An Ontario dog walker who was seriously injured in a 2022 attack has been denied the right to sue her clients after courts ruled she was legally considered the dog’s owner at the time.
The incident happened on March 24, 2022, when the woman visited her clients’ home in Oshawa to care for their two dogs, including a five-year-old Boxer named Forrest. The dog had a paw infection, and a veterinarian had recommended using protective booties outdoors. While attempting to put them on for the first time, the dog attacked, biting her multiple times and causing injuries to her arms, abdomen, and thigh.
Although the dog had no prior history of aggression toward her, court records noted it had previously barked excessively in her presence. The owner had successfully used the booties several times without issue.
The dog walker later filed a $1 million lawsuit against the owners, but both the Ontario Superior Court and the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed the claim. Judges found that under Ontario’s Dog Owners’ Liability Act, she qualified as the dog’s “owner” during the incident because she had control and custody of the animal at that moment.
The courts relied on legal precedent and emphasized that temporary caregivers can be held responsible for a dog’s actions while it is under their supervision, regardless of whether they are following the actual owner’s instructions.