Louisville Dog Bite Lawyer

Strict Liability

Louisville Metro Animal Services handles bite reports for Louisville and Jefferson County, and where a bite required medical attention, calling 911 will bring an animal control officer to the scene rather than requiring you to file separately later.

Reporting promptly matters more in Kentucky than in most states for a reason that has nothing to do with the report itself. Kentucky allows one year from the date of the bite under KRS § 413.140 — among the shortest deadlines in the country — and there is no longer alternative period to fall back on.

There is also a Louisville-specific investigative priority. Kentucky's statutory definition of owner at KRS § 258.095 reaches anyone who keeps or harbors a dog or permits it to remain on premises they own, and Maupin v. Tankersley (Ky. 2018) applied that to a property owner. In a city with substantial rental housing, that means establishing who owns the building as well as who owns the dog — potentially a second strictly liable party with separate insurance, and only twelve months to identify them.

Report a Louisville bite to Louisville Metro Animal Services; if the bite required medical attention, calling 911 will bring an animal control officer to the scene. Two Kentucky-specific priorities: establish who owns and occupies the premises where the dog is kept, not just who owns the dog — under KRS § 258.095 and Maupin v. Tankersley a landlord can be a strictly liable statutory owner. And move quickly, because Kentucky allows only one year to file with no alternative deadline available.

Read the full statute breakdown: Kentucky Dog Bite Laws → · Typical payouts: Kentucky Settlement Amounts →