Toll-Free: (800) 606-1717
Phone: (248) 569-4646
We often represent clients injured by dog bite and attacks. These often result in serious injuries and require medical treatment. We have obtained significant settlements for clients injured in these dog bite attacks.
Many cities and counties have ordinances regarding dogs and the responsibilities of dog owners. An owner or keeper of a dog who violates of these ordinances can be held liable for damages in a civil lawsuit to a dog bite victim. The ordinances can be used to prove a case in addition to other Michigan dog bite laws.
In Ferndale, there are laws that apply to dog owners. These can be found in the Ferndale City Ordinances. Specifically, they are as follows:
Sec. 5-17. Keeping of vicious dog prohibited.
No person shall own or harbor a vicious dog.
(Ord. No. 573, § V, 10-5-70)
Sec. 5-18. Responsibility of owner for damage to person or property.
Every owner of a dog shall be liable for damages for any and all injuries to person or property that may be caused by such dog on any public highway or other public place, to be determined and collected in appropriate legal proceedings.
(Ord. No. 573, § I, 10-5-70)
State law references: Common law liability, MSA § 12.539.
Sec. 5-23. Rabies suspected or rabid dogs.
(a) Any person who shall have in his or her possession a dog which has contracted, or is suspected of having contracted rabies, or which has been bitten by an animal known to have been afflicted with rabies shall upon demand of the health officer, or any police officer of the city, produce and surrender said dog to the health department or police department of the city to be held for observation and/or treatment; provided, that with the approval of the health department, any such dog may be surrendered to a registered veterinarian, or to any approved nonprofit corporation organized for the purpose of sheltering dogs. It shall be the duty of any person owning or harboring a dog which has been attacked or bitten by another dog or animal showing the symptoms of rabies to immediately notify the police department that such person has such dog in his possession.
(b) Whenever a dog has been brought to the pound or has been confined in a county health department accredited veterinarian hospital for observation for rabies, because of having bitten a person, such dog, if not rabid, shall be construed as a vicious dog and may, if deemed necessary and advisable and after holding such dog a sufficient length of time for investigation, be destroyed upon order of the court.
(Ord. No. 573, §§ I, VI, 10-5-70; Ord. No. 656, § 3, 4-26-77)
Quite often, the victim of the attack files a report with either the local police or local Animal Control agency. When a report is filed, it is necessary to obtain report. Our firm routinely obtains these for our clients.
For a report filed with the Police Department in Ferndale, you should request the Animal Control report at the following location:
Ferndale Police Department
310 East Nine Mile Road
Ferndale, MI 48220
248-541-3650
If you would like more information about your rights after a Dog Bite attack, you can order our FREE book, "The Ultimate Michigan Dog Bite and Animal Attack Handbook" by clicking on the book link. We will send it out immediately along with other important information.
We will represent you in your Michigan dog bite case under our NO FEE PROMISE. This means that you will not be charged any legal fees whatsoever unless we obtain a settlement or recovery for you. You have absolutely no obligation for legal fees unless we win your case. If we do not obtain a settlement for you, you owe us nothing!
It is important that you contact a Michigan dog bite lawyer as soon as possible after the attack to give you the best chance of winning your case. There are also strict time limits for filing dog bite cases in Michigan. For the best chance to win your case, call our Michigan dog bite attorneys now at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.
