Source: https://schopflaw.com/dangerous-dog-hearings
Timestamp: 2020-04-02 06:30:40
Document Index: 316319875

Matched Legal Cases: ['§123', '§121', '§123', '§123', '§121', '§121', '§122', '§123', '§123', '§123', '§123', '§123', '§123']

SCHOPF LAW PLLC - Dangerous, Dog | SCHOPF LAW PLLC
dangerous dogs lawyer
Has your dog been accused of being "dangerous"?
Have you been summoned to court for a Dangerous Dog hearing? It is important that you contact an attorney today to preserve your rights. I have handled hundreds of "dangerous dog" proceedings all over New York State under both local laws and the State Agriculture and Markets Law.
Although I always strive to resolve every case in the most inexpensive and beneficial way for my clients without going to trial, I prepare each case as though it is going to be tried and am ready to go the distance if a favorable outcome cannot be negotiated. I frequently lecture on legal issues involving dangerous dogs and have the respect of local prosecuting attorneys and the judiciary. Although I am most frequently retained for the defense, I have also prosecuted these cases for clients that have suffered injuries due to a dog attack.
A dangerous dog proceeding can be brought to the local court in several ways. A private individual can complain to the local dog control officer ("DCO") about your animal and file a complaint, the DCO can bring an action if he or she has reason to suspect your dog as being “dangerous” or the court can make a dangerous dog determination on its own should facts warranting such a determination come before the Judge.
- Seizure and placement of your dog in a municipal shelter (pound) of your dog pending hearing (at your expense)
- Muzzling your dog;
- Erecting a costly fence on your property;
- Purchasing expensive and difficult to obtain liability insurance for your dog;
- Court ordered euthanasia of the dog (putting to sleep);
- Preventing contact between your dog and certain persons;
- Having your dog spayed or neutered at your expense;
- Having your dog microchipped at your expense;
- Registering your dog with your municipality;
- Fines and possible criminal penalties; and
- Ordering you to attend obedience classes with your dog.
These penalties have a direct affect on you, including the possibility of: higher home owner’s insurance premiums, increased personal liability, a loss of homeowner’s insurance coverage, out of pocket expenses and the possibility of the court ordering your dog euthanized should it commit another “dangerous” act in the future.
If this is the second time you are in court and your dog has previously been deemed dangerous under §123 (or formerly §121) of the Agriculture and Markets Law then in addition to the above, you are facing the following penalties:
- Court ordered Euthanization of your dog.
These are your rights under §123 of the Agriculture and Markets Law:
- You have the right to a hearing within 5 days of the seizure of your dog;
- You have the right to be represented by an attorney at all stages of the proceeding;
- You have the right to confront your accuser in court and to cross-examine witnesses;
- You have the right to call witnesses on your behalf, including experts such as a person who specializes in animal behavior or a veterinarian; and
- You have the right to contest these charges.
§123 of the Agriculture and Markets Law is a long, somewhat technical and in some respects poorly drafted statute. It was slightly amended and renumbered effective 1/1/2011. The statute was formerly numbered Agriculture and Markets Law §121, as such, many municipal forms and citations still incorrectly refer to §121. This may be a jurisdictional issue should a ticket be issued under the wrong statute, however as of yet there have been no reported decisions on such an event.
It is important to remember that the Agriculture and Markets dangerous dog statute may be expanded upon by local law, and that local municipalities may have their own separate legal definitions of “dangerousness” or "viciousness" as well as their own laws governing animals. Typically these laws seek to control dogs which are described as ones who commit “harassment”, “intimidation”, “vicious acts” or a host of other descriptive terms. It is important to know what statute is being charged, state or local, and the penalties which can be imposed. The statute which gives local towns this authority is located at §122 of the Agriculture and Markets Law.
