1.800.THE FIRM | 1.800.843.3476
The Cochran Firm Legal Blog
With Office Locations Nationwide
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Pet Chimpanzee Shot and Killed After Attacking Owner’s Friend
Wild animals kept as pets are unpredictable. That’s a pretty well known fact. Wild animal trainers occasionally become victims of their beloved performing beasts. Professionals like Ron Horn of the famous Las Vegas Siegfried and Roy Magic Show are not immune to the unpredictability of these natural predators.
Despite warnings from professionals, such as zoologists, wild animals, such as boa constrictors, pythons, wolves and other exotic and dangerous species, continue to be popular pet choices. Captivated by the novelty of their pets, few seem concerned about the danger they pose to others or about their potential to cause a personal injury liability.
A recent incident involved a chimpanzee that, after 15 years of “domesticated living” reverted to a behavioral state of a wild animal. He had gotten out of the house and the owner tried unsuccessfully to get him to come back inside. Failing to get and maintain control of her pet, she called her friend to come over and help her lure the chimp back inside.
When the friend stepped out of her car the chimp attacked her, mauling the woman’s face and hands so severely that she was hospitalized in critical condition. She required seven hours of surgery. Despite the owner’s attempts to stop the attack, including beating the chimp with a shovel and finally stabbing him with a kitchen knife, he continued his attack. Police ultimately shot the animal as he ran off. He died shortly afterward.
This wasn’t the first time the chimp attacked someone. A report from another woman claimed that this same animal bit her in 1996.
Domestic animal attacks can be every bit as destructive or deadly as attacks by exotic pets. Pet owners are fully liable for their animal’s actions and have a duty to prevent them from damaging property or harming anyone.
If someone’s pet has injured you, you may have a valid personal injury claim. Please contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm in Dothan, Alabama to learn more. With offices in major cities across the United States, we can schedule a consultation with one of our many experienced personal injury attorneys.
Despite warnings from professionals, such as zoologists, wild animals, such as boa constrictors, pythons, wolves and other exotic and dangerous species, continue to be popular pet choices. Captivated by the novelty of their pets, few seem concerned about the danger they pose to others or about their potential to cause a personal injury liability.
A recent incident involved a chimpanzee that, after 15 years of “domesticated living” reverted to a behavioral state of a wild animal. He had gotten out of the house and the owner tried unsuccessfully to get him to come back inside. Failing to get and maintain control of her pet, she called her friend to come over and help her lure the chimp back inside.
When the friend stepped out of her car the chimp attacked her, mauling the woman’s face and hands so severely that she was hospitalized in critical condition. She required seven hours of surgery. Despite the owner’s attempts to stop the attack, including beating the chimp with a shovel and finally stabbing him with a kitchen knife, he continued his attack. Police ultimately shot the animal as he ran off. He died shortly afterward.
This wasn’t the first time the chimp attacked someone. A report from another woman claimed that this same animal bit her in 1996.
Domestic animal attacks can be every bit as destructive or deadly as attacks by exotic pets. Pet owners are fully liable for their animal’s actions and have a duty to prevent them from damaging property or harming anyone.
If someone’s pet has injured you, you may have a valid personal injury claim. Please contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm in Dothan, Alabama to learn more. With offices in major cities across the United States, we can schedule a consultation with one of our many experienced personal injury attorneys.
Labels: Dothan
posted by Anonymous at 3:21 PM
<< Home