So says a Greenpoint woman, who wants to close a loophole in state law, which fails to cover pets who kill or maim another animals — a proposal that could avenge the death of her Pomeranian in June.
“It doesn’t make any sense that nothing can be done to prevent (a) dog from attacking other dogs,” said Lauren Schneider, who has named the proposed “Arlo’s Law” after her dead best friend. “Who’s to say (a vicious dog) won’t attack a small child next?”
The bill would hold owners responsible for their dogs’ actions and guarantee a “dangerous dog hearing,” which is currently only held in dog-on-human attacks.
Dogs deemed “dangerous” at such hearings must undergo obedience training and be kept on a tight leash and muzzled in public.
In the absence of such a hearing, a dog owner’s only option in a case of dog-on-dog violence is to file a civil suit against the owners of the attacking mongrel — but such suits are usually unsuccessful.
An online petition in favor of Arlo’s Law has generated 800 signatures in two weeks.
Schneider is collecting signatures even as she mourns the death of her beloved dog on June 5 at the jaws of a vicious white shepherd.
“It grabbed my dog in its jaws and wouldn’t let go,” said Schneider. “My dog died in my arms on the way to an emergency vet. It was horrific.”
The owners of the attacking dog fled into the night without an apology, said Schneider.
Schneider said she called 911, 311, ASPCA and the Department of Health but was told by each agency that nothing could be done because there was no attack on a human.
Victims can file a civil suit to fight for the property value of their dog or the cost of vet bills, but such suits often go nowhere because victims have to prove that dog owners were negligent and knew their dog was violent, said dog trainer and advocate Garrett Rosso.
“You have to hope owners will abide by dog etiquette, or peer pressure to foot the vet bills," said Rosso.
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| RIP Arlo |
And lawyers are reluctant to take on dog-on-dog attack cases because they are expensive and difficult to win.
“The cases have a hard time in court because dogs are dogs and they get into fights,” said Eric Feinberg, a Manhattan pet lawyer.
Schneider did file a civil suit against the owners of Arlo’s killer — after she identified them from surveillance footage. But money is not her issue: she wants this killer dog muzzled, kept on a tighter leash and possibly taken away from its owners.
And she wants to stop a problem that experts said is widespread in the city.
“Many dog owners tell me they just want a law that makes common sense,” said Rosso. “Most New Yorkers would be shocked to learn how little they can do when their dog is attacked.”
(New York Daily News - Jul 16, 2013)
