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Public and private entities that sell or transfer dogs to individuals have certain legal obligations when they place a dog with an owner. When these entities breach their obligations, this could lead to liability if an injury occurs. At Colburn Law, we regularly help dog bite injury victims recover compensation for their losses. Here, we want to discuss whether or not a shelter could be held liable if you or someone else sustains a bite injury by a dog that you adopted.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), there are around 6.3 million companion animals in shelters across the country each year. Approximately 4.1 million shelter animals are adopted annually (around 2 million dogs and 2.1 million cats).
There are plenty of shelters throughout the state of Washington, including in the Seattle area. Dog adoption has become an incredibly popular option for getting a household pet, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, shelters often deal with limited information about a dog’s history. Unless a dog is specifically surrendered by an owner who has the full paperwork and backstory of the dog, the shelter will have to take their best guess at the dog’s health history and temperament. In general, shelters do spend time with every dog to ensure that they are not aggressive and adaptable, but again, the shelter often does not know the dog’s entire history.
If a shelter has specific knowledge that a dog is considered “dangerous” or “potentially dangerous,” defined in RCW 16.08.070, then it is very unlikely that an adoption will occur unless the dog is “cured” of its dangerous tendencies. More likely, in these scenarios, a dangerous dog that ends up in a shelter will be put down.
If a shelter or shelter staff knows that there is a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog and chooses to allow the dog to go for adoption without notifying the new owners, this could lead to significant issues of liability for the shelter. If the dog then goes on to bite the new owners or other individuals, the shelter could face a civil lawsuit for failing to disclose the dog’s history.
Greg Colburn’s path to personal injury law is rooted in personal experience. After a devastating fall left him in a wheelchair for two years, he took on insurance companies and legal obstacles to win his own case. That journey inspired him to fight for others facing similar challenges. Today, Greg is dedicated to helping injury victims hold negligent parties accountable and secure the justice they deserve.
Years of Experience: 20 years
Super Lawyers Profile: Greg Colburn
If you or somebody you care about has sustained a dog bite injury in Washington, you need to reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible. Dog bite injury cases can be challenging, particularly when standing up to aggressive insurance carriers who do not want to pay compensation.
At Colburn Law, our Washington dog bite injury attorneys have the resources necessary to handle every aspect of your claim. We have successfully recovered significant settlements and jury verdicts on behalf of dog bite injury victims, and our goal is to make sure you have compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering losses. We will specifically look into the history of the dog as well as the shelter where you adopted the dog to ensure that there were no “red flags” that the shelter knew about before allowing you to adopt the pet.
Dog Bite Attorneys Near Me in Washington State 
Have you experienced a dog bite injury? You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and more. A trusted dog bite injury attorney near me can help you protect your rights and guide you through the process.
Contact us today to speak with an experienced attorney and get the support you need to move forward.
Client Reviews
When our son was badly injured from an aggressive dog bite and needed surgery, Greg and his team (thanks Tina!) were there to handle the case and let us concentrate on the healing our son needed. I did not know at the time that Greg was one of the top dog bite lawyers in WA state. He was able to get the insurance company to pay out the full policy and now our son will have what he needs for future medical and mental health related needs. We could not be happier with the outcome.
– Alan S.
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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Greg Colburn.
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