Saint Louis, MO asked in Animal / Dog Law and Contracts for Oklahoma

Q: Does the animal cruelty laws in state of oklahoma also applies from dr associated or veternary visit at a local petco?

A family member of mine's service in training dog was abused in choke position while the 1 year old puppy was screaming and crying while customers were staring at the vet dr at local petco. Plus the female doctor was also hitting him on the head and nose because of improper medical training with installation of medical shots required by the state wouldnt hold still. The doctor didnt even know why the choke position worked for keeping him still and training employees how to abuse a dog and telling them they had to learn how to do that. Does it still apply because of a company service through Vetco through PetCo under oklahoma?

Related Topics:
2 Lawyer Answers

A: The answer to your question depends on the definition of "animal cruelty" under Oklahoma statutory law. If you are still interested in learning whether the vet's treatment is covered, hire a lawyer who specializes in animal law in Oklahoma.

Melissa  Webb
Melissa Webb
Answered
  • Tulsa, OK
  • Licensed in Oklahoma

A: Animal cruelty is a criminal charge, so the district attorney would determine whether or not to pursue charges if you file a police report.

If your dog was injured or died due to the mistreatment, you may have a property damage case. Although animals feel like family members, in Oklahoma they are "property". If your dog suffered an injury or died and you have vet bills or other monetary damages, you could sue for that amount. Recently a court in Texas ruled that you cannot get pain and suffering damages for injury/death of a dog, but you will need to consult with an Oklahoma attorney to determine if you have a case for additional damages.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.