Thread: Dog bit me

i'm aways careful when i see a beware dog sign however i would have done the same as you after spotting the owner and opened the gate.......i might think twice now

This common law right can be denied by a locked gate, a sign stating "Do Not Enter - No Trespassing" or the law full occupant tell you to leave or not to enter. If you enter against the above, this amounts to trespassing

If you are trespassing and are bitten by a dog - To Bad !

this might not be the same in all cases.
I live in rural area of NSW and are a member of the emergency services.

we have serious problems regaurding the family farm.both common law and workcover.restricting axcess putting up signs is no legal defence and in most cases causes more legal exposure.

I was once told that by having a Beware of Dog sign was like admitting liability for any injury on your property caused by the dog. (How true, I don't know).
But I agree that the property owner showed neglect as he knew you were coming around and as a consequence of his actions by not restraining the dog before you arrived, is liable. The council should be advised. He obviously couldn't care less and therefore not a responsible dog owner.

beware of dog=may mean dont run over my dog as it is deaf
beware of savage dog=means the dog is savage

Ron were are you

Originally Posted by abaddonxi

The owner reached me then and dog went to him. The only thing he said was, 'didn't you see the sign', and 'the tin was outside the gate'.

abaddonxi,

Unfortunately I think if the "tin" was outside the gate then the owner would be able to reasonably argue that he had taken the precaution of placing the stuff you were picking up in an area where you did not need to come inside the gate and be exposed to thee dog and as such had fulfilled any duty of care etc.

Still bothers me that, knowing the dog would or could attack you he did not call it off prior to him getting their.

Also, what happens when a kid wanders down and accidentally opens the gate or the dog get out. I love dogs but seen no reason for people to have aggressive dogs as pets, particularly in residential areas.

George

Trouble is next time it happens it may be a lost child asking for directions or asking for help as a man is following them trying to lure them into a car, etc.

Will that dog one day jump the front fence and maul a child???

As was said, many people have the right to go to the front door, and so their should be a side gate with the dog behind it.

I found often if you think a dog is getting aggressive, pretend to pick up a stone to throw at him. That will make many dogs back away from you.

If you do complain to the council wait a few weeks before doing it, and he may not know it was you.

Boo hoo.
I get bitten by a dog at least once a week in my line of work.
There was a beware of dog sign and you seamed to have ignored it.

I seem to remember being advised sometime that you should never use words in your "beware of dog" sign that indicate the dog may be dangerous as that is effectively admitting liability if the dog does bite someone. Our signs simply state "Dog on premesis" as that is not necessarily a warning or indication of the attitude of the dog. Then people who are scared of dogs at least know to stay clear and others (burglars) can draw their own conclusions. Those council declared dangerous dog signs don't limit liability if said dog attacks an intruder, they just protect the council as they have been seen to uphold their obligation to regulate.

If an owner has a dog they suspect of being aggressive, they are advised to put a lock on their gate so people simply cannot get in by accident, or put up a second fence so visitors can at least get to their front door. Besides, the meter readers have to have this access anyway.

I would report it. As far as I'm concerned, based on what you have described the owner should probably consider keeping guinea pigs instead of dogs.