Many organizations work to find stray dogs forever homes, but a recent incident in which a Tennessee man was killed by a dog he had just adopted raises questions regarding liability.
The Nashville dog bite lawyers at Ponce Law explain the 57-year-old victim adopted a dog from Jackson-Madison County Rabies Control at around 10 a.m. on Nov. 12. Less than five hours later, the man was found dead in his home as the result of bite wounds. According to USA Today, the dog bit two others as well before it was shot and killed by law enforcement responding to the scene.
The attack raises questions about pet adoption policies. The law requires that all animals picked up or surrendered to animal control must be quarantined for three days. If the animal has a collar or identification chip, it’s held for up to a week. After that the animal is put up for adoption. Furthermore, there is no indication that dogs put up for adoption are assessed for dangerous behavior or that staff is required to warn people about a dog’s history of aggression.
These risks are just one reason why all citizens should be aware of the steps to take when a dog bites. That’s because knowing what you should do in the wake of a canine attack can help ensure your rights are protected at all times.