My wife and I are in Malibu visiting our daughter and family, and while reading the Malibu News [sic] this morning I was surprised to find that Ms. Linn felt that responsibility for a fatal dog attack was a tough call. Really?
The article provided some interesting insights into dog breeding and training, but I was startled when the author concluded the article by asking “…can stupidity be prosecuted when it costs a life? That’s really a tough call.” I find it hard to believe there is any question about whether or not the owner of a dog that commits a vicious and fatal attack would not be held responsible for his or her pet’s action.
When a driver commits the stupid act of running a red light and causes a fatal accident, the driver is held accountable for that act. A stupid action? Yes. A tough call for responsibility? No. What is so different about expecting the owner of a vicious dog to accept responsibility for a fatal attack?
If responsibility for such a terrible incident is allowed to disappear in a sea of irrelevant questions, then no one can be held directly accountable for irresponsible and dangerous behavior. Is assessing responsibility for this attack a tough call? I think not.
Daniel S. Oborn
Mesa, AZ