§123(1) of the statute provides for the various persons who may bring a dangerous dog complaint for the reasons listed in the subdivision (i.e. attack or threatened attack against a person, companion animal, farm animal or domestic animal as defined in the Agriculture and Markets Law). The complaint may be brought by a local Dog Control Officer or by a private citizen.
§123(2) is the longest portion of the statute and the most frequently utilized by a Local Dog Control Officer to bring charges against a person and to impound that person’s animal pending hearing. The highlights of the statute are as follows:
Imposes a duty upon a police officer or Dog Control Officer to bring a complaint if the officer witnesses an attack or threatened attack by a dog. Interestingly §123(2) does not define what an attack is, nor who or what the attack must have been against.
The complaint shall be made to a local judge.
The judge should immediately determine if there is probable cause to find the dog to be dangerous, if such a finding is made, then the judge can issue an order directing the Dog Control Officer or Police Officer to seize the dog, pending a hearing.
The hearing must be held within 5 days of the seizure and the owner or harborer of the dog must be given at least 2 days notice of the hearing.
At the hearing the burden is on the petitioner to prove that the dog is dangerous by clear and convincing evidence.
If the judge determines that the dog is dangerous then the judge must order the dog to be spayed or neutered and that the dog be microchipped (the statute does not say what microchipping is, we will assume that it is microchipping for identification).
The judge also has the discretion to order that the dog be evaluated by a animal behaviorist, that the dog be securely and humanely confined at all times, that the dog be on a leash under the control of a person at least twenty-one years of age at all times, that the dog be muzzled in public and/ or that the owner maintain a liability insurance policy not to exceed $100,000 on the dog.
§123(3) expands the penalties that the judge can impose is certain “aggravating factors” are shown at the hearing. These factors include (a) the dog, without justification, attacked a person causing serious physical injury or death; or (b) the dog has a known vicious propensity as evidenced by a previous unjustified attack on a person, which caused serious physical injury or death; or (c) the dog, without justification, caused serious physical injury or death to a companion animal, farm animal or domestic animal, and has, in the past two years, caused unjustified physical injury or death to a companion or farm animal as evidenced by a “dangerous dog” finding pursuant to the provisions of this section.
§123(10)-(13) imposes strict liability for medical expenses upon anyone who owns or harbors a dog found to be dangerous who harms a person. The sections also provide for defenses. It is important to note that a court decision has found that a local court can order judgment for medical expenses in an unlimited amount arising from a dangerous dog attack, Christensen v. Lundsten, 863 NYS2d 886 (2008). Also, recent court decisions have raised the possibility that one does not have to have a previous determination that a dog is dangerous for strict liability for medical expenses to attach, Budway v. McKee, 27 Misc. 3d 316 (2010).
§123(14) sets forth a reporting requirement which requires persons owning, possessing or harboring dangerous dogs shall report the presence of such dangerous dogs pursuant to section two hundred nine-cc of the general municipal law. Practitioners should also be aware that many municipalities have enacted similar requirements.
Have you been served with a Dangerous Dog ticket?
Is court only two days away?
Has your dog been seized?
common forms used to commence a dangerous dog proceeding
Although not exhaustive, these are official forms that are often used to commence and dispose of a dangerous dog proceeding in New York State as well as the form orders that are used by the courts to seize animals and to report the dispositions of such animals. In some municipalities often a simple appearance ticket will be issued, especially if you are charged under town and not state law. I have also included copies of the most recent statutes (laws) on the books in New York State that relate to dangerous dog proceedings.
DL-39 - Dog Seizure form (pdf)Download
DL-39 Order to Seize Dog (pdf)Download
DL-41 Dangerous Dog Complaint (pdf)Download
DL-42 - NOTICE OF HEARING (pdf)Download
DL-43 DD Disposition Order (pdf)Download
DL-4 - Dog Licensing monthly report (pdf)Download
Section 108 (pdf)Download
Section 123 (pdf)Download
Section 123-A (pdf)Download
Section 123-B (pdf)Download