Dog Liability In Alabama

Summary

In Alabama, pet owners are liable for damages caused by their pets. If your dogs harmed your neighbors goats, you may be responsible for costs. Consider negotiating or consulting a local attorney for guidance.

Full Conversation

I live in the city of Chunchula Alabama and two of my dogs dug under our fence and went and jumped in my neighbors goat pin and killed their goats and now they want to sue me for * dollars to replace the goats and goat pin
Heather, Alabama law holds pet owners liable for damages caused by their pets. Here are a few key points:
- Owners are responsible for any harm caused by their pets.
- You may be liable for the cost of the goats and repairing the pen.
- It’s advisable to negotiate with your neighbor or consult a local attorney.
Have you tried discussing this with your neighbor to possibly reach a settlement outside of court?
They offered to make an agreement to do that but my husband said no because it was the first time the dogs ever did that and he won't agree to it
Given the situation, your husband is right that this is the first incident, but under Alabama law, you could still be held liable for the damages caused by your dogs. It might be wise to reconsider negotiating with your neighbor.
Have you thought about consulting a local attorney to understand your options better?