Two women were injured when they attempted to break up a dog fight at a west Phoenix home.
The dogs’ owner was bitten on her hand. Another woman who stepped in to help stop the fight was hospitalized with more serious injuries.
Dog Fight Arizona Law
Arizona is not a one free bite state and Arizona Revised Statutes Sections11-1020 and 11-1025A impose strict liability on the owner of a dog that bites a victim. So if your dog bites another person, you are responsible.
Six dogs involved in the attack, including three pit bull mixes, were impounded at an animal control facility.
Strict 10-Day Quarantine
Animals must be quarantined for 10 days following an attack. The main purpose of this is to keep the dog under observation for any changes in behavior such as shy or unfriendly behavior, sluggishness, and excitability. The 10 days allows sufficient time for the victim to receive treatment should the dog exhibit signs of a rabies infection. Upon first signs of the disease, such as paralysis in the jaw and throat muscles along with difficulty eating or drinking, the person bitten would receive immediate vaccination. The dog would be humanely destroyed. If your dog does not show any signs of the disease by the 10th day it’s safe to assume there’s no risk to the bite victim.
Failure to comply to quarantine requirements can result in a fine costing anywhere in between $100 to $1,000. It also may result in a 60-day imprisonment for the owner. Might be best to play it safe and have your dog vaccinated for rabies.
Previous Problems with the Dog
According to animal control, the owners do not want one of the pit bull mixes back because they have had previous problems with the dog.
In Arizona law a person is guilty of a class 6 felony in Arizona if the person owns a dog that they “know or have reason to know has a propensity to attack, to cause injury or otherwise endanger the safety of human beings without provocation or which has been found to be a vicious animal by a court of competent authority.”
If you’re involved in a dog bite incident, you need the advice of an expert dog bite attorney such as those at Personal Injury Attorneys PLLC.
Source: zafamily.com, 2 women injured breaking up dog fight at Phoenix home, March 26, 2014
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