When all is said and done it will still be under $5000.00, so if we can't get the money from the sitter or owner we'll be off to Small Claims court. Ugh! This might take a long time, but we won't give up!

Ugh. Sorry to hear that, wolfy.
:(

If the pitbull actually broke the leash, I'd say the owner is more liable than the sitter.

Sorry to hear about Twitter (although at first I was trying to figure out how a pit bull could cause problems for a social networking service).

I have no legal advice, but I would start by taking the high road. Don't start the issue by yelling and screaming and demanding the money. But make sure it is clear that you expect payment to cover the emergency vet expenses.

I'm so sorry to hear Wolfy.

I hate to say but I'm not sure the teenage sitter should be held financially responsible. Yes, she was walking when the dog broke loose from his leash (versus her letting go of it setting him loose) but the owners never should have hired someone who couldn't control their dog to watch it.

Well, there are lawyers who specialize in dog bite cases. Such a lawyer might be able to advise you if the dog owner's homeowner's insurance covers what happened. Such a lawyer might also suggest causes of action that might be pleaded by your husband. So, it might be worth a phone call or, perhaps some internet research into such a lawyer in your area who might advertise and have a general discussion about what you might expect on his web site.

Not according to animal control. It would be the parents of the sitter that is liable.

I am not sure that I would rely on an underpaid county employee for legal advice* - get a second opinion (Strangler Lewis has some good info that can be trusted). Whoever pays should be covered for these types of incidents by their homeowners insurance (assuming that it covers something that happens off of their property).

Also, I would think that filing a police report would be a good idea (if they will take it - I am not sure).






* This is not meant as a dig on county/government employees - just that this person, while he/she has exposure to this kind of situation that the average Joe doesn't, probably is not aware of all of the legal possibilities/ramifications.

I'd question why the parents of a minor who was watching a dog would be responsible for the owner provided leash breaking resulting in the attack.

You must be angry and it's so easy to direct your anger at the teenage girl who was walking the dog, but if the leash broke and the dog got away it's really not her fault.