Dogs are wonderful animals. They provide unconditional love, companionship, and can even be our protectors. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people turning their dog into an emotional support animal, which allows them to bring the animal into establishments where dogs aren’t otherwise allowed.
While the emotional support dogs help their owners navigate daily challenges, many people who rely on emotional support dogs don’t realize that if their pet bites someone, the owner could find themselves in legal trouble.
California isn’t very tolerant when it comes to dog bites. The state has something called “strict liability laws.” These laws are written in such a way that pet owners, even though with emotional support dogs, are responsible for their dog’s behavior. If the dog bites someone, the owner could face both civil and legal charges.
It doesn’t matter if your dog has a history of dangerous behavior or not. If it bites someone, you take the blame.
If your dog doesn’t have a violent history, you’ll likely only find yourself in civil court, but if you owned a dog that was already considered dangerous, prosecutors can file criminal charges against you, especially if they determine that you failed to take proper precautions.
If your emotional support dog bites someone so badly the bite victim dies, current California law states that you can face felony or misdemeanor charges. If that happens you may very well find yourself needing the help of a caring bail bonds company who will cover your bond, enabling your release and making it possible for you to fight for your pet’s future.
If you have an emotional support dog, it is in your best interest to make sure it gets a great deal of training and is properly socialized. The more work you put into the dog, the more secure your future becomes. If you even suspect your dog could become irritable and possibly bite someone it’s best to leave them at home. It’s a decision that could save yours from ever needing to contact a bail bonds company.