For those facing criminal charges, hiring legal defense is the best way to handle bleak situations such as potential penalties, reputational damage, and emotional stress, which can feel overwhelming. The attorneys at Very Law recently had success in a dog bite case and we want to share these results to demonstrate how attorney representation can make all the difference.

Case Details

The client in question was charged with a section of Pennsylvania's criminal law relating to dogs - § 459-305 public safety and penalties. He was charged with two misdemeanors on account of his dogs leaving his property and causing problems in public places. 

Even though these were the lowest-level misdemeanors, they are still considered crimes. The laws for dog bites require a misdemeanor charge as the client had previously been in trouble regarding his dogs. According to the statute, the more times it occurs, the heavier the offense will be. 

While facing charges for these two crimes, the client’s biggest goal as an avid dog lover was to keep his dogs. He also wanted to limit his liability in any way he could.

Before he obtained our representation, the DA’s office told him during his first hearing that he could not keep his dogs. They wanted him to plead guilty and his dogs to be taken away. Stricken with the grim reality of this scenario, the client retained our services to step in for his defense. 

Case Results

An attorney of the Very Law legal team negotiated with the DA while the client took actionable steps to address the situation and ensure his dogs would not be taken away. He built a fence and got rid of some of the dogs that were causing problems. “I was able to use good facts in my client's favor to reach a favorable resolution including the dismissal of all misdemeanors,” a Very Law attorney stated at the conclusion of the case. 

In short, the misdemeanors were withdrawn and the client agreed to plead guilty to non-indictable offenses. Part of the agreement was that he would be allowed to keep his dogs as long as there were no additional issues for the next six months. This client was looking at potential jail time, a fine of $500, and probation; instead, the case was negotiated favorably. The misdemeanor charges were dropped, and the client had to pay the $500 fine while abiding by the six-month probationary period.

The DA was tough but it goes to show that there are ways to approach a case with a strong strategy to achieve the best possible outcome. This was a win because of how the Very Law team negotiated with the DA and because the client upheld their end of the bargain by doing the right things to be a responsible dog owner. 

In the beginning, the client thought he would lose his dogs forever. In the end, our legal representation helped him get the outcome he desired. If you are arrested for criminal charges, our attorney can make all the difference in the results.