Michigan City Considers Tightening the Leash on Pit Bulls and other breeds
By Michael Morse | September 23, 2008
A woman in Livonia, Michigan has urged the city council to strengthen its dangerous animal laws following an attack by two pit-bulls that left her injured. Livonia is the most recent Metro Detroit city to explore enacting more restrictive laws for ownership of “bully breed” and other dangerous dogs. City governments in Farmington Hills, Allen Park, and Redford Township are discussing passing or revising ordinances restricting bully breed and dangerous dog ownership by requiring the purchase of liability insurance, muzzles, microchips, and special licensing. Moreover, next month Southfield will revisit a plan to prohibit ownership of bully breeds.
Cities across Michigan, such as Grosse Pointe Woods, Waterford Township, Melvindale, and Ecorse already prohibit bully breeds, while Dearborn Heights, Muskegon Heights, Alma, Westland, Morenci and Roosevelt Park have all passed laws regulating pit-bull ownership.
For more information on dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog in Michigan or Ohio, visit www.dogbite-attorneys.com.
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Michigan Bulldog owner goes to Prison
By Michael Morse | September 23, 2008
Diane Cockrell of Howell, Michigan plead no contest to two felony counts of keeping dangerous animals causing death as well as to a third lesser charge for the mauling and killing of two Michigan residents last September. Authorities said that four of Ms. Cockrell’s Bulldogs escaped from her farm and attacked and killed a 91 year old man in his driveway and a 56 year old jogger. Circuit Court Judge Latreille sentenced Cockrell to pay more than $30,000 in restitution and serve 4 to 15 years in prison.
If you or someone you know are injured by a Michigan Dog Bite, call attorney Michael Morse at 800-281-0606, or visit our website at www.dogbite-attorneys.com.
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Fate of Killer Dog to be Decided
By Michael Morse | September 21, 2008
On September 6th, a three week-old New Jersey baby was mortally wounded by the family dog. The forty pound Husky attacked the baby as its mother momentarily left its presence. Foul play is not suspected in this case and experts suggest that dogs who are unfamiliar with new infants in the house may mistake it for an animal or even a squeaky toy.
Now, because the Husky did not test positive for rabies, its owners can elect to have the dog returned to be kept as a pet, to have the dog euthanized, or to sign it over to the county for possible adoption. However, as of today, the owners have indicated that they do not wish to have the dog returned to them.
For more information on dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog in Michigan, visit http://www.dogbite-attorneys.com
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New Dog Bite Ordinance in Michigan
By Michael Morse | September 20, 2008
The city of Farmington Hills has created an animal review board to determine whether a pet is dangerous based upon previous attacks. The board consists of the city manager, police chief and fire chief, or their deputies and assistants. Generally, the board will label a dog or other animal as dangerous if it has attacked or bitten a person or another domestic animal, or if the dog or animal threatens to cause serious injury to a person or to another domestic animal. However, the ordinance indicates that the animal will not be labeled dangerous when it bites or attacks a person who is knowingly trespassing on the owner’s property.
If the board determines that a dog or animal is dangerous, its owner will be required to take numerous precautions to prevent further attacks; such as registering the animal with the city, posting signs on the property warning that there is an animal on the premises that presents a danger to human beings, properly enclosing the animal and enrolling the animal in certified obedience classes. Moreover, the animal’s owner will be required to carry at least $1.5 million in personal liability insurance to cover any claims of personal injuries inflicted by the animal. Failure to comply with the ordinance will result in a misdemeanor.
For more information on Michigan dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog, visit www.dogbite-attorneys.com or call us directly for a free consultation at 800-281-0606.
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Seattle Scraps a Proposal to Ban Pit Bulls
By Michael Morse | September 19, 2008
Advocates working to ban the ownership of dangerous dogs in Seattle have abandoned their initiative after receiving threatening e-mails from pit-bull enthusiasts. The proposal to ban dangerous dogs from Seattle came after several high-profile attacks throughout the nation. To date, more than a dozen cities nationwide have banned or restricted pit-bull ownership, as pit-bulls account for more than twice as many bites as any other breed. Support for tougher restrictions in Seattle came after a 71 year old woman was savagely attacked by two pit-bulls who crushed her arm, broke her jaw and tore both of her ears. Although the initiative has been pulled, supporters are now lobbying the city-council to amend Seattle’s dog laws.
