Dog Owners Law and Legal Definition
Dog owners are subject to legal liability for injury or damages caused by their dogs in certain situations. The owner or person in charge of any dog, who knows that such dog has been bitten by a rabid dog or has knowledge of such facts that if followed up would disclose the facts that such dog has been bitten by or exposed to a rabid dog, if such dog becomes a rabid dog and bites any person, stock, hogs or cattle can be liable for the damages sustained by the person injured, including appropriate medical treatment.
Failure to keep a dog restrained may also make the owner liable. An "animal roaming at large" is defined as any animal not under the restraint, confinement or direct control of the owner or his agent. When any person owns or keeps a vicious or dangerous animal of any kind and, as a result of his careless management of the same or his allowing the same to go at liberty, and another person, without fault on his part, is injured thereby, such owner or keeper can be liable in damages for such injury. The owner may also be liable for injuries to other animals or property damage caused by their dog, such as when a dog is allowed to run at large and harms livestock of another.
