Las Vegas, NV (April 15th, 2025) – A man suffered serious injuries after getting bitten by a dog at a south valley dog park. One of the dogs involved is in foster care through The Animal Foundation, creating questions about what caused the attack and who’s responsible if a foster dog bites someone.
Las Vegas residents foster dogs every day, often through local rescue organizations or shelters. While most foster dogs adjust well, some come with unknown histories or behavior red flags, and serious incidents can occur. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4.5 million people across the U.S. suffer dog bites each year.
Dog Bite Laws in Nevada: The Basics
Nevada doesn’t follow a strict one bite rule or a strict liability law like some states. Instead, liability for dog bite cases often comes down to negligence or a dog’s known history of aggressive behavior.
Therefore, the key question is: did the person responsible for the dog know, or should they have known, that the dog was dangerous.
When a dog is fostered, the issue of who’s responsible may become less clear. Such has been the case in the recent incident involving a foster dog at a south valley dog park. The bite victim may want to pursue a claim, but figuring out who to hold accountable may take some digging.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Dog Bite?
Under Nevada’s dog bite laws, several parties might be liable for damages recoverable from dog bite injuries. These may include:
- The current person housing or controlling the dog
- The owner of the dog, if different from the person in control
- A rescue or shelter organization
Foster Parents: Temporary Care, Permanent Risk?
Foster caregivers take dogs into their homes on a temporary basis. Some are experienced handlers. Others are first-timers doing a favor for a friend or shelter.
If a foster dog bites someone, then, this raises whether the foster parent can be sued. In many cases, the answer is yes. If the bite happened because the foster failed to supervise the dog, ignored warning signs, or allowed the dog to roam in a free public space, that may amount to negligence.
Negligence doesn’t require bad intent, just carelessness. For example, a dog fosterer may bear liability if they let a leashed dog approach strangers without control, ignore signs of aggression, or leave the gate open allowing the dog to escape the yard. Pet foster parents may argue, however, that they had no reason to suspect the dog was dangerous, and the bite happened without warning.
What About the Rescue Organization?
Many rescue groups in Las Vegas operate on tight budgets and rely on volunteers. This does not automatically shield them from lawsuits.
If the rescue group knew, or should have known, that the dog had a history of aggression and failed to warn the caregiver, they could be found liable. Rescues may also be on the hook if they didn’t screen the dog properly or placed it with someone unqualified to manage its behavior.
The woman fostering Lucy, the dog involved in the recent attack at a south valley dog park, signed a waiver indicating the dog had behavior challenges. However, she claims that she was not warned the issues included aggression beyond the noted leash avoidance and growling.
How Injury Lawyers Can Help
Dog bite injuries can be serious, both physically and emotionally. Scars, infections, trauma, and medical bills are often just the beginning. Victims and their families do not have to navigate the aftermath of animal attacks alone. An experienced dog bite lawyer in Las Vegas may help by:
- Investigating the full history of the dog
- Identifying all liable parties
- Dealing with insurance companies
- Filing a claim for personal injury damages
For 40 years, our dedicated attorney at George Bochanis Injury Law Offices has helped Las Vegas families hold liable parties accountable and recover damages for their injury-associated losses. If you were bitten by a dog in Nevada, contact our law offices today to learn more about your options. 702-388-2005.
