Dog attack cases in the Small Claims Court
Ontarians have lots of dogs. I never realized this until becoming a dog owner myself. Try to walk along a street in a residential area: there is a dog in every other house. I can now appreciate how much joy a dog can bring. However, at the same time, dog ownership can sometimes cause legal problems. They may come if the dog is not under the owner’s full control.
A dog owner will be in the most serious trouble if the dog attacks a person. Yet, surprisingly, many of the Small Claims Court cases we handled involved a dog attacking another dog. In such cases, the plaintiff’s financial losses usually lie within $50,000.00. Therefore, it is the monetary jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court. For this reason, the Small Claims Court is the best forum to litigate for this sort of damage.
Legal Grounds for the Dog Owner’s Liability
The Dog Owners’ Liability Act establishes the legal basis for the liability of dog owners. According to the Act, a dog owner is liable for damages resulting from a bite or attack by the dog. It is essential to note that, under the Act, the owner is liable for damages regardless of the circumstances. Therefore, the dog owner must compensate for the damages her/his dog caused, even if the owner was not at all negligent or at fault for the attack.
What the plaintiff must prove.
Based on this provision of the Act, in Small Claims Court, the plaintiff’s burden of proof in dog attack cases is lower than in other negligence cases. This means that he or she must only provide evidence that:
- The defendant’s dog attacked her/his pet,
- that the attack caused damage and
- that the defendant is the owner of the attacking dog.
What damages can the plaintiff get?
In a small claims lawsuit, the owner of the bitten dog may recover her/his veterinarian and necessary medical expenses. In some cases, these may be as high as $10,000.00 or more. However, other types of damages are also available. Such damages may, for example, be compensation for the permanent loss of the appearance of the plaintiff’s dog. These damages are especially likely if the bitten dog was a successful participant in dog shows or competitions.
Sometimes, an attack on another dog can cause physical harm to the owner of the attacked dog. In one of our cases, an elderly dog owner had quite severe cuts on her palms caused by the leash when her dog pulled away during the attack. The Small Claims Court awarded a certain amount to compensate the lady for the pain and suffering resulting from this injury. Under some circumstances, the Small Claims Court may also grant the bitten dog’s owner compensation for the troubles and inconvenience that he or she experienced while dealing with the consequences of the attack.
What defences may the owner of the attacking dog have?
As a defendant in Small Claims Court, the owner of the attacking dog may argue against three elements of the claim:
- The facts and circumstances of the attack
- The extent and reasonableness of the damages claimed by the plaintiff
- Causation of damages
The defendant can also use a defence articulated in the Dog Owners’ Liability Act. The Act prescribes that the court should reduce the damages awarded to the plaintiff in proportion to the degree, if any, to which the fault or negligence of the plaintiff caused or contributed to the damages.
Additionally, our practice shows that if the attacking dog’s owner has liability insurance for his or her dog, the insurance company usually steps in, which is often helpful to both parties. In such cases, the matter may be completed by settlement with the insurer rather than litigation.
