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The Worst Thing About Florida's Dangerous Dog Law

Yesterday I pointed out how to fix some of the problems with Florida's Dangerous Dog Law, but I actually left out the worst thing about it.  It makes no distinction between a dog who attacks a person and breaks a bone, and a dog who accidentally runs into someone, knocks them down, and breaks a bone.  Really?  Yes.

The statute is worded such that the dog "causes" a severe injury.  It doesn't say how.  It doesn't connect the injury with any aggressive intent towards people.  I can't see how such a law can be rationally connected to the safety and welfare of the public.  The law is so over inclusive. Sure you should pay for injuries your dog causes, and that liability is separately stated in another section.  But your dog euthanized because he accidentally ran into someone and broke some bones or caused some stitches. It's absurd.

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Spread the word
written by Janie Oliver, August 25, 2010

In Clay county they enact whatever laws they want and bend them to make them appear to be legal. I hope this Dangerous Dog law act gets changed soon before too many others have suffered its consequenses.... Spreading the word as much as I can... Thanks Fred for all you do.

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written by Lyn, August 17, 2010

The people who write these laws need to study normal dog behavior so they can learn what is "menacing" and what is normal.

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"Menacing attitude of attack"
written by Fred M. Kray, August 10, 2010

It is totally discretionary. It is written so that if a person is simply just afraid of any dog for any reason, they have the right to start an investigation and have your dog ensnared with animal control. In Jacksonville, they are trying to enact an ordinance that allows your dog to be classified if it is jumping up inside of a fence, if a reasonable person would believe that the dog was able to jump over. In what county or municipality did your case happen?

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written by jackie sheldon, August 10, 2010

Your concern just the beginning of the vagueness in the law. What about "frightens" or "menacing attitude". The law is so subject to interpretation...and the worst part is by whom A local agency let BITE cases go (ie former poliice dog, another "certified" for adoption) and deemed my pair of boxers, female going into heat, DANGEROUS for a 12 minute fracas in the park. There were no human injuries and only a minor bite to another male dog~off leash~ who approached "his" female. They had been provoked out of their fenced enclosure by a male dog off leash.

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