{"id":2799,"date":"2017-06-28T08:00:21","date_gmt":"2017-06-28T08:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/68.183.99.185\/diamondlaw-ca\/?p=2799"},"modified":"2022-06-30T07:05:23","modified_gmt":"2022-06-30T07:05:23","slug":"what-to-do-if-you-are-a-victim-of-a-dog-bite-or-animal-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/what-to-do-if-you-are-a-victim-of-a-dog-bite-or-animal-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do If You are a Victim of a Dog Bite or Animal Attack"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

#AskJoshuaHimel<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A law banning pit bulls from the province 12 years ago should have made people living and working in Ontario feel safer as dog bites<\/a> declined, but your risk of being attacked appears to have increased. According to a\u00a0news report<\/a>, the number of dog bites reported in Toronto has increased even though the population of the breed the government declared to be responsible for attacks on people has all but vanished.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The population of dogs throughout the country is estimated at\u00a07.6 million<\/a>.With 41 percent of Canadian households having at least one dog in residence, it is essential to have an understanding of the dog bite laws<\/a> and to know what to do in the event you or a family member is the victim of a dog bite or animal attack.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Ontario dog bite law<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The province of Ontario has a\u00a0Dog Owners\u2019 Liability Act<\/a>\u00a0under which the owner of a dog is liable for the damages caused if his or her dog bites someone or attacks a domestic animal. The law<\/a> is very broad in the way it defines ownership for purposes of holding someone responsible.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

An owner is anyone who possesses or harbours a dog<\/a>. This means a person taking a neighbour\u2019s dog for a walk could be held liable if the dog bites<\/a> someone because the animal was in the possession of the person walking it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Dog owners cannot defend against a claim for damages by denying knowledge of the animal\u2019s propensity to bite or be aggressive. Owners are held responsible regardless of their dog\u2019s temperament or biting history prior to the attack.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Courts are permitted, under the provincial law, to take into consideration the conduct of the victim in provoking the attack. The damages awarded to a victim can be reduced by the degree to which the victim\u2019s conducted contributed to causing or provoking the attack.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What to do if you are the victim of an attack<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

An attack by a dog<\/a> or other animal can be a traumatic event causing serious injuries<\/a>. If you or a family member<\/a> is bitten by a dog, you should follow these steps:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n