St. Petersburg Accident Blog

What If My Dog Bites Someone While It Is Boarded At The Kennel?

What happens if my dog bites someone while it is at the kennel?  Believe it or not, you are still strictly liable and this issue has been looked at by the Florida Supreme Court.  The Florida Statutes provide for "strict liability" to the "owner" if the owner's dog bites someone as long as the person that got bit was legally allowed to be wherever he was when he got bit (not trespassing, etc.).  The kennel does not "own" the dog, and there is no recognized exception of assumption of the risk, or independent contractor, etc. that will prevent the "owner" from being liable.  I love my dogs, but if I put one of them in the kennel and they bite someone, even an employee of the kennel, I am still responsible as the "owner".