Raleigh, North Carolina News and Observer Asks for Tougher Dog Bite Laws
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North Carolina's dog bite laws are not sufficient to protect citizens from dangerous dogs in an increasingly urban environment.
In a recent editorial, the Raleigh, North Carolina News and Observer, urged state and municipal lawmakers to enact tougher law to protect urban dog bite victims.
When dog bites man, it may not always make the news; however, the personal injuries received by the victim always painful and usually traumatic. If the dogs have a history of biting, the law should reliably protect people from them. However, many of the laws in North Carolina are outdated and applied in a spotty manner.
Take, for example, the city of Raleigh, where animal bites are increasing. In the year 2007, police were called to respond to 267 bites, 56 percent more than in the year 2000. Last year, 136 dog-bite victims received treatment at WakeMed Raleigh, an increase from 99 in 2005.
However, there are few dogs in Raleigh that are declared dangerous, which is a designation allowed to be applied by legislature under local ordinance. Tough measures to ensure the protection of those living near the animal are triggered by the label. Despite the increased number of attacks, Raleigh's animal control officers declare only two or three dogs dangerous each year. In comparison, officers from Cumberland County declared 29 dogs dangerous after they bit humans and labeled another 15 "aggressive" after they attacked other dogs.
The owners of the dogs also have a tendency of not being held liable by the courts the first time a dog bites someone.
Many of the North Carolina laws regarding dog attacks and owners' liability were passed in the 19th century.
The News and Observer pointed out that in modern day urban society, where people often live close together in apartments and on small lots , new and tougher laws are necessary.
Much of state law on dog attacks and owners' liability was passed in the 19th century. Those laws didn't envision subdivisions stacked backyard to backyard as far as the eye can see. Nor was a trip to an emergency room potentially a major financial event.An increasingly urban state, in other words, could use some updating of its dog laws. Lawmakers need to consider standardizing the definition of "dangerous" and "aggressive" dogs, and make sure bite victims have a fair chance to recover expenses for medical care.