The leader of the BC Green Party has tabled a bill that would ensure pet owners are held responsible for the actions of their animals.
Andrew Weaver introduced the Animal Liability Act on Wednesday, saying we don’t have adequate laws in B.C. The new act is modeled on Manitoba’s legislation and would make owners directly liable for any damages caused by their pets.
The bill would not apply to damages caused by livestock.
“As it currently stands, when someone gets bitten by a dog the options available for legal recourse hinge on the dog having a previous history of violence. That’s simply not enough,” said Weaver in a release. “This legislation does not affect the vast majority of caring, responsible pet owners. It targets negligent pet owners who are not appropriately socializing, training, or restraining their animals in public places.”
“In most instances I would expect this legislation to be used in situations where an irresponsible owner fails to take appropriate precautions and their violent dog attacks someone. If someone happened to have a particularly aggressive cougar, llama or emu and they let it run around biting people, however, it would certainly apply.”
The act still needs to be approved by the legislature and would need support of the governing party before it becomes law.
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