287.1012 Liability of owner or possessor of wolf-dog cross.

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Sec. 12.

(1)The owner or person temporarily in possession of a wolf-dog cross is liable in a civil action for the death or injury of a human and for property damage, including, but not limited to, the death or injury of another animal, caused by the wolf-dog cross. This act does not limit the common law liability of the owner or person temporarily in possession of a wolf-dog cross for the death or injury of a human or for property damage caused by the wolf-dog cross.

(2)If a wolf-dog cross bites an individual without provocation while the individual is on public property or lawfully on private property, including the property of the owner or person temporarily in possession of the wolf-dog cross, the owner or person temporarily in possession of the wolf-dog cross is liable for any damages suffered by the individual bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the wolf-dog cross or the owner's or person temporarily in possession's knowledge of such viciousness. For the purposes of this subsection, an individual is lawfully on the private property of the owner or person temporarily in possession of the wolf-dog cross if the individual is on that property in the performance of any duty imposed upon him or her by the laws of this state or by the laws or postal regulations of the United States, or if the individual is on that property as an invitee or licensee of the person lawfully in possession of the property, unless the individual has gained lawful entry upon the property for the purpose of an unlawful or criminal act.

(3)If a wolf-dog cross escapes or is released, intentionally or unintentionally, the owner or person temporarily in possession of the wolf-dog cross shall immediately contact a law enforcement officer of the local unit where the escape or release occurred to report the loss, escape, or release. The owner or person temporarily in possession of the wolf-dog cross is liable for all expenses associated with efforts to recapture the wolf-dog cross that is released or escapes.

(4)The owner or person temporarily in possession of the wolf-dog cross may bring against a person who is responsible in whole or part for the escape or release of the wolf-dog cross a civil action for damages, including, but not limited to, damages and expenses under subsection (1), (2), or (3).

History: 2000, Act 246 , Imd. Eff. June 29, 2000