Tainted Pet Food Compensation Rights For Sick Cat, Dog, and other Pets

Tainted Pet Food And Compensation Rights For Your Sick Cat Or Dog

Most pet owners love their pets more, in some instances as much or perhaps even more than a human

being. They look upon their pets as life long companions and as friends.

These friends loyal, they offer comfort, empathy, support, and unconditional love. In turn pet owners treat their pets with great affection and offer the best they can afford and sometimes the best, even if they can’t afford it. Divorces often lead to fierce bitter battles over the custody of an animal. Sometimes divorcees spent as much money fighting over the custody of a cat or dog, or other animal as they do fighting over custody of their children. Some divorces are even initiated as result of a pet and it is not unusual for unmarried couples to end their relationships over pets.

When our pets get sick it is not unusual for pet owners to spend hundreds or even thousand in medical treatment. Some of us even forego medical care for ourselves, but not for our pets. For whatever reasons, we love our pets so much we are willing to sacrifice other things to insure our pets are cared for.

Some of you may have heard of outrageous donations made by the general public for an injured animal or a lost dog. We have seen vast resources spent fetching a puppy out of a gutter or a rescuing a cat from a hole. We have seen men and women risk their lives rescuing cats from trees. More often than not a cry, for help for a young child needing medical care falls on deaf ears, but the same is not true for a puppy needing surgery. Donations for animals, more often than not, will beat donations for our fellow human beings. Regardless of any one’s individual feelings, pets are highly regarded and any type of abuse or suggestion of abuse can lead to dire consequences.

So, how does the legal system treat pets? How much are you entitled to get from a tortfeasor that injures or kills your cat or dog or other pet ? In recent weeks tens of thousands of pet owners throughout the country have been asking about this very question. They want to know about their rights as pet owners and about the individual rights of their pets.

Tainted pet food has made its way throughout the country and allegedly killing or making cats and dogs sick throughout the country. Some owners look upon their ill companions and wonder about how much they are suffering or have suffered and contemplate the idea of a lawsuit. Some have gone further and have discussed the matter with an attorney, and further still some have retained attorneys and have actually filed lawsuits.

What most pet owners are surprised to find out is that despite our relationship with our pets the laws do not reflect the same degree of protection for out pets. For the most part pets are not much different than any other item in your home.

There are not personal injury rights for animals and a lawsuit cannot be brought on behalf of the pet for personal injury. Even if an animal’s pain and suffering is real, it is not a cause of action, meaning they cannot sue and pet owner cannot sue on their behalf.

Medical expenses for animals are likewise treated as if they were property. In car or truck accident the liability to the defendant is limited to the repair or replacement of the fair market of the vehicle. The defendant is not required to pay whatever it takes to bring the damage car back to it is pre accident condition. If the vehicle cannot be repaired for less than its fair market value, then it is declared a total loss and the fair market value of the vehicle is paid. The same is true of a dog or a cat or any other pet.

Anyone causing harm to a cat or dog or other pet is liable only to the extent that is reasonable and does not exceed the fair market value of the cat or dog. You have to look at how much the pet is worth at the time of the incident. If it costs more to bring the pet back to health than what the pet is worth, then you are unlikely to get all your medical expenses paid for. The liability would be limited to the fair market value of the pet, which in many instances may not even be enough to pay for the fist visit to the vet. With a few exceptions that is how pets are treated. This is true in almost every state.

There are a few exceptions, if there is something special about the pet, then compensation beyond the fair market value of the pet is likely due. Such an example would be a seeing eye dog or other animal with special skills that makes for a very special animal in the eyes of the general public and not just the owner. There are also exceptions between intentional harm and negligence harm caused your pet. There are also potential criminal penalties against those that cause intentional harm to a pet.

Speak With a San Diego Personal Injury Attorney Today

San Diego (619) 573-4501 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (619) 573-4501 end_of_the_skype_highlighting San Marcos (760) 471-4624