Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Florida
Dog bite
I returned home from a three week vacation this past week. During the time I was away, my neighbor had gotten two more dogs. During the time I was gone the dogs had dug a small ditch under the fence that seperates both yards. On Sunday my dog was let out into the yard to do his business. Once in the yard he must of approached the ditch and became curious with the other dogs. By looking at his wounds, it looks like my dog had put his head into the ditch and was yanked into their yard. My dog some how got away and came back home. He was bitten about five times. One of those bites was life threating, considering 1/3 of his intestines were hanging out of his body. My neighbor was notified of the incident. She claims the dogs are not hers, that they belong to her brother. Her brother is now staying with her. She rents this home. I spoke to the actual owner of the house to see if the medical bills can be taken care of by her insurance company. She is sort of giving me the run around. Just a note: She is renting this property under the Section 8 program. The only people under this program that are suppose to be living there, is my neighbor and her three kids. So technically these dogs are not even suppose to be there. Help?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Dog bite
You can call the police and you can sue the landlord and the tenant for expenses, if you have proof.
Re: Dog bite
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You need to file a police report if one has not already been filed. Also check with your local county animal control office as many counties in Florida have additional laws regarding animals and in particular - dogs and dog bites. Some make the parties fully responsible for any injuries and also criminally responsible as well.
In addition, the homeowner may have some liability if you can prove that the tenant's dogs caused your dog's injuries and that they pulled your dog into their yard. That may prove difficult to do.
Scott R. Jay, Esq.
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