© 2024 WEMU
Serving Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, MI
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Appeals Court: Dog Not Dangerous Til It Bites Someone

Beware of Dog
Mandee Sears
/
flickr.com

A dog in Michigan is not considered legally dangerous until it bites or attacks someone.  That’s the word from the state Court of Appeals.  

An Eaton County couple was charged with knowingly owning a dangerous animal after their dog got through a fence and attacked a lawn care worker employed by a neighbor.  The dog was shot to death by a police officer who said he felt threatened.  

There was evidence presented at trial that some neighbors were nervous about the dog, and that it could sometimes behave aggressively, such as attacking a lawnmower and biting the tires.  

The lower court allowed the case to go to trial, but the appeals court dismissed it.  Thesaid Michigan law plainly states an animal has to have bitten a person before it’s considered dangerous. 

Non-commercial, fact based reporting is made possible by your financial support.  Make your donation to WEMU todayto keep your community NPR station thriving.

Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

— Rick Pluta is the Managing Editor and Reporter for the Michigan Public Radio network.  Contact WEMU News at734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org

Rick Pluta is the managing editor for the Michigan Public Radio Network.
Related Content