Can I Sue My Neighbors for Their Aggressive Dogs Killing My Small Dog in California near San Francisco?
Hello Reddit community! I need your help. Two days ago, at 3 AM, my neighbors’ pitbull mixes broke into our house in California, near San Francisco, and attacked my chihuahua mix while everyone was asleep. We rushed her to the emergency vet, where she underwent surgery costing $2620. Unfortunately, she passed away last night, leaving my family devastated.
Should we consider suing our neighbors for this tragic incident? We fear for the safety of our small cousins who visit frequently and sometimes stay in the room where the attack occurred. If we decide to pursue legal action, what type of lawyer should we seek?
#NeighborsDogs #AggressiveDogs #DogAttack #SueNeighbors #CaliforniaLaws #PetSafetyCaliforna #LegalAdvice #DogLawsuits
Sorry for the loss of your dog.
If you have evidence that the neighbors dogs killed your dog, you can sue them for the vet bills and the value of your dog. Unless it was a show dog or breeding dog and you can back up that claim, your dog will be worth whatever fair market value is for a mixed breed dog.
Chances are you don’t need an attorney. This can be handled in small claims court.
(ETA: CA is a pure comparative negligence state. If your case is worth $3,000 but you are found to be 50% negligent, you can only recover $1,500. If you were 25% negligent, you can only recover $2,250. It’s not clear if you were negligent at all, but just so you know.)
yes you should definitely sue! also you might want to look into speaking with your local animal control authorities totally unacceptable
Echoing what others have said about suing and adding that you should put up cameras on the exterior of your house facing your yard and inside the garage/room ASAP so you can monitor if they break onto your property again. I would be reporting every single time they break through your fence and step foot on your property from here on out. Also, in addition to vet bills and value of your dog, make sure you include property damage costs (fence damage, if they broke anything in your house when they broke in, etc.) So sorry for your loss ☹️
I’m so sorry. You absolutely have grounds for a lawsuit against your neighbors.
In California, dog owners are held strictly liable for any damages or injuries caused by their pets, regardless of prior incidents or the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s aggressive tendencies.
This means that even if your neighbors had no idea their dogs were capable of this, they are still fully responsible for the consequences of the attack.
I recommend filing a civil suit against your neighbors seeking compensation for the veterinary bills, the cost of your dog, emotional distress, and any other related damages. You can also pursue an injunction ordering your neighbors to take steps to prevent future attacks, such as requiring the dogs to be muzzled or kept in a secure enclosure.
Given the severity of the incident and the ongoing threat posed by these dogs, you should also be reporting the attack to animal control. They can investigate and take appropriate action, up to and including seizing the dogs if they’re deemed a danger to the community. This will create an official record of the incident, which will strengthen your case.
I can’t even read your post… just came to say I am so sorry for the loss of your pup.
Sue in small claims.
Last time I checked, it’s “the worth of the dog” so go to a store that has one extremely similar. That’s probably what you will get.