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.
There is no amount of money in the world that would replace the years of love and devotion of any of my dogs. It is very hard going anywhere walking your dog and not run into an off leash dog that is supposed to be on leash. I always tell the owner they are supposed to be leashed but they don’t care. I really don’t know how you could enforce the law either. The fine would be too cheap. There are way too many dog owners now days that think leash laws do not apply to them.
My of my dog handlers is an attorney, Rebecca in MA. She has also written some dog laws, dog contracts, etc. If you want to email me, I’ll share her contact info.
Spo sorry to hear of this tragic story-that poor little girl. Sadly my Sister was telling me a similar story a few days ago. Her friend had 3 Daxies but had to have one put to sleep recently due to old age and back problems. She was walking the other 2 at a quiet location in Norfolk when she was approached by an off-lead Staffie. SHe patted the dog thinking it must be friendly as it was off-lead then it grabbed one of her dogs and killed it. Owner said she thought there was no one else at the location so she let her dog off-lead. She was manipulative saying she would lose her best friend if dog had to be put to sleep. Daxie owner said if dog was put to sleep she wouldn’t press charges. She later checked with Staffy owner’s vets and dog had been put to sleep later that day. Two dogs lost their lives unnecessarily because someone did not keep their dog on a leash when it should have been.
I want to bring the focus back to the girl and the help she needs to get through this in a healthy way. If you know this family, I’d step in there and talk with the dad, the girl, her friends… this needs to be a wise council that builds resilience. When I was nine my pregnant cat got hit by a car–not killed, but hip sort of displaced. She limped, she seemed okay. When she tried to have her kittens, they couldn’t get out the squished birth canal. My father and I together euthanized her, then did a c-section in the garage to try and save a kitten for me… This was in 1955, the whole vet business very different then, but I still remember his reverence for life, how he talked me through what needed to be done, let me be part of it, be curious about the kittens (we could not save them) and then we buried them in the back yard and he helped me grieve. THIS experience was priceless!!! I hope this family can find ways to recover and make that experience part of this little girl’s lifelong understanding of life/death, responsibility, etc.
I am truly horrified to read this story. I cannot even imagine what that family is going through. I stopped going to dog parks when a man showed up with a half-wolf/half-dog female who was in heat. I had two intact male Beagles at the time, so needless to say i promptly leashed my dogs and left. Even now when I walk on leash I find there are way too many people who let their dogs run loose so I always carry spray which I had to use once as a German Shepherd was running toward me with my two leashed dogs in a local park. The owner was mad I sprayed her dog, I didn’t even respond to her I was so upset. My dogs are family, and as such I protect them from whatever threats there are. To me there is no price I can place on my dog’s life. I am fortunate in that I can care medically for my dogs even when the costs of care run into the thousands, which I have done 3 times. And I won’t hesitate to do it again as long as I am able.
I was camping this summer in a nice rv resort and there was a local who would let his pit bull run loose despite the resort owner’s warning him, so we took to carrying bear spray and yes, that pit bull got a huge snoutful when he rushed my small dogs.
Again – the blame rests on the owner who allows this – not the dog. And its not just pitbulls – read the rest of these comments!
Golden retrievers, labs, LITTLE dogs – it is not breed specific. Its human-specific.
And no, I dont have a pit bull – my dog is a chocolate lab mix. I’m just really tired of people putting all the blame on one particular type of dog.
And there are already far too many “bans” on specific breeds. All it takes is a damaged human who gets his jollies out of cruelty.
As someone else said – before someone gets a dog – they should have to actually LEARN what it takes to care for one.
I am very sorry to hear about your friend’s pup being killed is such a horrific manner. I have read the posts and am in agreement with aspects of most. Being a companion and legally responsible for my dog, I am her provider and protector. I entered into a relationship with a being that needs total care, guidance, discipline, and love throughout her life. Having said that, before I was blessed with my first dog, Treeing Walker Coonhound, I researched the breed and learned all that I could about for what I was in for and to properly care for her. Did the same with my Labrador Retriever. I don’t understand people who have dogs and have not a clue to their care, training, socialization. They get mad at the dog, mistreat them and dump them off on the roadside or “the dog pound”. Just as I think some people have no business having children! I do not trust other people or their dogs that I do not personally know. I always have my dog on her leash and she is well behaved. I do not go to dog parks or city parks where a spontaneous encounter may occur. Don’t even know if other dog’s have been properly vaccinated. I don’t take her to dog stores either. There have been a few unfortunate encounters of dog attacks there as well. I go to Home Depot, Lowes, etc where dogs are allowed. If we go hiking or on neighborhood walks, I carry Mace and a pistol. This person who was so irresponsible should be held accountable and go to jail for at least a year, do community service at an animal shelter, and have a monetary fine of a substantial amount payable to either the family of the dog or to the local shelter. Value of a canine companion: PRICELESS.
