Recently walking down the street to collect my children from school, I came across a dog roaming the streets unsupervised.  I was a little nervous as I am a bit apprehensive about unaccompanied dogs.  I thought it was just me but there were a few other people also walking towards school who became anxious and began shielding their toddlers.

When I was a child growing up in a country town, dogs regularly roamed the streets.  We knew most of the dogs and where they belonged but I became a bit anxious after a dog nipped at my feet while I was riding my bike once.  It did me know physical harm but gave me a valuable lesson that, even if we know the dogs, they can become agitated and behave unpredictably.

Luckily most dog bites cause more shock than anything else.  However, we do see some very serious injuries from dog bites and the psychological impact can be life long.

It occurred to me that I doubt many pet owners realise the extent of their potential liability for injury caused to others by reason of the behaviour of their animals.

The general rule is that an injured person will not need to prove that any injury was caused by the negligence of the pet owner if the pet is not regarded as a domestic animal.  Few suburban households keep exotic pets although it is something that does happen in rural areas.

Dogs are domestic animals and therefore a dog owner is only liable for dog bites if the owner is negligent or if the dog has a known “vicious propensity”.

If you know that your dog has a tendency to bite strangers, it is a good idea to keep it well fenced and away from the main entrance to the house.  This is because meter readers and other lawful entrants to your property need to be able to access the property without risk of injury.  Even if you do not know that your dog has a tendency to bite but you have noticed it can become aggressive or agitated in certain circumstances, you should take additional precautions.

If you are getting a new dog, it is worthwhile researching the propensity of the breed.  A sweet tempered and docile puppy may become more aggressive as it gets older or if it outgrows your backyard.

Check your home and contents insurance policy to see whether it covers you against a claim for injury by your animal irrespective of whether your pet has a known vicious propensity.  Some policies cover you for damage done by your animal and others do not.  In some cases, your policy will cover you against injuries caused by your animal on your property but not if it is away from your property.  Insurance cover is critical as, even if you are ultimately found not to have been negligent or that your pet did not have a vicious propensity, it can be expensive to defend the claim.

There is no doubt that pet ownership is a big responsibility and this is just another aspect of the commitment you make when you adopt a fur baby.