AZ Fabian’s Law: Justice for Poodle Killed by Pit Bull?

Since September 2009, over 600 fatal dog-on-dog attacks have been reported in Maricopa County, AZ. The proposed “Vicious Dog Owner Responsibility Act” (aka Fabian’s Law) would provide a civil remedy for distraught owners who often watch their pet die in a brutal, unprovoked attack and are left with veterinary and other bills. Does Fabian’s Law deserve our support?


Fabian’s story:


“Our beloved miniature poodle, Fabian, was killed by an unleashed pit-bull on September 5, 2009, at our home in Glendale, AZ,” Richard Andrade tells us. “Fabian was on his owner's leash, in his own driveway, when a neighbor's pit-bull ran out of their backyard across the street, and viciously attacked Fabian. Minutes later, Fabian was rushed to an emergency animal hospital but did not survive.”


“Unknown to my wife Sally, and I, while we were away on vacation, four men moved into the rental house across the street on September 1,” he continues. “We returned home on Wednesday, September 3, 2009. On the evening of September 5, while I was not home, Sally returned to our house after a walk with Fabian and Cheri, our other poodle. A pit bull suddenly ran from the backyard of the rental house, across the street, and into our extended driveway and grabbed Fabian in his jaws. Sally said it happened so fast, she had no time to react.” 


“Our next-door neighbor, who is a responsible pit bull owner himself, heard Sally and Fabian screaming and ran over to help. He finally got Fabian’s limp, bloody body away from the dog, and another neighbor and Sally rushed him to the veterinarian. Fabian’s last act was trying to lift his head high enough to lovingly kiss Sally’s face. Within a short time after their arrival at the emergency veterinary hospital, Fabian died—and a part of us died with him.”


The need for dog-owner-responsibility laws.


“The renters denied ownership of the pit bull, and animal control advised me that current law would only allow citations for "Failure to Wear" and "Dog at Large." The renters had no assets and moved out within 30 days. We had a total of $5,300 in bills, including counseling to help Sally try to sleep at night without nightmares of the attack on Fabian.”  (Small Claims court in AZ only allows up to $2,500.) “An attorney advised me that there are no laws in AZ that provide for reimbursement in dog-on-dog attacks, although civil and criminal remedies exist for dog attacks on humans.”


“Sally and I decided that, although we would never be reimbursed for our expenses, we would work for a law to address dog-on-dog attacks in AZ and then in other states that do not have this protection. Many owners are left with huge veterinary bills, an injured or dead pet, and grief that will haunt them for years.” 


 


How frequent are serious dog-on-dog attacks? 


 


“In Maricopa County alone, from September 5, 2009 thru June 5, 2010, there were over 3,000 incidents related to dog attacks, 750 which were dog-on-dog,” states Richard Andrade “Sally and I did everything the law required of us, making sure our dogs were leashed while off property, vaccinations were current; they were registered and licensed with Maricopa County. Yet, the current law failed us. The owner of the pit-bull felt he was above the law and failed even to show up for court to face the fine for Dog at Large.”


What is Fabian’s Law?


"Fabian's Law" is aimed at irresponsible, vicious-dog owners and would impose (1) stricter fines, (2) steps that a vicious dog owner would have to take to safeguard from another attack; and Fabian’s Law would (3) provide a legal path to pursue compensation for victims—the dogs/cats and the owners of pets that suffer from vicious, unprovoked attacks. Currently, AZ laws only address attacks on humans—not on another dog or a cat.


Is Fabian’s Law breed specific?


Sally and Richard Andrade are very clear that "Fabian's Law" is not and has not been breed specific. “All dog breeds attack,” they emphasize, “but regardless of the breed, our concern is not just limited to injury to pets but that there may be a child on the other end of the leash or trying to protect a pet, and they may also become a victim.” Without a law to establish accountability, dog owners are obviously not taking proper precaution to prevent even greater tragedies.”


What do you think? 


Read more about Fabian’s Law at www.FabiansLaw.com


If you want to help from anywhere in the world, you can write a short letter, e-mail or make a phone call to the Arizona State Legislature, asking them to support Fabian’s Law,  the Vicious Dog Owner Responsibility Act.  Here’s the contact:  State Representative Steve Montenegro, 1700 W. Washington St., Rm. 309, Phoenix  AZ 85007, Phone:  (602) 926-5955,  smontenegro@azleg.gov 


Do you think Fabian’s Law will result in more responsible dog ownership in AZ?


I am an owner of two pit bulls and I feel they are always getting a bad rap. I also have smaller dogs and they are worse as far as protecting the property at which I live. I feel would u have walked ur child down this same street knowing that there could be an issue? Then why would you walk your dog down the same street? I do feel That people that are fighting any dog or not properly taking care of them should be heavly fined and put in prision. There are laws stating how we treat our children and for alot of us our dogs are our children and the laws should be the same if not stricter since the dogs can not speak and say they are getting abused.


One hates to say it, but quite often the thought of financial consequences is the only thing that gains the attention of bad dog owners.
I think to many people buy into the " poor misunderstood dog" because that is the story told to explain the animals aggressive behavior. Half these animals come from shelters and should have never been adopted out.


The boy mauled by dogs after stepping off bus in Arizona City on January 20, 2011 information.


http://www.azfamily.com/news/Boy-mauled-by-dogs-in Arizona-City-114291374.html


Why did State of Arizona laws allows Pina County Animal Control will be continuing this investigation and has contacted the owners of the dogs for boy's personal injuries? VS Why don't State of Arizona County Animal Control continue this investigation against dog owners who failed to prevent their vicious and dangerous Pit-Bull dog killed to innocent poodle dog's death right now?


