Silvia Lugo, a recent North Carolina resident, now living in Elgin, IL, has been fined $2,200 by the City of Elgin and her two pitbulls have been declared “dangerous dogs.”
Lugo’s dogs became loose and chased a man lawfully walking his dog. That man happened to be Elgin mayor, Ed Schock. The animal control law in Elgin allows for a dog to be declared dangerous even if it doesn’t bite anyone. The law also allows owners to be fined $1,000 if a dog is declared dangerous, and another $100 if the owner cannot immediately provide proof of a current rabies vaccine. In addition to the $1,100 per dog fine that was issued to Lugo, she is also required to obtain a minimum of $100,000 in liability insurance, register her dogs, muzzle the dogs when outside, and have them microchipped.
In North Carolina, a “dangerous dog” is one who has killed or severely injured a person without provocation, or has been declared a dangerous dog by the county. Once a dog in North Carolina has been declared a dangerous dog, the owner of the dog is strictly liable for any injuries to person or property inflicted by his dog. In Mecklenburg County, the owner of a dangerous dog may be required to contain the animal in a secure fence, purchase liability insurance, install warning signs on property, muzzle the dog when off property, and tattoo the dog to identify it as dangerous.
Our North Carolina dog bite attorneys are available to provide a free consultation for victims of dog bites.
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