Is there a legal loophole?
Such as....a dog may be deemed "dangerous" if it's out of control in a public place, yet on private property a different set of circumstances are appropriate?
One bite to the leg is nothing like an intruder being shot by a householder. In my view, that is "reasonable force" to deter an intruder (the intent of whom could not be judged by either dog or dog-sitter at the moment it was happening.) It is only with some element of hindsight we see that the boy had gone to retrieve his ball (breaking the law in the process!)
I don't know the laws in that state of course, but there might be something.
Such as....a dog may be deemed "dangerous" if it's out of control in a public place, yet on private property a different set of circumstances are appropriate?
One bite to the leg is nothing like an intruder being shot by a householder. In my view, that is "reasonable force" to deter an intruder (the intent of whom could not be judged by either dog or dog-sitter at the moment it was happening.) It is only with some element of hindsight we see that the boy had gone to retrieve his ball (breaking the law in the process!)
I don't know the laws in that state of course, but there might be something.
