Bitten by a dog that has an owner: what to do under Georgian law

What to do

1. Immediately: a doctor decides on vaccinations; identify the owner; after the bite the owner must ensure veterinary observation of the dog in isolation (Law on Domestic Companion Animals Art. 7); if rabies is suspected, the owner must report the bite to the municipal authorised body (Law on Domestic Companion Animals Art. 7). Limitation period: 3 years from when you learned of the harm and of the liable person (Civil Code Art. 1008).
2. Who pays: the owner of an animal compensates the harm its animal causes to another — whether or not the animal was under supervision, got lost or ran away (Civil Code Art. 1003); the owner is released only if it took the necessary measures to protect third parties (leash, muzzle, fencing) (Civil Code Art. 1003). An argument against the owner’s defence: walking a dog in places of mass gathering (boulevard, park, square, except designated areas) is permitted only on a leash or with a muzzle (Law on Domestic Companion Animals Art. 20); for the same violation — a dog without a leash or muzzle in a park, square or boulevard — the owner is fined 150 GEL (300 GEL if repeated within a year) (Code of Administrative Offences Art. 103).
3. What to recover: treatment costs (including anti-rabies injections) may be claimed, including in advance (Civil Code Art. 408); for bodily injury, non-pecuniary damage too (Civil Code Art. 413); for a pet — veterinary bills as property damage; if the injured person provoked the dog, compensation is reduced in proportion to fault (Civil Code Art. 415).
4. Public and criminal liability of the owner: cases on violations of dog-keeping rules are handled by the municipal body (city hall) (Code of Administrative Offences Art. 209³); bodily harm of medium gravity, or grave harm caused by negligence, is a criminal offence (Criminal Code Art. 124) — file a complaint with the police.
5. Procedure: claim to the owner with receipts → lawsuit (district court); a claim for bodily harm is filed without state duty (Civil Procedure Code Art. 46).
6. Where to apply: trauma clinic or doctor; city hall (dog-keeping violations); police (grave harm); district (city) court — lawsuit.
7. Evidence: medical records and trauma-clinic certificate, receipts for vaccinations and treatment, veterinary clinic bills, photos of wounds, video, witnesses, the owner’s and the dog’s details, police complaint.
8. Pitfalls: letting the owner go without recording their details and the dog’s vaccination status; postponing vaccinations “until it is clarified” instead of following the doctor’s decision; assuming the owner is not liable because the dog “ran away” or “never bit before”.

Be sure to check

• the owner is liable for harm caused by the dog even if it ran away; release only with protective measures taken
• what to recover: treatment (including vaccinations), non-pecuniary damage, veterinary bills for the pet
• the biting dog must be kept under veterinary observation; a dog without a leash or muzzle in a park — 150 GEL fine for the owner (300 if repeated)
• bodily harm of medium gravity or grave harm caused by negligence — criminal liability of the owner (complaint to the police)
• procedure: claim → lawsuit without state duty; 3-year limitation period