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.
To put a price for a lawsuit on my dog’s life would be impossible! My dog is a service dog who has been incredible in helping get me healthier and stay healthier than I was before we adopted him. His love, personality, and ability to help me around the house and wherever I go is, I dare say, priceless. I would have to include the value of my own life along with his since he has been a primary source of keeping me going against the odds.
I never take Noah to dog parks because of my concern for another dog harming him or me. Though he is trained to leave other dogs alone, if he senses something which could harm me it’d be a problem.
In my opinion, you cannot just put a value (price) on a dog’s life. They mean different things to different people.
I think the negligent dog owner should be held responsible to the fullest extent of the law and made known in media so other irresponsible dog owners will hopefully learn from this.
Back in 1997 I was in a car accident where a Semi truck pulled out in front of me. My dog, who was in the car with me was injured. She sustained 3 fractures to her skull, and from then on had to be on seizure medication because of the brain trauma. While going through the lawsuit with the truck drivers insurance company, because of my own injuries, I also wanted them to have to pay for my dogs vet bills and all future costs of what it was going to cost for all her medications. My insurance company first told me that since dogs are considered “property” the other insurance company would probably not agree to pay. I told my agent, since they consider her “property” then they can pay to “fix” my broken property for the rest of her life!!! I had my vet write up a letter stating what costs I had already incurred to take her to an emergency vet after the accident, and the annual costs of her medication, and based on the average life expectancy of her breed, what that cost would be. I told my agent that I would not be settling my claim until the other company agreed to pay, otherwise I would be happy to take them to court to, again, pay for my “broken and damaged property.” She was my baby. My “child” and I was not going to let them treat her like a piece of furniture instead of the living, breathing being that she was. My persistence paid off, and the other company finally agreed to pay the amount my vet quoted.
I don’t know what cost I would have put on her, or any of my other pets throughout all these years if something like what happened to your friend would have happened to me. Our pets are not just “pets” or “animals” to us. They are our family members. We love them like our children. And their loss can be just as painful as losing a human family member. How can you put a cost to all the lost years of love, happiness and companionship that losing that pet has cost an owner? I know to me, mine are all priceless!
First – I very rarely comment, but feel compelled to on this one
Second – Long long story short, I had had basset hounds my entire life, this was my entire experience
with dogs, I pretty much thought all dogs were like this. I could never understand when we were walking
out dogs, why, when we would see this one lady with her dog, she would always cross the street and
move away from us. At first, we kind of took it personally, thinking it was something about us. Later,
I understood only too well. I adopted a dog from a rescue that looked like a basset hound to me. In
a very quick hurry, I was learning words like red zone, reactive. I hired all kinds of trainers, took him
to a well known university with an animal behavior section, read as many books as fast as I could.
The point is I DIDN’T KNOW. I was ignorant of many things. Does this make me a bad person?
Third – All of you have jumped to conclusions, was the dog really off leash, or did he get away, was
this a first time offender or not? There are people that are ignorant and there are people that
know EXACTLY what they are doing. You can’t lump everyone together.
Fourth – I would kill for my dog, I love him that much
Fifth – Speaking about pack mentality, it is alive and well right here in this post
Sixth – I am so glad none of you have never made a poor decision, a bad decision, an impulsive
decision, an ignorant decision. I have, I wasn’t born educated, I wasn’t born smart, I wasn’t
born wise, you learn it as you go through life.
Seventh – You don’t know if the owner of this dog did this knowingly , ignorantly or knew
exactly what he was doing, it makes a difference.
Eighth – My heart breaks for ALL involved in this story
Leash laws for a reason follow them or don’t have any dogs quite simple.
25 years as a trial court reporter: Plainfiff would sue for loss of the services of the dog, for emotional damages for all concerned, for punitive damages (probably not awarded). For treatment of injuries – need some nice pics of the blood. Plaintiff’s lawyer would have Plaintiff see a medical doctor (psychiatrist or similar) who would prescribe drugs.
That’s how the trial would go.
How much to ask for, and how much you would receive, depend on factors like the area (its legal cllimate – lots more in South Floirda, a lot less in a livestock area), and the whims of the jurors (or judge if no jury), and the skill of the two lawyers.
Most likely, though, with traumatized children involved, the insurance company (if any) would offer a good settlement because of what lawyers call “a sympathetic victim.”
One million dollars and a paid-for commercial during Superbowl that shows the human culprit and that his/her off-leash illegal behavior cost him/her one million dollars, the cost for the commercial warning others, and the loss of the lives of his/her dogs (if they had to be put down for the human’s lawlessness). That’s just the first thing that comes to mind. The truth is, I’d need tons of PTSD therapy if I had to witness my beloved dog being killed in front of me.
It strikes me as odd that the attacking dog’s owner immediately surrendered the dog for euthanasia. It makes me wonder if the dog had a history of issues, the owner had a history of irresponsibility, or both. Who goes to a public park and takes their dogs off leash? Especially a public place with lots of people and activities going on. This had to be something the dog owner had done before, without consequence. I can’t imagine ever doing something so illogical, thoughtless, and irresponsible.
The whole event is just unbelievable and devastating. The victim pup’s family definitely should get counseling, as well as any other onlookers. (The dog owner may need counseling also, to learn the logical outcomes for their thoughtless, stupid and cruel act.) As such, I would be prompted to sue for the maximum amount allowed, if only to teach the dog owner that there are consequences for making poor decisions. Chances are, this isn’t the first time and won’t be the last time this person demonstrates poor decision making.
I don’t go to dog parks and my dogs are always leashed when they are outside of our home – it’s too risky for me or for my dogs to do otherwise. One never can know when changing conditions, circumstances, or the unknown will result in unexpected behavior – certainty with dogs is not guaranteed. It only takes the firing of the odd human or canine neuron for disaster to occur. I’m so sorry for all involved.
Because of the leash law, there should be some legal consequences. In addition to this, the victim puppy was young and hopefully had a full life ahead, as do the children…. knowing the care we give our beloved rescues, I would be looking for some tens of thousands of dollars….. our pets are family members!
The original post was asking about a price one would put on his/her dog. Here’s a question. I had a sweet cocker spaniel that required several surgeries and other medical care. Over his lifetime, I spent well over $30,000 on his medical care. If he had been killed by another dog, or any human action, would my expenditures play any part in determining restitution?
Agree! Hi
I can’t put a price on the life of a beloved animal or person. But the pain and suffering endured by this child and her family are SIGNIFICANT. Even though the laws may regard dogs as “property,” this child endured a huge trauma that will leave a scar. This was completely preventable and only happened because a very stupid and selfish individual decided that the rules don’t apply to him.