Colorado Dog Bite Injury Attorney
| Where Dogs Come From
In the U.S., animal shelters provide care to an estimated 5 to 7 million dogs and cats yearly. More than half of those animals may be euthanized. 15% to 20% of dogs in shelters are returned to their owners. One in 4 dogs in U.S. shelters is a purebred. As many as 1 in 5 dogs owned in the U.S. may have come from a shelter or rescue organization. 15% to 20% of dogs are bought from breeders. As many as 10% may come from pet stores. Source: ASPCA |
Rescue organizations have become a familiar fixture across the U.S., dedicating themselves to finding new homes for abandoned and abused dogs of various breeds. Shelters and adoption organizations also act as advocates for displaced animals, reaching out to families and individuals who are seeking pets. But there are some circumstances in which adoption organizations can be liable if a dog causes injury to its new family. If you’ve been injured by a dog in an adoptive situation, seek accurate guidance from a personal injury attorney.
At the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal, we applaud the efforts of animal welfare organizations that work to place animals in homes where they will receive the care and attention they deserve. At the same time, our Colorado dog bite injury attorneys know that adoption arrangements can sometimes prove problematic. If you’ve adopted an animal and subsequently been attacked or bitten by that dog, we invite you to contact our firm for a consultation. Our Denver dog bite injury lawyers can assess your situation accurately and provide you with the advice you need to understand your legal rights.
Shelters, rescue organizations or other “transferors” of dogs may find themselves liable in civil court or even facing criminal charges in some situations where a transfer of dog ownership goes awry. An organization could face civil liability if it knowingly allows you to adopt an animal that is dangerous. Liability also may arise if the organization tells you that a dog is safe or that it is good with children when the organization has no actual knowledge that it is representing the dog’s temperament accurately. Civil liability may occur because of the nature of the relationship a rescue organization has with the public. Anyone adopting a dog from such an organization has an expectation that they’ll receive an animal that is healthy and safe, or at least that the organization will disclose any concerns that it may have about the animal.
In situations where an adoption organization retains ownership of an animal it places in a new home, liability can be an issue. A shelter or rescue organization could face criminal charges if it transfers to an adoptive family or individual a dangerous dog that subsequently hurts or kills someone. Prosecutions of agencies associated with such circumstances have occurred.
Because legal issues can arise when a rescue organization places a dog in a new home and the animal injures a member of its new family, contact the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal if you have questions about potential liability for a dog bite injury you’ve sustained. Our experienced Colorado dog bite injury attorneys understand how to apply the law to the varied circumstances under which dog-bite injuries occur. We can offer you informed advice about the options available to you, and we can explain your legal rights. If you’ve been bitten by a dog and your injuries are serious, we encourage you to contact our offices to discuss your eligibility to pursue compensation. You shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of expensive medical care when a dog owner has failed to act responsibly and you’ve been injured as a result. Call the Law Firm of Jeremy Rosenthal. We offer you a free consultation and you pay us nothing unless we recover damages for you.
Contact our Denver Colorado Personal Injury Law Firm at 303-825-2223
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