Under section 25 of the Companion Animals Act, the owner of a dog is liable for damages if the dog attacks or injures another person. However, as already mentioned above, the owner will not be liable in instances where the attack was an immediate response to intentional provocation of the dog.
Most dog bite cases not that severe and can be taken to small claims court will which pay up to $10 000 in compensation. Note that there is a time limit on seeking compensation, so you should pursue your case as soon as you can.
Penalties for dog attacks
If your dog attacks a person or animal: you may be liable for thousands of dollars in fines. your dog may be seized and euthanased. you may also have to pay compensation for any damage caused by your dog as ordered by the court.
There are no set compensation amounts when claiming for a dog bite injury, as each case is different. When you make your claim, you will be assessed based on the seriousness of your injury, the long-term impacts on your life and any financial losses you've suffered.
As a dog owner, you are liable if your dog attacks a person or another animal. While the Companion Animals Act 1998 gives certain protection to an owner whose dog attacks as a result of a person or an animal trespassing onto the property on which the dog is kept, other forms of liability may still apply.
If a dog has attacked or bitten a person it should be reported to the Police immediately by calling 101 or reporting it on the Police website.
The owner or person in charge of the dog at the time of the offence can be fined up to $11,000 or, if the incident is caused by their recklessness, $22,000 and/or imprisonment for two years (Companion Animals Act 1998, section 16).
This bite scale looks at the severity of the injury, and are outlined below. Level 1: No skin-contact by teeth – can be exuberant obnoxious behavior or aggression.
A tetanus vaccination is good for 10 years. But, if you're not sure yours is up to date or if your dog bite wound was particularly dirty, it's a good idea to get a booster right after your bite. We often recommend you get one if it's been more than five years since your last shot, too. Rabies is another concern.
Even if the dog bite is harmless to look at, it can lead to serious infections or rabies, and eventually result in death. In case of a dog bite, you can provide first aid, but it is best to get it looked at by a doctor. This is even more important in cases of a dog bite from an unfamiliar or unknown dog.
If a dog bite pierces a person's skin, bacteria from the animal's mouth can get into the body, which can cause an infection. Washing the wound thoroughly can remove the bacteria from the body and help prevent infection.
The owner may also be liable for damage to the personal property of a person (including clothing) caused by the dog in the course of attacking that person. Home and contents insurance including Public Liability will usually cover the owner of a dog.
In general, you may be able to seek compensation through a public liability claim if: you were bitten by a dog that wasn't secured or contained correctly; you were bitten by a loose dog.
If your dog attacks a person or an animal, or you are a victim of an attack, these are considered serious incidents. Council will investigate the nature of the attack and take appropriate action under the Queensland Government's Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.
Dog bites are not rare; these are common events that occur in normal family's lives and it is estimated that 15% of dog owners have been bitten by their own dog. Once a dog bites, he has shown his willingness to use biting as a behavioral strategy at least in that situation and therefore is more likely to bite.
After being bitten, most people who become ill will show symptoms within 3 to 5 days, but this can range anywhere from 1 to 14 days. Most Capnocytophaga infections usually occur with dog or cat bites. But some people who develop a Capnocytophaga infection have not been bitten.
Level two dog bites occur when the bite lightly grazes the skin but does not break it. It leaves redness and slight bruising but does not penetrate the skin enough to cause excessive bleeding. However, slight bleeding can still occur because of the forward or lateral movement of the teeth while in bite mode.
Level 1 and level 2 make up 99% or more of dog bite incidents —minor dog bite, no blood. These dogs are most likely not severely dangerous, and the prognosis for their behavioral issues is good with proper treatment.
Level Three:
In this type of bite, the dog's teeth break the victim's skin and leave bloody marks behind. There are two subcategories within level three to differentiate between single bites and multiple bites, but if these bites are shallower than the length of the dog's canine teeth, it falls into level three.
In WA, every person liable for the control of a dog commits an offence if the dog attacks or chases any person or animal. The owner of the dog is liable for damages for any injury to a person or animal. However, a person in control of the dog may also be liable.
In Australia it is estimated more than 100,000 dog bites are recorded annually with more than 2000 on average requiring hospitalisation.
About rabies
It is caused by a type of virus called a lyssavirus that people usually get from a bite or scratch from an infected animal. Rabies is almost always fatal, but treatment can prevent the infection from developing. There is no rabies in Australia.