Q: I have a dog I posted signs on my front porch Beware of dog a lady ignores the signs walks up on porch my dog bite her
Who responseable my dog is on a lesh she came on my property
A:
In Alabama there are typically three instances where an owner can be responsible for a dog biting someone. 1) if the dog has known dangerous or vicious propensities. 2) If the dog is a breed that is listed on a dangerous breed list. For the State of Alabama that is only Pit Bulls. Counties or Cities may have their own lists. 3) if the dog bites someone that is actually on your property.
There are some defenses to a dog bite claim. If the person provokes the dog that can be a complete defense to liability. Another potential defense would be assumption of the risk. With beware of dogs in plain view before she reached the porch this might be sufficient to defend the claim. It is likely that this would be a jury question.
For more case specific advice you should seek out legal counsel to advise you of the specific risks you face. You should also review your homeowner's insurance policy to determine if your dog breed is excluded from coverage under the policy. Many homeowner's policies exclude potentially dangerous breeds like pit bulls.
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