Is the owner of a dog held responsible for bites?

In Massachusetts, the owner of a dog is held responsible for a dog bite. The state has a strict liability law, which means that even in cases where the dog has no history of aggression, the owner is liable for any personal injury or property damage caused by the dog. The law distinguishes between bites and non-biting injuries. For bites, the owner is liable regardless of whether the dog had been known to bite before or not. This means that even if the dog has never bitten before, the owner is still responsible. For non-biting injuries, the owner is only liable if they were aware that the dog had a propensity to attack. In these cases, the owner must have had prior knowledge that the dog was dangerous in order to be held responsible. Owners can also be held responsible for bites if the victim can prove that the owner was negligent in handling the dog. Negligence includes not keeping the dog confined, not restraining the dog on a leash, and not providing adequate warning of a potentially dangerous animal. Overall, the answer to the question is Yes, the owner of a dog is held responsible for bites in the state of Massachusetts. This means that if a dog bites someone, the victim can hold the owner accountable for the injury and seek damages.

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Is the owner of a dog held responsible for bites?

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