Somebody tries to pet an animal while the owner isn't present, such as a dog roaming in a garden or a horse in a paddock and gets bitten. He wasn't trespassing, the animal reached through or over the enclosure. Should the owner be liable for injury?
Somebody tries to pet me they're risking more than just getting bitten - unless she's old enough and cute, in which case
I'll allow it. Wife might get a little ornery though. If you reach for an animal without an invitation, the bite is your fault.
I was walking on a trail with my dog one time and a group came by. I told them she's not good with strangers (she was a very protective dog). He pet her anyway and she nipped at him and broke skin. He asked for a phone number, I have him a fake one
No, this is different from an unprovoked animal attack. You should never pet a strange animal, and if it was a child, children too young to know this shouldn't be left unsupervised.
Inspired by a medieval "real story" song where a horse bit off someone's finger. He sued. The outcome isn't recorded but the fact the court took the case and the owner resorted to claiming he didn't own the horse shows it's not totally clear cut.
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