b"Note to readers: The following is a rule of statutory construc- hearing and an appeal. The owner must act within the times pre-tion: Whenever you are reading a statute which includes a word scribed by the section. And the owner will be liable for all costsor phrase that may have many interpretations, do not assume of the confinement of the dog during the process.that your interpretation is correct. Instead, each act or chapter of Fl. St. 767.136 imposes a criminal penalty on an ownerlaw has a Definition section with the definition of words used who is aware of the dangerous propensity of a dog, when thein the section.See Fl. St. 767.11 (partially displayed below) for dog causes sever injury or death of a person, unless the dogthedefinitionoftheterm dangerousdogandthephrase attacks a person engaged in a criminal activity.severe injury et al.Fl. St. 767.16 fully exempts police dogs from this section.The section exempts a service dog used by a blind, deaf or dis-Definition of a dangerous dog as defined in the current Florida abled person, which bites a human or another dog, from a quar-Dangerous Dog statute:antine period if the dog's rabies vaccine is veterinarian adminis-(1) Dangerous dog means any dog that according to the tered and current. Quarantine is not the same as confinementrecords of the appropriate authority: for the infliction of severe injury or death of a human.(a) Has aggressively bitten, attacked, or endangered or has If your dog is involved in an incident, please see a well-inflicted severe injury on a human being on public or private versedanimallawattorneytounderstandyourrightsandproperty; responsibilities with regard to the administrative Animal Controlprocess. That process will be separate and apart from civil liabil-(b) Has more than once severely injured or killed a domestic ity for the victims injuries and your attorney should explainanimal while off the owners property; or both issues to you. U(c) Has, when unprovoked, chased or approached a personupon the streets, sidewalks, or any public grounds in a menac- EditorsNote: After three months, confined to a kennel ating fashion or apparent attitude of attack, provided that such MCAS marked Dangerous Dog. Do Not Walk, Padi was releasedactions are attested to in a sworn statement by one or more tohisowners,pendingoutcomeofajudgesruling.persons and dutifully investigated by the appropriate authority. Commissioners claim they are following the process and under(2) Unprovoked means that the victim who has been conduct- the current state law, as they interpret it, Padi must be killed.ing himself or herself peacefully and lawfully has been bitten or To keep up with Padi and his owners fight to save him, visitchased in a menacing fashion or attacked by a dog. www.FreePadi.com(3) Severe injury means any physical injury that results inbroken bones, multiple bites, or disfiguring lacerations requiring Y Dionne Blaessing obtained her Juris Doctor with Honors from theUniversity of Florida in 1994. Prior to becoming an attorney,sutures or reconstructive surgery. Dionnes 20 year background in veterinary science included serv-ing as an emergency technician at the SPCA Angell Memorial AnimalFl. St. 135 and 136 do a good job ofrewording the former Hospital in Boston; Chief of Nursing for Boston Zoological Society; man-confusing statutory language. The new Fl. St. 767.135 addresses aging a local veterinary hospital in Pasco County. She has also served onan attack or bite by a dog that has not been previously declared the board of the Suncoast SPCA in New Port Richey for 10 years, includ-dangerous. Now, if the dog causes the death of a human, the dog ing as the board president. Her practice is in New Port Richey, and shewill be immediately confiscated by Animal Control and held for may be reached by calling 727.992.9114.a period outlined in the section to allow the owner to request aWZIG 104.1FM W Woof Radio. SomethingDifferent.AlwaysAffordable.Specializing inPet Photography.$100 for a2 hour session.Streaming at WZIG.org Janise Cole ~321.987.3166~nisephotos@gmail.comwww.TheNewBarker.com Winter 2016 THE NEW BARKER 79"