New Jersey Court: Mauled Dog’s Owner Can’t Get Damages

December 13, 2010

  • December 13, 2010 at 1:39 am
    Mikey says:
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    I’m curious what people think of this. I’m a dog lover and believe they are worth more than just the cost to replace them, but nothing ridiculous either. Maybe a $20,000 or $50,000 cap or something.

  • December 13, 2010 at 1:48 am
    Dog Lover says:
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    I like my dog – have had several – I am also a dog trainer. I agree with the decision. Dogs are not human beings. They bring us joy, entertain us, etc. Try this scenario: my brother loves his Porsche. Perhaps if he witnesses it being smashed to bits by a Humvi someone would feel he was entitled to pain and suffering, too. The line has to be drawn in the sand somewhere and it has – there is a difference between a human being and all other animals. If someone shot a horse or a goat that a family member had adopted as their personal pet… you see where this could go.

  • December 13, 2010 at 1:48 am
    Dog lover, too says:
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    Love my dog like blood. But getting $5,000 or $50,000 wouldn’t do anything to lessen her loss. And it wouldnt assuage my anger against the responsible party because I know it would just be their insurance company paying it. If they could make the responsible party pay, and make it pay enough it hurts them, I guess that would be some small consolation. I’d make them pay the award to the SPCA.

  • December 13, 2010 at 1:57 am
    America Redefined says:
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    I’m a dog lover too but I agree with the sentiment to a point. As an adult, should be able to deal with it.

    You can not open the door to this because the floods that will follow will be never ending. I have a number of resident stinkbugs in my house that I get traumatized by when the cleaning lady kills them.
    Ohhhh my… the use of the term “cleaning LADY” is a sexist statement and we can’t have that in NJ. NJ is a state that does not allow discrimination based on gender or gender preference. Imagine the suit I would be involved in if I refused to hire the cleaning lady because she/he was the cleaning man, and he/she is a post/pre op transvestite and I did not want to expose my kids to this person as a “normal human being” THATS NOT NORMAL!!!!!

    Draw the lines now before someone blurs them!!!

  • December 13, 2010 at 1:57 am
    COMPARE says:
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    You can’t compare a pet/dog to a car. No one’s Hummer is going to savagely attack someone else’s Porsche. I am sure it was horrible for her to witness her small dog being attacked by someones large breed mauling machine. I think the owner of the large dog in this case should have to pay this lady something for their lack of control of their dog and for her emotional distress. Nothing too high but something to show dog owners they will be held financially responsible or they should not allow that person to own another dog. There needs to be some kind of penalty for this. I have seen two different friends of mine lose their small 10 pound type dog to someone elses large Pit type dog that came in their yard and brutally mauled their dog. They get off with a slap on the wrist and even have the option of getting their Pit back. Something is wrong with that.

  • December 13, 2010 at 2:05 am
    Taking care of business says:
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    Get a concealed carry permit, another dog attacks your dog or worse yet your child, pull your weapon, shoot the dog a few times. Enough said. That way there won’t be next time, at least for that animal. That’s my plan. You like it, great, you don’t, too bad.

  • December 13, 2010 at 2:19 am
    America Redefined says:
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    In this Liberal State… you can’t get a concealed permit.

    Going to H@#% in a handbasket.

  • December 13, 2010 at 2:25 am
    Make the owner pay says:
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    I agree: the owner has to pay something punitive: not the insurance co. Not something too high either…just a good stiff fine that goes to ASPCA or something. Maybe $2500? If you don’t pay, your dog’s license isn’t renewed & dog goes to pound and or put down.

  • December 13, 2010 at 2:26 am
    Little Frog says:
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    I’m there with you. Isn’t this exactly what Punitive Damages are for? A person failed to control their property, which is capable of independant action, and resulted in the wilful & brutal destruction of another’s property.
    Also; the “if we let you do this, we have to let everyone else do whatever they want” arguement is just a poor excuse for not being willing or able to exercise reasonable standards of judgement.

  • December 13, 2010 at 2:29 am
    TopCat says:
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    Pick up the little dog when you see the big dog coming. You pick up your kids when there is a big animal around! You carry the damn things through the super market and shopping mall, can’t you carry it when you see danger coming. Common sense.



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