When you decide to take in a dog as a family pet, you take on the responsibility for its care. That starts at home when you provide them with food, water, and all the belly rubs they can handle. Part of owning a dog is also taking them for walks and providing an opportunity for socialization.
Traveling outside your property and encountering neighbors and pedestrians increases the risk of a dog bite. That’s why Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller says, “Always leash up.”
That is not just a helpful recommendation, but it’s also the law. The moment you step off your property with your dog and onto any public space, you are required by Albuquerque city ordinance to have your dog on a leash.
Public spaces include streets and open spaces. The leash can’t be any longer than eight feet. The only exception is within designated off-leash dog parks.
The keyword here is “designated.” Numerous designated off-leash dog parks throughout Albuquerque are maintained by the Parks & Recreation Department. Just because a few pet owners let their dogs run off-leash in a corner of a public park does not make it an official off-leash dog park.
Even in official dog parks, dog owners must have a leash in their possession at all times, and there can be only three dogs per owner.
Is Your Dog Ready for Off-Leash?
Before taking your dog to an off-leash park, you need to know if he is ready. For instance, do they generally get along well with other dogs and people? Your dog should respond immediately when you call for them. Some dogs like to show their affection by jumping up on people.
While that might be cute at home, at a dog park, it could be seen as a sign of aggression toward another dog. That could lead to an unwanted confrontation.
Finally, your dog needs to know when to walk away from dogs that won’t want to engage. Not every dog is friendly. If there is a dog that resists playing or growls, your dog needs to take the cue and move on to the next dog. If you’re dealing with any of these issues, then an off-leash park might not be a good option for your dog.
Does Albuquerque Follow the One Dog Bite Law?
New Mexico does not adopt the strict “one bite” liability law for dog bites. However, the law does hold a dog owner liable for any damages caused by their dog if their negligence was the cause of the injury.
Sometimes, a dog owner may attempt to use provocation as a defense against liability. For that to be successful, it would mean that the victim of the dog bite knew the dog as being potentially dangerous.
For instance, if signs are posted on a property fence warning about a dog inside, that is a form of knowledge that indicates you should not try to pet the dog or walk close to the fence line.
A landlord can also be held liable for a dog bite that is owned by one of their tenants if they knew the dog tended to bite people. They can also be held liable if they didn’t facilitate a repair to the fence and allowed the dog to escape.
Getting Help for a Dog Bite
If you or someone in your family has been the victim of a dog bite, you might find that the owner is not being cooperative. They might claim their dog would never hurt anyone. They might also claim you did something to provoke the bite.
It’s also important to note that many homeowners’ insurance policies provide coverage for dog bites.
At Barrera Law Group LLC, our attorneys have helped many clients obtain the compensation they are due for financial losses resulting from a dog bite. That compensation can include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To understand your options after a dog bite, schedule a free consultation.
We can answer your questions and provide options about how to proceed. You don’t have to take on this challenge alone.