from the aggressors. But the owner of those dogs stayed at the scene and took responsibility for the dogs, and, in fact, surrendered the dog most responsible for the puppy’s death to the responding animal control officer and requested that the dog be euthanized. Should that act reduce his legal liability?
What does the law say about this?
It’s my understanding that, in this country, dogs are legal property, and their loss is not treated or compensated-for as the loss of a human family member would be. But, as I sit here looking at photos my friend sent me of his happy daughter and her puppy at Christmas, and of the slain puppy and his attackers at the park a few weeks later, waiting for an animal control officer to arrive, I just can’t square the price of a puppy’s purchase with the loss my friend’s family has suffered.
I don’t even know if my friend will pursue a lawsuit or settlement, and of course there is no way of knowing how a judge might rule on such a case, or whether the marauding dogs’ owner feels any responsibility or has a homeowner’s insurance policy or some other way to attempt to compensate my friend for his family’s loss and suffering. I’m just so sad, thinking about it. What is a dog’s life actually worth today?
*A note from Nancy Kerns
In response to the many comments left by our readers, I wanted to state the following:
This is a really upsetting story, I know; I had not yet even met my friend’s puppy, but had seen pictures of his daughter and the pup together, and yet, as I have been discussing the tragedy with my friend and thinking about it – imagining it – I have been in tears several times a day. Awful!
However, I really am hoping to get more answers to the questions at the outset of the post. If you *could* name the price that you would accept for the loss of your dog, how would you set a value on his life? And, more reality-based, if you or someone you know had a dog who was killed through no fault of your own, and if you sought or received compensation for your loss, how was that compensation determined?
Also, I would like it to be known that the attacking dogs were not pit bulls – and their breed is beside the point. I have removed a post or two that was targeting pit bulls, as the breed was in no way relevant in this case. These dogs had been let off leash in a public park that has a leash law, near a children’s playground – that is the point here.
This is the first time for me on this blog, but it is such an important question on a matter of growing importance in our dog oriented society, I feel compelled to chime in. We have laws that don’t sufficiently address the worth of a dog as long as they are considered “property” and not a living being. That said, I also agree with the sentiments of all who replied; such a tragedy for the family and all who witnessed the horrible event.
And since all who replied for good reasons have stated a dogs life is priceless, I want to say I also agree, however, that doesn’t address the real question, which I believe is, how should this loss be compensated, if it could somehow be measured? I would think any readers who have a legal background should be able to offer a better answer than I. But for what it may be worth, I’ll start by listing all of the ways one might arrive at a “price”, which perhaps should be established in some legal code.
Things to consider beyond the actual price paid for the puppy could include: the cost of the attacking dogs, shelter fees and euthanization, cost of injuries sustained and therapy for the family, cost for time off work, cost for a new pup and training sessions, just as a start. But what also comes to my mind are the costs for rehabilitation of the offending dog owner so there is some reparation that goes beyond a bandaid for this one incident. What would punitive costs look like? If you could add up the costs of fines, hours for local agencies to enforce leash laws, and possible community service imposed on the offending owner, one might be able to arrive at a number.
It seems that a dogs life could be measured in the same imperfect way as current laws attempt for loss of human life. This question truly calls out for a broader solution to change laws so that the consequences for taking a dogs life are paid forward in a way that will have a positive influence on the safety and well being of all dogs and their families.
Have never been an advocate of Dog Parks or parks in general for exercising my dogs. As a breeder for 15 years I always warned my clients about using them as well. What a horrible thing for a family to witness, poor fur baby makes me sick inside. Way to many unresponsible dog owners. There should be a huge fine or something for owners who think the laws of parks are for everyone else.
My shih-tzu/terrier mix was killed last summer by a neighbor’s mastiff who came onto my property. It was traumatic, to say the least. But the neighbors were beyond apologetic. Since my dog was still alive after I scared off the mastiff, we took her to the vet, who said she was not savable. We put her down. There was a big vet bill, that the neighbors quickly paid. They got training for their dog. They put up an electronic fence (I feel obliged to state my objection to them. In this case, I cared not!) . They called me for at least 2 weeks to find out how I was doing and to offer help finding another dog. Their dog never appeared on my property again. I feel no antipathy towards the dog or owner. The owner acted in a text book perfect way. I miss my little girl. Now I have a new rescue. The cycle of life continues.
As I am reading other comments, it doesn’t the size of your dog or whether you are in a dog park or a public park, it all comes down to have again TOTAL control over your dog. A true responsible owner will keep track of where their dog is and what it is doing and will come back to them on command. If a dog(s) is well socialize and trained there should never be any problems. I own a pit mixed dog. Now pits have a bad, rep, but it is not through any fault of their own, but the fault of their irresponsible owners. Pits in general are very loving, very loyal companions and my mine is no different. Any dog, no matter what the breed, if taught to be aggressive is going to be just that.
Does nobody read?! This was NOT a dog park
Horrifying and sad but sadly no recourse. The owner handed the dog over for euthanization. I believe that’s the end of the story 🙁
Does nobody read?! This was NOT a dog park
Horrifying and sad but sadly no recourse. The owner handed the dog over for euthanization. I believe that’s the end of the story 🙁
I understand it was not a dog park. I felt my experience was relevant, sorry if it offended you.
In Tennessee, there is a law regarding uncontrolled dogs causing harm to a person or person’s animals that can be held liable up to $5,000. A TN senator got this passed years ago after the same thing happened to his dog. It’s called the T-Bo Bill (named after his dog). I actually took someone to court after their unleashed dog attacked one of mine while I was walking (leashed) through our neighborhood. The owner would not even pay for the vet bills – never even apologized. And the owner tried to intimidate me on other occasions as I walked the neighborhood. Took him to court and received $4,000 (total one could receive at the time).
Good for you! I had my dog on leash that was attacked by a dog off leash. I got the same treatment as you. They disappeared before I could sue them.
LA Selves: Thanks so much for sharing information about this bill.
Could I just remind/bring to attention that this family was NOT in a dog park but a PUBLIC Park with leash laws! This makes the incident also a legal matter that should have been pursued by police or by the animal control officer who came to he incident.
This is very sad. It happened at a “Public Park”.. There are laws.
There is no excuse for this. No matter where you are. Your dog is your companion. My dogs are my family. The dogs responsible need to be killed. And the humans that were so stupid as to allow this to happen need to be held responsible to the point where they will never be so stupid, again. $$$ ??? I cannot even imagine the pain and terror. Those that killed that dog, including the humans need to pay dearly. 500K is not even enough to compensate for the terror, pain and suffering for those who have lost a family member.