My Dog is Accused of Biting Someone

[HotelBoss]

While walking my dog, my neighbor in the next apartment came out to walk her dog as well. Apparently her dog did something which she didn’t like and yelled
“stop that”. Not knowing at the time that she there I was startled and accidentally released he leash. My dog looked over and saw her dog and ran over to play with him. (A little background. My dog is in no way aggressive he simply went to play with another dog. He has never attempted to or bitten anyone. I rescued the dog from my soon to be ex-husband who beat the dog very badly. At this point the dog has had most if not all of his “natural” aggression beaten out of him. If one raises their hand to the dog he ducks his head and attempts to get away, like a child that doesn’t want to be slapped by a parent.) When my dog got to the other dog the other dog started to bark and nip at my dog. At this same time my neighbor was hitting my dog over the head with her pooper scooper saying “stop” repeatedly. At this time I got to my dog and pulled him away and asking my neighbor if she was ok. She stated that if my dog bit her dog I was going to pay the vet bill. My dog did not bite her dog. The only thing that happened was her dog nipped at my dog. I assumed we would call it no harm no foul and took my dog back in the house. I looked out the window and say my neighbor continue to walk her dog. A few minutes later she knocked on my door an asked if my dog had his rabies shot and could she see proof. I informed her yes he had his shots and that I would have to contact my vet in south jersey to get the paperwork on Monday as it was Saturday. I just moved to the area after separating from my husband and did not have to paperwork in my new apartment. I asked her if she was ok and she stated that she didn’t know but would have to go home and check herself out. Later that day she called the police, who came to my apartment but I was not home at the time. The police took a report which states that my neighbor “claims she was bitten and has an abrasion on her leg but no puncture wound”. My assumption is that she bruised herself while hitting my dog with the pooper scooper. On Monday I called the Pet Smart store in south jersey where an outside vet comes to do health care on animals at the store. I was given the vets number and called them. They were able to find the records for the other dog that my husband and I owned but not the one that I took with me when I moved out. I have been in contact with my city’s animal control office and they told me that since I couldn’t find the paperwork my dog would have to be quarantined for 12 days and then seen by a vet to check to see if it showed signs of rabies. At the end of the quarantine and vet visit there were no signs. It turns out that within a few days after the incident my neighbor went to the local hospital to start the serious of rabies shots. The other day I got a letter from an attorney asking about my insurance carrier. Is there a case here and might this turn into something that might cost me everything that I’ve worked for?

[aaron]

Do you have insurance? If so, consider providing your insurance information. If not, consider responding that you have no insurance coverage.

Dog bite personal injury laws vary by state.

[HotelBoss]

Thanks for the reply. turns out the lawyer called last night and i told him that i do in fact have no insurance. sounds now like she's going to try to go after the apartment complex now. she's taking this REALLY far for NOT having been biten in the first place