Dog Wounds

Disclaimer: I am not an attorney. Nothing in this content constitutes legal advice. If you are in need of legal advice on this matter, retain a licensed, competent attorney in your relevant jurisdiction.

Are you legally able to shoot an attacking dog? In Pennsylvania, a person may kill a dog that is in the act of pursuing, wounding, or killing any domestic animal; wounding or killing other dogs, cats or household pets; or pursuing, wounding or attacking human beings, whether or not the dog bears a license tag. A person is not civilly liable for damages for such a killing. 3 P.S. sections 459; 501; 531; and 532.

Therefore, if you walk your own dog through your own neighborhood, walk past a neighbor’s house with an aggressive dog, and this dog terrorizes you from inside the neighbor’s fenced in yard (including those underground Invisible Fences), feel free to conceal carry while walking your own dog. If the neighbor’s dog ever gets out of the fence, and begins to attack you or your dog, you have the legal right to shoot the attacking dog. And legally, you will not be held civilly liable for putting down the attacking dog. So the neighbors cannot sue you for putting down their expensive breed.

Then contact your attorney. See if you have a claim against the irresponsible home owner.