Every dog owner is expected to restrain their pet while walking in public, and seeing a dog roaming freely can be a cause for concern. This is whattoday’s storyis about.
Reddit user CherylHeuton was walking one night when she ran into an angry man. According to her account, the stranger yelled at her for supposedly walking with an unleashed dog. She denied having a pet with her, but it didn’t pacify the situation.
A woman was walking one night when an angry man yelled at her for supposedly walking with an unleashed dog
Image credits:cherylheuton6066
But as they both came to find out, it was not a dog but a wild animal roaming freely in the night
Image credits:Andrea Piacquadio (not the actual photo)
The original poster had some parting words
Image source:CherylHeuton
Even well-trained dogs need to be leashed
This applies to everyone, even those who claim to have well-trained dogs. TrainerCarolyn Martellexplainswhy:
“If your dog is that well-trained, having them on leash shouldn’t be a problem.”
Martell also pointed out that unleashed pets could be a problem for service dogs, whether through distraction or injury.
Dog owners won’t always be held liable if their dogs cause injury
It’s understandable to assume that adog ownermust be held responsible if their pet attacks someone and causes injury. However, this isn’t always the case.
A dog bite victim may only be entitled to compensation if they went through “pain and suffering.”Zinda Law Groupdefines this as serious bodily harm, like scarring, permanent nerve damage, and disfigurement. Emotional distress also falls under this category, especially if it comes with long-term side effects like PTSD, depression, and avoidance of social interactions.
Meanwhile, a dog owner may not be responsible for a provoked attack. As author and lawyerMary Randolphexplained, the ownermay be absolvedif the complainant was trespassing, voluntarily risked getting hurt, or was careless.
According tostatistics, more than 4.5 million Americans suffer from dog bites each year, with an average of 30 to 50 dying from injuries. The man’s anger towards the original poster was out of place but likely from concern for his well-being. Fortunately for him, he spared himself from further trouble with the coyote.
Commenters shared their reactions, some of which the original poster responded to
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