What is The Value of a Pet Dog In Illinois?
<img src="http://www.blawg.com/claimscript.aspx?userid=goater&LinksID=2219">
A recent decision by an Illinois Appeals Court once again focused on the value of a pet to its owners.
Is it merely personal property?
Or something more?
Mindy Leith found the neighbor’s dog viciously attacking her pet dachshund, Molly.
As a result of the attack, Molly suffered severe injuries and after extensive medical services, the veterinarian bill exceeded $4,700.00.
The Leiths sued their neighbors for a recovery of the bills and the Circuit Court ruled that the actual value of Molly, a seven-year-old dachshund, was only $200.00.
Upon appeal, to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Springfield, Justice Thomas Appleton wrote, that the Leiths “demonstrated how much Molly is worth to them by paying $4,784 for the dog’s veterinary care”, and awarded them the full award of the bills that they had paid.
Reporter Dave Bakke of the State Journal-Register of Springfield, Illinois has more on this incident here.
This question of the value of a pet will continue to evolve and be debated in the public and within the courts.
Personal property or a family companion?
http://www.pettrustlawblog.com/admin/trackback/103060
