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• Jun 26, 2006 2:20 pm US/Eastern
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  New Bill Increases Dog-Owner Liability

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New Bill Increases Dog-Owner Liability

DOVER, DE (AP) ― The House has approved a bill to penalize dog owners more strictly if those dogs cause serious injury or kill someone.

Currently, a dog has to be deemed dangerous by the state's dog-control panel. That usually happens when a dog has attacked someone before. Legislation as it is now only requires the animal to be euthanized.

The new legislation would make the owners guilty of a felony punishable with prison time and/or a fine.

Dog owners still have some protection. The law wouldn't apply to trespassers or when the owners have a fenced-in yard and signs warning about the animal.

The bill is now before a Senate committee.

(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)