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District of Columbia Animal / Dog Law Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury and Animal / Dog Law for District of Columbia on
Q: If my dog gets out and bites someone but it was the fault of my contractor who didn't create a sturdy fence, am I still

going to be liable for the injured person's medical bills?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Dec 18, 2018

Yes. It’s your dog and your defective fence. Turn the claim over to your homeowners insurance company to pay. If you are still within the warranty period or statute of limitations to sue the fence contractor for defective work, you can sue to have the fence repaired or restored to proper... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for District of Columbia on
Q: My friend went to jail. His dog was taken by animal welfare. The owner had the SPCA contact me to care for his dog

During his incarceration. I received no compensation for four months of "dog sitting." I received nothing to cover his expenses. The dog was released to me by the SPCA, however it wasn't an adoption. I just took him as a favor to his owner. Can I legally keep this dog when his owner is released?

Ali Shahrestani,
Ali Shahrestani,
answered on Feb 17, 2017

Why would you want to keep someone else's dog from them? The dog may be legally considered abandoned, but it depends on the facts. I hear nothing about any dog-sitting contractual obligations. More details are necessary to provide a professional analysis of your issue. The best first step is... View More

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