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DOG BITES
 Kansas
does not have a Dog Bite Statute. Kansas follows the common law of
injury-by-animal.
Generally, liability is based on the fault of the owner. If a dog
is not vicious or is not known to be vicious, its owner will not be
found liable for damages if the animal unexpectedly injures
someone. In other words, if the owner has no reason to foresee,
or predict, that the dog might injure someone, the owner will not be
held liable.
Dangerous Dog Statute
Kansas does not have a state-wide Dangerous Dog Statute. Each
municipality can, however, enact local ordinances addressing regulation
of dangerous dogs. In Topeka, for example, the local government
passed a law that makes it unlawful for a dog owner to permit a dog to
bite or attack someone.
Dogs Running at Large
In Kansas, dogs are permitted to run at large.
Dog Bite Facts:
Each year, dog bites are responsible for:
- 4.7 million
injuries
- More than
750,000 injuries requiring medical attention
- Nearly 334,000
emergency room visits (914 people a day)
Source:
Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
Number of dog
bite fatalities (1979-1996): 304
States with
highest numbers of fatal dog attacks (1979-1996):
California 30
Texas 26
Alaska 18
Florida 14
Georgia 13
Michigan 13
Tennessee 12
New York 12
Pennsylvania 10
Washington (state) 8
These five
breeds were responsible for two-thirds of all fatal dog attacks during
the years 1979-1996:
<>Pit Bull 60
Rottweiler 29
German Shepherd 19
Husky 14
Alaskan Malamute 12
Source: Humane Society of the United States
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