CA Dog Bite Lawyer: What to Do if Your Neighbor’s Dog Is Loose

A loose dog in your neighborhood is a nuisance and also could be a danger. In addition, an unleashed and unfenced dog is against the law. What should you do if you see a dog running loose in your neighborhood?

• Assess the potential danger. Are you familiar with the dog and the dog’s behavior? Is it a pit bull or a poodle? It is displaying aggressive postures or behavior? Small or harmless dogs can be brought back to your neighbor. Dangerous dogs must be handled more carefully.
• Alert the dog’s owner. It always is better to locate the dog’s owner than to approach a strange dog. If you know the pet’s owner, give him or her a call or knock on his or her door. Explain that the loose dog is a danger to the neighborhood and to the pet itself.
• Alert animal control. If the dog is loose often, if the dog has displayed dangerous behavior in the past, or if the dog is acting in an aggressive manner, call animal control. If the dog is a problem dog, it is important to establish a documented history of the issues the pet has caused in the neighborhood.
• Alert nearby neighbors. If the dog is loose often and it has shown signs of aggression, be sure neighbors are aware of the dog and know what to do if they see the dog loose; especially elderly neighbors or neighbors with children.
• Never approach an aggressive animal. If the dog appears dangerous, go inside and call animal control. Do not attempt to catch or restrain the dog.

Unfortunately, a large number of dog bites occur after a pet escapes from a fenced yard, chain, or leash. Be sure you make the safest decision when this situation occurs. If you have been bitten by a dog and wish to learn about a possible California dog bite claim, call Russell & Lazarus today for a free, private consultation at (949) 851-0222 with a CA dog bite lawyer. Our Orange County injury attorneys are here to help.