Any experience with Montgomery Cty Animal Control hearings? (dangerous, moving)

[golfergirl29]

I have friends who have to appear before the Montgomery County Animal Matters Hearing Board for a complaint about their dog, which they believe is questionable. Does anyone have any experience/tips in presenting before this board?

[cool rob]

Originally Posted by golfergirl29

I have friends who have to appear before the Montgomery County Animal Matters Hearing Board for a complaint about their dog, which they believe is questionable. Does anyone have any experience/tips in presenting before this board?

what's the complaint? Usually its easier to pay the fine and keep moving.

[golfergirl29]

There was an incident between their dog and a neighbor and his dog. They can pay the penalty this time, but if there is another incident, their dog would be put down. So it's important to them to defend their dog and there are questions about how the incident occured.

[cool rob]

Originally Posted by golfergirl29

There was an incident between their dog and a neighbor and his dog. They can pay the penalty this time, but if there is another incident, their dog would be put down. So it's important to them to defend their dog and there are questions about how the incident occured.

If your dog was off leash and attacked another dog, it doesn't matter, your automatically at fault. They need to either train their dog properly/socialize him, or create better barriers to avoid the dog getting out. They should either do those things ASAP, or get rid of the dog.


Once he bites, he will now be considered a "dangerous" dog, after that you begin to open yourself up to liability as well as criminal charges. If the dog is a "biter" he may need to be put down anyway, before anyone else gets hurt.

[golfergirl29]

He's not a dangerous dog. He has an electric fence, which he has always respected for years. We are trying to find out how the court works before they get there.

[cool rob]

Originally Posted by golfergirl29

He's not a dangerous dog. He has an electric fence, which he has always respected for years. We are trying to find out how the court works before they get there.

Regardless of the electric fence, if he was "off leash" your automatically at fault. Save yourself some time and effort here. Don't waste time trying to fight something that you cannot win.


Even if your dog was in his own fenced in backyard, and "off leash" your still potentially at fault if something were to happen. You may get lucky and the animal control officer doesn't show up at court, and they could dismiss, however I also doubt that as well. The key here is negligence, and knowingly leaving a dog off leash in an area where he could potentially harm something is considered negligence. That's all anyone really has to prove.