For more information on Michigan dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog, visit
http://www.dogbite-attorneys.com.
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Michigan Home Owner Insurance and Dogs
By Michael Morse | August 11, 2008
If you own a Rottweiler, Pit Bull, German Shepherd, Great Dane or Huskie, you might be paying more money for your home owners insurance. It is legal for insurance companies to charge more based upon the breed of your dog. Although, in Michigan, it is illegal to deny coverage based upon breed alone. One third of all homeowners liability claims are a result of dog bites. It is very important for owners of dogs to let their homeowner’s insurance company know that a dog is present in the home and the type of dog. Call around and shop rates with multiple companies. Let your agent know if your dog completed dog obedience training as it might save you some money.
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Michael Morse, P.C. and the Auto Accident Claim Center relocated
By Michael Morse | June 13, 2008
An electrical fire last Friday, June 6, 2008, forced us to move to a temporary location until the building is fixed. We are now working out of 3000 Town Center, suite 76, in Southfield. The complex is at the Lodge and 10 Mile Road. Because of our back up system and fire proof cabinets, not a single file was lost or damaged. There was damage to the lobby area and some smoke damage throughout the building. The fire started when a space heater caught fire around 3:00 a.m. No one was hurt.
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Great new site to help avoid Michigan Dog Bites
By Michael Morse | June 2, 2008
This site, Ultimate Canine Solutions by Vladae is a place to go to get a bunch of great articles on how to train your dog. With proper training, your dog will be better behaved and hopefully not bite another person. I was just interviewed on WWJ 950 to talk about National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Our firm handles dozens of serious Michigan Dog Bite cases each year. They range from a few puncture wounds to young children having their faces bitten multiple times. It is crucial is you or a loved one is bitten by a dog, that you tend to the wound immediately and call dog bite control on the way to the hospital. You need to know if the Rabies shots are up to date. You need to photograph the injury and call an experienced attorney who handles Michigan Dog Bite claims. The call and advice should always be free as it is with my firm.
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Pit bulls strays set for euthanasia in Livingston County
By Michael Morse | May 24, 2008
Our office handles some horrific dog bite cases around not only the State of Michigan, but around the country. Most of our cases involve Pit bulls or a Pit bull mix or a Rotweiller breed. Livingston County just took steps to help eliminate the risk of these dangerous animals. According to the Ann Arbor News , under the new rule, any stray, unlicensed dog considered dangerous or a bully breed that is picked up or surrendered to animal control faces possible euthanization. If it does not have a "collar, license, MDA tattoo or other evidence of ownership," the dog will be held for the state-mandated period of four days, "or seven days, with evidence of ownership," the resolution states. If not claimed by the owner, who must show proof of ownership and pay the required fees, the dog will then be euthanized.
Breeds affected by the new rule include pit bull terriers, American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, American bulldogs, mixes, or any aggressive dogs. The resolution defines an aggressive dog as one which has an "observed or historical behavior that makes the animal a danger to the health and safety of people or other animal(s)."
For more information on dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog, visit www.dogbite-attorneys.com .
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What To Do If You Are Bitten By A Dog
By Michael Morse | May 23, 2008
If you are bitten by a dog, you should:
• If your own dog bit you, confine it immediately and call your veterinarian to check your dog’s vaccination records.
• If someone else’s dog bit you, first seek medical treatment for the wound. Next, contact authorities and tell them everything you can about the dog: the owner’s name, if you know it; the color and size of the dog; where you encountered the dog; and where you have seen it before. These details may help animal control officers locate the dog. In addition, consider asking your physician if post-exposure rabies treatment may be necessary.
With consumer education, safety awareness and overall common sense we should be able to help decrease the number of those injured, and enjoy our dogs for many years to come.
Topics: Michigan Dog Bite Lawyer, dog safety | No Comments »
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