Padi the Dog Is Saved From Death Penalty After Bite Incident

Padi is a rescued black labrador mix who bit a four year-old’s ear recently. In that particular county it is state policy that a dog must be euthanized if involved in any dog bite incident that results in a serious injury to a person. The lawyer that represented the dog owner pushed for the law to be changed in order to save Padi’s life. This kind of law is not in Provo, Utah but it certainly is a milestone in dog owner’s rights to protect their pets.

What Happened

ABC News reported that Padi was at his owner’s veterinary clinic when he was cornered by a four year old boy who had been throwing toys at him. Padi was a rescue dog, so he lunged at the boy out of fear and bit off a part of the boy’s ear. This caused an uproar among animal advocates, who declared that the dog bite was self-defense. The lawyer was able to have the judge overrule the euthanasia law and Padi was saved.

Padi’s Sentence

The court ordered that Padi would be allowed to live, but with some conditions – a “Beware of Dog” be placed at his residence, he must be supervised by an adult when he is not at home, must be on a leash and no contact with children unless under direct supervision. The dog bite incident was severe and Padi had to have some consequences for the bad behavior. The lawyer should be applauded for saving Padi’s life and allowing him to continue to enjoy his rescue family.

How to Avoid This

Dog owners in Provo should take note of Padi’s experience and understand that there are times when a frightened dog may lash out and bite a person. Many families in Provo and other cities need to remember that not all dogs are friendly and to teach their kids the proper way to act around new animals.

Lura Briggs is a legal writer for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Robert J Debry. Follow on Twitter.