Domestic Animals: Strict Liability In The United States

People who own pets, whether they are domestic or wild animals, can be held to a strict liability standard in most states when it comes to the injury of another by their pet, whether it is harm done to another person or to another animal. Strict liability is "applicable even when a defendant is neither negligent nor has any intent of wrongdoing." It is therefore not necessary to prove that the owner had knowledge of an animal's ability to be vicious or that the owner did not take the necessary steps to prevent an attack from occurring. When it comes to domesticated animals, strict liability is imposed in some states "when the owner knows or has reason to know that the animal has vicious propensities." A domestic animal is one that has been habituated to live among humans, such as a dog, a cat, or a horse. They are able to live in harmony with humans and provide them with companionship and protection. However, while domestic animals generally get along with their human companions, they are still animals who react to situations in a much different manner than a human being is prone to. Every 75 seconds in the United States, there is a victim of a dog bite, which …show more content…
After knowledge of this viciousness, however, an owner would be held responsible for any violent actions of the dog in what is commonly referred to as the "One Free Bite" or the "Knowledge of Viciousness" rule. Kentucky is one of the states where various legislation has been enacted and repealed over the years in order to impose strict liability on dog owners. These varying statutes, however, have often included exceptions to strict liability, such as when the victim is trespassing upon the owner's property or is engaged in unlawful activity, allowing for comparative negligence principles to govern whether victims are entitled to receive damages for their