Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Iowa

Q: In short, is a dog owner responsible for a dog who damages material property in a home (shoes, glasses, etc)?

Initially, dog chewed shoes and inserts. Shoes were wearable so the roommate didn't pay for those, but paid for inserts.

I then tried to hide a new pair of shoes, dog found them, chewed them. I accepted some responsibility and didn't ask for her to pay for it.

I had another pair of shoes on the kitchen counter, dog knocked them off and began to chew them but I found it and stopped her.

I had a pair of prescription glasses on the kitchen counter, dog knocked them off and broke them. Roommate accepted she'd pay for them so I bought new ones even though I don't have money for it. Roommate now says she won't pay for them because I should've known the dog could knock items off the counter.

1) Is she at least responsible for the glasses on the counter (responsibility of dog, possibly something about location of items)

2) How responsible is she for the other items chewed (the items on the floor were at dog level and thus arguably I displayed some negligence

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1 Lawyer Answer
Stephen Douglas Lombardi
Stephen Douglas Lombardi
Answered
  • West Des Moines, IA
  • Licensed in Iowa

A: It is the roommates responsibility to control her pets and any damage the dog does is her's to pay to repair or to replace. No if's, and's or but's about it.

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