You also might explore the idea of suing the responsible owner in small claims court, which offers simplified procedures designed to be used without an attorney. Courts in almost all states don’t allow compensation in negligence cases for the emotional harm of losing companion animals or seeing them suffer. 2d 1084 (Ill. App. California classifies dogs, cats and, indeed, all animals, as the personal property of the owner. While it may not be worth it to go to court over the dispute, it helps to know the rules about legal liability. (See more on when killing a dog is legally justified.). Special value to the owner can be particularly relevant in cases involving assistance animals, which require extensive specialized training and become more useful to their owners the longer they work with them. As such, unfortunately there is no certainty that the police could take action, in the event of your pet being killed or wounded by a dog. In the event that your pet is injured or killed due to the negligent acts of another, then you may be able to bring a legal action on their behalf to recover … In a particularly egregious case, a Washington appellate court found that a cat’s owner was entitled to $5,000 for the sleeplessness, depression, and other emotional distress that she experienced after three boys maliciously set her cat on fire (Womack v. Von Rardan, 135 P.3d 542 (Wash. Ct. App. the trio is down to 2 now. When someone is liable for an injury to your pet, you’re probably devastated and angry. Noise, smell, dust and other forms of pollution can all be classed as a nuisance in respect of which local authorities are able to take enforcement action. Cats are treated as chattels in law. Because drivers have a legal responsibility to operate their vehicles carefully, they might face negligence lawsuits when they hit and injure animals. The police will put it down as criminal damage & unless you/someone saw the dog kill your cat it's unlikely it will go any further (if it did they're likely to sieze & destroy the dog, haven't known many owners get charged for dangerous but not illegal dog that 'only' killed a cat), however at least you've let someone know & if the dog goes on to attack another animal/person they've got evidence of the animal behaving badly in the … In many states, courts may order the convicted person to pay compensation to the animal’s owner for economic losses (either under the animal cruelty statutes or under laws that call for restitution to victims in all criminal cases). My dogs were outside playing, I live out of city limits on a large farm. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. But in cases involving deliberate or malicious wrongdoing, some states allow courts to award compensation for the owner’s emotional suffering or extra money as a form of punishment. If the cat belonged to you, there’s not … So if your companion animal has been hurt or killed because of another person's carelessness or intentional act, consider speaking with an attorney experienced in animal law, property damage claims, or personal injury law. The other much larger dog, jumped the fence and killed my little dog instantly. A man shoots a dog that wandered onto his property, even though the animal wasn’t aggressive or threatening (, A garbage collector throws an empty garbage can at a tethered miniature dachshund and then laughs after the dog is hit (. Well my dog being off his leash and their cat being off his leash they met in their yard and unfortunately times ended for the mangy felion. So they were entitled to compensation for the full amount of the bills rather than only the dachshund’s $200 market value. § 143.103). But pet owners can testify about how they felt when their pets were killed and how the loss disrupted their lives. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. *If the dog kills a second time, press charges. As an Illinois court explained, the owners of a seven-year-old dachshund had demonstrated how much their pet was worth to them by paying nearly $5,000 in vet bills after it was mauled by a neighbor’s Siberian husky. Your dog can be declared a “Public Nuisance Animal” or a “Dangerous Dog”. But I know just how you're feeling right now. A moggie has no real financial value in the eyes of the law so it would not be viable to sue even if the case had merit which it probably would not as the cat (s) are trespassing and you are doing all you reasonably can … The law on nuisance is intended to deal with circumstances that affect enjoyment of a property. You might also consider filing a claim in small claims court, which provides a relatively simple way to resolve small disputes without a lawyer. A careless groomer gives a dog razor burn, which becomes infected and requires medical attention. Ohio provides that “a dog that is chasing or approaching in a menacing fashion” or that “attempts to bite or otherwise endanger, or that kills or injures” a person, livestock, poultry, domestic animal, or other animal, that is the property of another person, except a cat or another dog, can be killed … Use the law to the full extent. Proving mental suffering is not always easy. Stat. 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