Westland Dog Bite Lawyers
A Westland dog bite ordinance has been substantially weakened by the city council. This ordinance became effective February 26, 2009. The ordinance eliminates breed-specific language which required dog owners to muzzle pitbulls and other specific breeds. Under the new ordinance, a pet owner does not have to muzzle the dog until after it has attacked or biten someone. It is not clear what “attack” means since it is not defined in the ordinance.
Many people have strong feelings about breed-specific laws, but regardless of whether you think a pitbull is more dangerous than a poodle, this ordinance makes it more likely someone will be injured by a dog. Dogs do not need to be muzzled, fenced in, or otherwise prevented from biting someone until after it has already attacked a person. That means for every dog restrained in the future, there will be at least one victim who was hurt.
The change in law also exposes pet owners to lawsuits if their dog does bite someone. Many people think there is a “one free bite” rule in Michigan, but there is not. A dog owner is liable for any injuries his dog causes by biting or attacking another person, whether or not it has ever bit someone before. This lawsuit is usually against the owner’s homeowners insurance, so pet owners should make sure they are adequately insured.
If you would like more information about your rights after a Dog Bite attack, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Dog Bite & Animal Attack Handbook” by clicking on the book link. We will send it out immediately along with other important information.
For more information about Michigan dog bite cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com. If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan dog bite attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.
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