Injury In Idaho

Canadian Coroner Calling for Dog Bite Registry

As reported by CTV News Montreal, a Canadian coroner is calling for a centralized dog bite registry in the aftermath of a deadly dog attack (http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/coroner-recommends-centralized-registry-for-dog-bites-in-wake-of-deadly-attack-1.3616219).

Coroner Dr. Ethan Lichtblau examined the death of 55-year-old Christiane Vadnais of Montreal found to have been killed by a dog in a vicious attack. The attacking animal was so aggressive that the police officers that responded to the scene had to shoot and kill it. The dog belonged to the victim’s neighbor. The dog got into her backyard, where she was attacked. According to Lichtblau’s report, officers found that the dog was inside the neighbor’s house but somehow managed to get outside and got out of the yard through a hole in the fence. Law enforcement officers believe that Vadnais was by her back patio when the dog entered her yard and attacked her.

Her death prompted Montreal to create anti-dangerous dog and anti-pit bull legislation. However, in the coroner report, whether the dog was actually a pit bull is not confirmed. The owner had registered the dog as a boxer but told police it was a pit bull. A DNA test that was run showed the dog was about seven-eighths American Staffordshire Terrier, which is a breed commonly placed underneath the “pit bull” umbrella term.

The coroner declined to confirm the attacking dog as a pit bull because he says there are other factors at play that are just as important as breed in this case, particularly that the animal was neglected and had attacked people before. The owner told officers that the dog was attacked many times when it was a puppy and had been wary of strangers ever since. He also said the dog had destroyed the coat belonging to a person who had tried to steal the animal a year before. In 2015, the dog attacked two friends of the owner in his home. Police told the victims then that they would follow up, but it never happened. The coroner report also noted that the dog was frequently left in a crate during the day and had a muzzle on when it was outside. While the neighbor claimed that he walked the dog often, other neighbors were unable to confirm this.

Lichtblau, in his report, noted his frustration with the sparse data on dog bites in many areas and that while several places have banned dangerous dog breeds, they have not followed up to confirm whether this is effective. He recommends sterilization for dogs and the creation of a central dog bite registry as part of the current legislation being drafted in the wake of this incident. The coroner also called on the government to start a campaign to educate and inform the public about dangerous dogs and dog bite prevention.

Vicious dogs can cause lifelong injuries and even death. If you have been attacked by a dangerous dog, you do have rights. Speak to an experienced animal attack attorney, like a dog bite lawyer Denver CO trusts, about your case today.

Thanks to our friends and contributors from Richard J. Banta, P.C. for their insight into dog bite cases.

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