Following the rules
There are always rules and regulations when you are dealing with animal groups. Each shelter maintains their own set of guidelines which are followed to keep the general public safe. County animal shelters and most humane societies have a "no bite" rule.
When an animal is brought in to a shelter, if they have a bite history, they are not to be adopted back out to the public for safety reasons. Some shelters look at the reason for the bite and then make their decision on why the bite occurred. They may make the decision to adopt the dog out, with full disclosure on the bite.
Many shelters don't adopt out one bite dogs simply from the fear of being sued, which can close a shelter down, depending on costs of the lawsuit.
Several years ago, I had a situation arise with a shelter dog who had been turned in. I had never had any difficulty with this particular dog, whose owners had given him up. I was walking a couple through the dog kennels. When we reached this particular kennel, the man who was looking at dogs said, "I know that dog. He bit me several months ago." When questioned further, the man pulled up the sleeve on his shirt and showed me a 3 inch scar from the bite. I reported it to the kennel manager and when we investigated, this particular dog had bitten 3 times previously. His owners did not disclose this to us because they knew he would be euthanized if we found out.
This story, which happened in the Chicago area, shows what can happen when a dog is adopted out after it has been bitten.
When an animal is brought in to a shelter, if they have a bite history, they are not to be adopted back out to the public for safety reasons. Some shelters look at the reason for the bite and then make their decision on why the bite occurred. They may make the decision to adopt the dog out, with full disclosure on the bite.
Many shelters don't adopt out one bite dogs simply from the fear of being sued, which can close a shelter down, depending on costs of the lawsuit.
Several years ago, I had a situation arise with a shelter dog who had been turned in. I had never had any difficulty with this particular dog, whose owners had given him up. I was walking a couple through the dog kennels. When we reached this particular kennel, the man who was looking at dogs said, "I know that dog. He bit me several months ago." When questioned further, the man pulled up the sleeve on his shirt and showed me a 3 inch scar from the bite. I reported it to the kennel manager and when we investigated, this particular dog had bitten 3 times previously. His owners did not disclose this to us because they knew he would be euthanized if we found out.
This story, which happened in the Chicago area, shows what can happen when a dog is adopted out after it has been bitten.
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