There are criminal penalties for dog owners whose dogs bite someone after the dogs are found to be dangerous. Overview A dog owner in Michigan is strictly liable for unprovoked dog bites to someone who was not a trespasser at the time of the attack.
Provocation is a defense.
Provocation is not, however, defined. Michigan law is similar to California's. Therefore, reading the materials on this website regarding California will help you spot issues arising from dog bites in Michigan. A person is lawfully on the private property of the owner of the dog within the meaning of this act if the person is on the owner's property in the performance of any duty imposed upon him or her by the laws of this state or by the laws or postal regulations of the United States, or if the person is on the owner's property as an invitee or licensee of the person lawfully in possession of the property unless said person has gained lawful entry upon the premises for the purpose of an unlawful or criminal act. All rights reserved.