Court Opinion

ID: 9738362
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:51:14.641782+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:42:53.286694
License: Public Domain

CHEZEM, Judge,
concurring in result.
Under our common law, all dogs, regardless of breed or size, are presumed to be harmless, domestic animals. Alfano v. Stutsman, 471 N.E.2d 1143, 1145 (Ind.Ct.App.1984). This presumption may be overcome by evidence of a known or dangerous propensity as shown by specific acts of the particular animal. Ross v. Lowe, 619 N.E.2d 911, 914 (Ind.1993). Unlike the panel in Layman v. Atwood, 370 N.E.2d 933 (Ind.Ct.App.1977), I do not believe that a jury could reasonably infer that an "affectionate" dog (who previously "had never bitten or harmed anyone in any way") is vicious from the fact of the unprovoked biting at issue in a case. Likewise, I do not believe that, after making such a leap, a jury could then reasonably infer that the owner should have known of this previously undisclosed vicious propensity. In the present case, no evidence was produced that Buster had ever committed any specific prior acts which would indicate to his owners that he had a dangerous propensity.
Absent such evidence of a specific dangerous propensity, the Hardsaws were "bound to know the natural propensities of the particular class of animals to which [Buster] belongs." See Alfano, 471 N.E.2d at 1145. If these propensities are the kind which might be reasonably expected to cause injury, the owner must use reasonable care to prevent the injuries from occurring. Id. As applied here, the issue is two-fold: (1) wheth*610er the Hardsaws were bound to know that a dog like Buster could become tangled in and choked by his chain, which in turn would make him excited enough that they should reasonably have expected him to attack someone when released, and (2) whether the Hardsaws exercised reasonable care to prevent such an attack.
As for the first prong, I see no problem foreseeing that a dog could become entangled in its chain. Yet, I am not convinced that the owner of a dog who has never before displayed any aggressive tendencies should be bound to know that such a dog would attack when freed from this type of predicament. However, I feel constrained to defer to the fact-finder's opinion on that issue. As for the second prong, I disagree with the conclusion that the Hardsaws did not exercise reasonable care when they left Buster with their daughter. While the Hardsaws did leave Buster out while their twelve-year old daughter was inside, there was no indication that she did not possess at least average intelligence and capabilities I think that even the most intelligent and capable adult would have responded by taking the same immediate measures when faced with what otherwise would result in the almost certain death of a family pet. I do not think releasing the dog was unreasonable. Perhaps, the negligence, if any, was in the original chaining of Buster to a tree without providing constant supervision. Without knowing what act the jury considered negligence, I am compelled to defer to the fact-finder.
For all of the aforementioned reasons, I concur in result.