Shelter Mixup Leads to Adoption of Dog Bite Offender

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Shelter Mixup Leads to Adoption of Dog Bite Offender

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

A mixup at a local animal shelter led to the euthanization of the wrong animal, and the bull Mastiff who had been ordered destroyed was adopted out to another family. The dangerous animal, Moose, was ordered destroyed as a result of biting a postal worker, another individual, and a six-year-old boy who was bitten in the face.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, “a far west suburban animal control administrator admitted Friday that not only did her workers euthanize the wrong dog, but the dangerous animal they had been telling the public they destroyed had mistakenly been adopted out to another family.”

Animal control officers are attempting to recover the dog from the family he was adopted out to, but the situation is complicated because the family is located in a different county than the animal shelter. It is unknown whether that family has had a Chicago dog bite incident or whether they are willing to return the animal and have him put down.

Chicago dog bite attorneys might advise that a dog that has bitten someone not once but three times is a liability. Chicago dog bite injuries, while rarely fatal, are still traumatic and may cause permanent physical and emotional trauma. This is particularly true of dog bites to the face, as in the case of the six-year-old boy who was bitten while Moose was in the animal shelter due to a previous dog bite.

Illinois Dog Bite Law

Illinois has strict laws about holding negligent owners liable for a dog biting, attacking, or mauling an individual. In addition to holding the owner liable for dog bite injuries, they may also be held responsible for injuries suffered by a person who gets hurt while trying to get away from an aggressive animal, i.e. the injuries sustained do not have to be dog bite injuries. For example, a person running from a dangerous dog might become involved in a Chicago slip and fall accident resulting in a broken hip. Because Illinois is a “first bite” state, the dog that inflicted the bite wounds does not need to have previously bitten another person for a dog bite victim to be able hold the owner liable. Regardless of what the law states it is imperative that you are represented by an experienced Chicago injury law firm that knows how to obtain the maximum compensation possible for your dog bite wounds.

Dog bite injuries are often more serious than mere bite marks. They can cause serious internal injuries, permanent disfigurement, emotional trauma, and even death.