We all people strongly recommends that State Representative Steve Montenegro must open to review many State of Arizona unjustice laws to don't prevent dangerous and vicious Pit-Bull dogs still attacked to kill many innocent dogs and animals to death over again.


Will Steve Montenegro care to amend more new strict dog bite laws in State of Arizona right now?


Will Steve Montenergro able to prevent increase vicious and dangerous dogs and Pit-Bull dogs to kill to any innocent people and dogs to death in State of Arizona right now?


Will Steve Montenergo able to speak out his strong animal supports to prevent against increase dangerous and vicious dogs and Pit-Bull dogs to kill any innocent people and dogs to death in State of Arizona right now?


Please you speak out to tell to Steve Montenergo to support on behalf of Fabian's Laws right now.


YOU NEED TO WATCH OUT ANY INCREASE DANGEROUS AND VICIOUS DOGS TO KILL OR INJURY TO ANY PEOPLE AND ANIMALS IN STATE OF ARIZONA WITHOUT DOG BITE LAW SUPPORTS RIGHT NOW.


arizona must be the last state in the union to recognize the importance of our companion animals.


i support this law.


We love them, we do all we can to make sure they are safe, happy, and healthy. We spend money on them, we take them on vacations with us. All that we do for our children, you can say the same for our pets. It is only right that the law protect our pets the same as it protects our children.


Pit bulls have already killed three people since the beginning of this year. The number of beloved pets is well beyond that. Even though this law is not breed specific, it is a start. Pits aren't dogs, they are a creation of man, a creation that was designed to do one thing and one thing only, to kill. They need strict regulation, beyond that of a dangerous dog law. How many more people and animals have to be lost before we realize that pits were never meant for being in society. http://www.fatalpitbullattacks.com /


To further the injustice, in many cases the Pit Bull dog's owner is responsible for providing that their Pit Bull dog is not a member of the proscribed breed, a task that is usually as difficult as proving it is a certain breed.


Many people who still supports on behalf of Fabian's Law rights
right now. We want it to be our justices to fight on behalf of Fabian's Law rights right now.


The Pit-Bull dog owner failed to put up a fence to protect the dangerous and vicious Pit-Bull dog as the Pit-Bull dog owner must pay an extra license fees, purchase extra dog bite insurance, etc. at any time.


On the other hand, the Pit-Bull dog owner and criminals could care less about their dangerous and vicious Pit-Bull dog to go free to kill to any innocent dog to death on the street at any time. The Pit-Bull dog owner did not care to follow up leash law with the dangerous and vicious Pit-Bull dog. The Pit-Bull dog owner are unsocialized, untrained, and neglected. Why don't Pit-Bull dog has to wear a muzzle on the street to save innocent poodle dog's unnecessary death on the street?


Most people deal with life-and-death situations, angry people, and disturbing scenes of violence along with dangerous and vicious Pit-Bull dogs on the street at all times.


To make matters worse, animal-cruetly and dangerous animal legislation is awfully weak and often full of loopholes at all times.


Punishments for violators are paltry and lack convictions. Wait, wouldn't that count as "manslaughter." Apparently not. The Pit-Bull dog owner didn't even get a fine for breaking the leash law in State of Arizona right now.


Please let State Represenatative Steve Montenegro should help relieve some of the burden of animal control officers and shelters and would likely solve a lot of their dangerous dog problems in the process right now.


Please Let State Represenative Steve Montenegro will support more new laws to require large budgets and additional employees to handle the expanded amount of enforcement duties to prevent any dangerous and vicious animal and Pit-Bull dogs right now.


Please let State Represenative Steve Montenegro must think in any State of Arizona place for public safety to prevent from any dangerous and vicious animals and Pit-Bull dogs right now.


Please let Pit-Bull dog owner is a full responsibilities to pay to innocent poodle dog's veterinary medical, counseling expenses, etc. right now.


Please let Pit-Bull dog owner supports on behalf of Fabian's Law justices for innocent poodle's death victim at any time.


Please let Pit-Bull dog owner need to forgive whole mistakes to allow the vicious and dangerous Pit-Bull dog killed to innocent poodle's death victim on the public street right now.


Please let Pit-Bull dog owner must think of other innocent dogs and people to be safety in public streets without vicious and dangerous Pit-bull dogs right now.



My pet shih tzu was attacked last year in front of our home by a German Shepherd. The renters abruptly moved, and assumed no responsibility for the attack. I am supporting Fabian's Law, because we need a tough law to keep vicious dog owners from allowing their dogs to kill other dogs. To many people, myself included, our pets are like family members and it is devastating when you lose a family member, especially in a vicious attack that could have been prevented.


first of all i am sorry Fabian died. i use to like pitbulls. untill i seen one at our shelter here grab onther dog by the neck for no reason. i was scared i never seen a dog fight .the pitbull would not let go untill someone kicked it in the face 3 times. there was blood all over. the onther dog was tramatized by thiis and had to go to the vet. there was no reason for that pitbull to do this. i am now afraid of them. they can go off anytime for no reason. people that let their pitbulls get loose should be charged with a big fat fine and the dog took away and not given back. they are not trustworthy as a pet should be. i think people that have them should be made to have a fench 8 feet high and dog insurance on the dog if he hurts or kills a person or pet. I am afraid of them now after i seen what they do to onthers. just my opinion. thanks for reading this


Many innocent dogs still killed by many Pit Dogs at all times.


We strongly recommened that the State of Arizona needs
to change their stricted new cruel animal bites laws right
away.


Why should innocent dogs suffer to scream heavy tears and
pains by Pit Dog's sharp teeth bited to innocent dogs until death over and over again?


We wants to pray for their family who suffered their innocent
dogs's death losses in State of Arizona at this time.


We wants to support their family's innocent dogs's death losses
in State of Arizona right away.