It is sad and unfortunate how common this problem of negligent dog owners is, as it is a weekly if not daily topic of the Judge Judy show.
In too many states and municipalities, dogs are considered as property. As such the emotional toll of such a loss isn’t taken into consideration. That said, you can sue for compensation for every penny your dog cost you, plus “replacement” costs. I’ll use some or my local costs and what it cost me for my puppy.
If that puppy was from a breeder, you’re staring with $1500-$3000 or more. I’m sure there would be receipts for that payment.
Spay/neuter? $500.
Vet visit and shots. $100-$150 for each visit. If just shots from the technician, $40-$60 depending on how many. $50 deworming. Rabies $35. Etc. It adds up.
Each class my puppy took at our local Humane Society was $150. Pre-Kindergarten (6 weeks), Puppy Kindergarten (6 weeks). Etc. My Dog is 15 months and has attended 5 classes. She also attended 6 Puppy Play sessions at $20 each.
Other training. My dog has taken numerous Nosework/Scentwork classes since she was 14 weeks old. $150 per 3 week class. Well, over $1,000 in the last year. $60 to register with NACSW. I’ve spent money for her to pass her ORT which included gas and hotel stays at it was out of town. I’m paying for her to pass her level 1 nosework in both NACSW (two attempts so far) and AKC (one pass, two to go).
Then there is gear.
Cost of license (and rabies) $35. Twice so far.
Coolaroo beds. ($120)
Inside bed. ($60)
Leashes, collars, harnesses, etc. Probably about $300 as she has many.
Toys. Probably another $300 as she has MANY toys.
Food and treats. About $120 a month. My girl weighs 87lbs now and I don’t buy cheap dog food.
These are all “investments” I have made in a dog that I hope will become a therapy dog once she reaches 2 years old.
I have receipts for everything I have bought for her and it adds up. She is a rescue so was only $575 dollars (yes, I know) but if she were pedigreed she would be more like $3,000.
Add it all up.
The loss in my “investment” would top $5,000.
Yes, I’d take them to court. I can sue in small claims for up to $15,000 and that’s what I would sue for as I would not have just loss the cost of my “investment” but also future losses due to our goal of being both a therapy dog and her continuation in her Scentwork.
I applaud the owner of the attacking dogs for being responsible enough for staying and surrendering the offending dog. However that does not bring back a life or “make right” the emotional injury sustained by the little girl. That will be with her the rest of her life. I would hope the judge would take that into consideration also.
Money doesn’t fix this. That is an ancient concept. In truth, nothing can fix this. No amount of therapy will erase this from the memory of those that witnessed it. Wounds will heal but scars will remain forever. I know, as I still have the scars of a dog bite and vividly remember the attack. Money can only serve as a deterrent and to do so it much really hurt, hurt so much that people who own dogs act as responsibly as possibly to avoid the bankruptcy that might result in such carelessness and neglect. As long as dogs are treated as property, there is no deterrent.
The only thing that prevents this responsible dog ownership. Unfortunately you cannot legally force people to act responsibly any more than you can legally force them to be compassionate or courteous. You can only punish them after the fact. The might change the behavior of one person at a time, but that isn’t very effective. Especially since a life must be loss for each occurrence.
The issue isn’t what the “value” of a lost family member is; domestic animals are viewed as property under the law, so someone whose negligence or wilful conduct causes the loss of a dog, TECHNICALLY they are liable to make the owners whole for any costs associated with replacing the lost ‘property’, as if they’d burned your house down, or wrecked your car beyond repair.
So, a loved one who was rescued from the local breed chapter, or shelter, would create only a liability for whatever a subsequent rescue fee might be, plus any vet bills or other consequential costs associated with the event that led to the loss in the first place.
But, practically, the civil courts need to assess damages that will discourage reasonable people from engaging in the behavior that caused the loss in the first place, not merely the monetary value associated with “replacing” the lost “property”. A bereaved family might think $1 million would be fitting, but the punishment ought to be felt by the offender, and it is unlikely a one-percenter will be letting their untrained Pitties loose in a public park, to prey on other families’ pets. But an award that the owner would be able to afford, with sacrifices, in preference to the costs and sanctions associated with a bankruptcy, would be something of a deterrent. Maybe a $5,000 or $10,000 damage award to the bereaved would be a better decision, than an eye-popping number that will never be fulfilled.
I cite Pitties because they’re the poster child breed for this sort of behavior, but years ago, our male Airedale, aged 4 or five, was attacked on a leash walk by two Golden Retrievers whose owners’ son had seen fit to let run loose in our neighborhood, rather than walking them. Inter-canine dynamics are not totally breed-dependent. In that case, the family paid our considerable vet expenses to have Ralph’s wounds stitched up, and we chose not to pursue punitives (the father was a lawyer, was quite contrite, and I think their teenage son probably found his recreational opportunities severely curtailed for a good stretch in the wake of the incident).