Montana House Approves Dog Bite Law

The Montana House has passed a bill that puts liability on the owner of a dog who bites or injuries people.  House Bill 431 now faces a final House vote before moving to the Senate.

Under the terms of the bill, dog owners who live outside of Helena would be held liable for damages when their dogs bite people.  Under the current laws, only dog owners within the city of Helena have been held liable for damages caused by dog bites.  The new bill would extend this same liability to dog owners outside of the city.

Representative Anders Blewett (D-Great Falls) said the bill responds to the concerns of those who testified against a recent bill to ban pit bulls from the state.

"What it does is basically restore personal responsibility. We heard breed-specific legislation that went down in flames and what the people who testified said was punish the deed, not the breed. This bill does that," said Blewett.

Blewett said the bill also aims to protect children, who are the people who suffer the most from a dog bite, and usually require hospitalization and plastic surgery.

Rep. Don Roberts (R-Billings) confirms, saying that as an oral surgeon he has treated children who have been bitten by dogs.  He said adults are usually bitten in the arms and legs, but children are bitten on their faces.

However, some lawmakers are not convinced that the bill will do anything to protect people from dog bites and attacks.

Rep. Ken Peterson (R-Billings), who is also an attorney, said he has represented both dog owners and victims in dog bite cases.  He says the only thing the bill does is establish what the legal standard is outside the city limits of Helena.

For more information about dog bite laws, click here to find a personal injury attorney.