Owner severely injured due to rescue organization’s failure to disclose dog’s violent history
A San Diego man has recently filed a lawsuit against the rescue organization Labrador and Friends after his adopted dog bit him in the face.
The 21-year-old man and his family adopted the dog at an event hosted by Labrador and Friends on December 20, 2014. On January 24, 2015 the dog bit the young man on his face, actually tearing off his nose. Needless to say this injury was incredibly painful and disfiguring. The young man is still in the process of recovering from the injury, with one additional surgery and several laser procedures planned to finish repairing the damage.
However, the family has said that they were grateful the dog did not bite a child, as a child may not have been able to fend off the dog after one bite.
At the time of the adoption, the San Diego man and his family were provided with some basic information on their new pet including his veterinary records and his microchip information. But after the horrific dog bite attack occurred, some additional facts about the dog’s history came to light.
The family discovered that their dog had actually been involved in a previous attack just days before they adopted him. On December 8, 2014, he bit a woman so severely that she almost lost one of her fingers.
Needless to say the family would not have chosen to adopt this dog had they known of its dangerous tendencies. They are now suing the rescue organization Labrador and Friends as well as the county of San Diego for what they view as an extremely negligent failure to disclose the dog’s full history. Assuming the family successfully proves that Labrador and Friends knew about the previous attack and yet failed to inform them of it, it seems likely they will be able to recover compensation for the young man’s medical bills and pain and suffering.
Have You Been Injured By a Dog?
If you have been bitten by a dog, it is important to remember that there is actually no need for the dog to have a history of violent or aggressive behavior in order for you to be eligible for compensation. In the state of California, dog owners are strictly liable for all injuries inflicted by their pets. The main exception is if the dog was provoked or harassed into biting.
The best way to find out if you have a case for compensation following a dog bite injury or any other type of animal attack injury is to contact Fernando D. Vargas for a free initial case evaluation.
