When a Dog Bites at the Pet Store

You would never think about the chance your dog bites someone at the pet store, especially in an environment where your puppy is welcome. Since we believe our doggies to be friendly with everyone, we do not possibly anticipate issues happening, even at the pet store.

Scenario

Carmella had Trixie, her Cain Terrier, whom she took everywhere, with her. One day, she traveled to her local pet shop to buy some dog food and treats for Trixie. She put Trixie in a shopping cart with her and roamed the store. Carmella needs help with a particular food that the store has locked inside a cage for security purposes. The attendant, John, walks over, grabs the pet food bag, and places it in the shopping cart for Carmella. John goes to pet Trixie, who does not like it and bites him. John reels his hand back, notices the mark, and tells Carmella he will file a lawsuit. A potential issue could arise when your dog bites someone at the pet store.

The Claim

John alleged that Carmella was negligent in allowing Trixie to bite him. However, Carmella replied that John should have known better than to pet a dog without permission. She pointed out that since he worked in a pet store, he should understand these simple precautions.

Unfortunately, John did not take these precautions and now has a nasty mark on his right hand that could impact his ability to lift products. All bets are off when your dog bit someone like a pet store attendant.

Takeaways

• Carmella should have found a way to prevent Trixie from biting John by securing her in the seat or standing between John and Trixie.
• Taking Trixie to the pet store always had risks, including interaction with other potential customers or attendants. Any bite could serve as a major lawsuit.
• Carmella must check if her insurance can cover the incident or if she is on the hook for it.

About Dog Bite Quote

At Dean Insurance Agency, we’ve been providing protection to dog owners since 2012, with more than 10,000 policies issued. Our underwriting criteria and years of experience providing this coverage enables us to offer competitive and fair policy premiums. Our policies are available in every state except Alaska & Kentucky. The quote is free and there is NO obligation to purchase!