Missouri Banned Dog Breeds

In Missouri, certain cities and municipalities restrict or ban specific dog breeds due to their potential for aggressive behavior. Commonly restricted breeds include Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, and mixes of these dogs. While the state does not have a uniform breed ban, local ordinances often require these animals to be securely contained, muzzled in public, or prohibited entirely in certain housing areas. Violations of these rules can carry fines or civil liability, which can play a significant role in a dog bite case.

If you are a dog bite victim – especially from a banned or dangerous breed – it is crucial to take legal action to protect your rights. At Powell Law Firm, we aggressively advocate for dog bite victims in Missouri, gathering evidence, documenting injuries, and investigating whether the dog owner violated local breed restrictions. We will fight to secure the justice and compensation you need for medical expenses, lost income, emotional trauma, and other damages resulting from the attack. With our guidance, you can pursue a strong, well-supported claim or lawsuit for compensation.

For a free case evaluation and legal consultation, please call our office at (314) 293-3777 or contact us online today for more information. consultation today!

Contact Us

Key Takeaways: Missouri Dog Bites Involving Banned Breeds

• Certain Breeds Are Restricted: While Missouri does not have a statewide breed ban, many cities and municipalities restrict or ban breeds like Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, and mixes of these dogs. Local laws often require containment, muzzling, or registration, and violations can influence liability and recoverable compensation in a dog bite case.

• Banned Breeds Can Cause Severe Injuries: Attacks by these dogs can result in puncture wounds, deep lacerations, broken bones, crushing injuries, infections, and long-term physical or emotional trauma. The severity of injuries often increases the potential value of a case.

• Compensation Can Be Significant: Victims may recover damages for medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost income, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and property damage. Cases involving banned breeds often carry higher compensation potential due to the increased risk and severity of injuries.

• Proper Documentation and Reporting Is Critical: Reporting the incident to local authorities, documenting injuries, collecting witness information, and preserving records helps strengthen your dog bite claim.

• Our Firm Can Help: We aggressively represent Missouri dog bite victims, investigating the incident, gathering evidence, and pursuing maximum compensation via a personal injury claim or lawsuit. Our experienced dog bite attorneys work to ensure that victims of banned or dangerous breeds receive justice and the financial recovery necessary to move forward.

Which Dog Breeds Are Banned in Missouri?

In Missouri, certain dog breeds are considered inherently dangerous by law or local ordinances, and restrictions or bans may apply to their ownership. While the state itself does not impose a statewide breed-specific ban, many cities and municipalities have enacted regulations targeting specific breeds, primarily due to concerns about aggressive behavior and serious bite incidents. Dog bite victims often encounter these laws when pursuing claims.

One of the most commonly restricted breeds in Missouri is the Pit Bull Terrier.

Many municipalities define Pit Bulls broadly, including American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and mixes of these breeds. These dogs are often subject to mandatory containment requirements, muzzling in public, and sometimes outright bans in certain housing developments. Owners may face fines or civil liability if their dog bites someone.

Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers are also frequently included in breed-specific legislation in Missouri municipalities. Local ordinances may require these dogs to be confined behind secure fences, registered as potentially dangerous, or prohibited entirely in rental properties or public spaces. A dog owner’s failure to comply with these regulations can strengthen a victim’s personal injury claim, particularly when a serious bite occurs.

In municipalities with breed-specific laws, showing that a banned dog was involved in an attack can enhance the victim’s case for compensation.

Types of Injuries that Banned Dog Breeds Can Cause in Missouri

Dog bites from banned or restricted breeds in Missouri, such as Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers, can cause severe injuries due to the strength, jaw structure, and aggressive tendencies associated with these animals. Victims often suffer physical and emotional trauma that may require extensive medical care and long-term rehabilitation.

Puncture Wounds and Lacerations

One of the most immediate and common injuries from a bite is puncture wounds. Banned breeds have powerful jaws capable of penetrating deep into the skin, underlying fat, and even muscle tissue. Lacerations can be irregular and jagged, often requiring surgical repair and leaving significant scarring. In severe cases, bites can damage tendons, ligaments, and nerves, leading to long-term functional impairment.

Bone Fractures and Crushing Injuries

Larger banned breeds can inflict crushing injuries or fractures. Rottweilers and Pit Bulls, for instance, have extremely strong bite forces capable of breaking bones in the hands, arms, or legs. Victims may require orthopedic surgery, casting, or prolonged physical therapy. Crushing injuries to the face or torso can also affect internal organs, complicating recovery and increasing the risk of permanent disability.

Infections and Complications

Dog bites carry a high risk of bacterial infection, including infections from Pasteurella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus species. Deep puncture wounds from aggressive breeds can introduce bacteria into tissues, potentially causing cellulitis, abscesses, or systemic infections. Prompt medical attention, including antibiotics and wound care, is essential to prevent serious complications.

Emotional and Psychological Trauma

Beyond physical harm, attacks by banned breeds can leave lasting emotional scars. Victims may experience anxiety, post-traumatic stress, or fear of dogs, which can interfere with daily life and relationships. Therapy and counseling are often necessary alongside medical treatment to address these psychological effects.

In Missouri, the severity of injuries from banned dog breeds often strengthens a victim’s claim for compensation. At Powell Law Firm, we can pursue the compensation you deserve in your dog bite claim or lawsuit while you focus on getting medical treatment and recovering fully from your injuries.

Most Important Steps to Take After a Dog Bite Incident in Missouri

If you are bitten by a dog – particularly a breed that is banned or restricted in Missouri – taking the right legal and documentation steps is essential to protecting your rights and ensuring you can pursue financial compensation for your losses.

Report the Incident

The first step is to report the bite to your local animal control agency or police department. Providing a detailed account of the attack, including the location, time, and any witnesses, creates an official record that can support your claim. Many municipalities have specific ordinances regarding banned or dangerous breeds, and a report helps establish whether the dog involved falls under those regulations.

Document the Scene

Careful documentation of the incident is critical. Take clear photographs of your injuries, the location where the bite occurred, and, if possible, the dog involved. If there are witnesses, obtain their contact information and statements about what happened. This evidence can be vital in demonstrating the severity of the attack and the circumstances surrounding it.

Preserve Records

Keep records of any related correspondence, including notices from animal control, police reports, and communications with landlords or neighbors if the dog was on private property.

Contact Our Firm

Finally, consulting an experienced Missouri dog bite lawyer as soon as possible is crucial. Attorney Kenneth Powell at the Powell Law Firm can guide you through the legal process, gather the necessary evidence for your claim, and ensure that all deadlines and procedural requirements are met. Our firm has extensive experience representing dog bite victims, particularly those involving banned or restricted breeds, and we can fight to secure compensation and justice for the harm you have suffered.

Taking these steps promptly helps protect your legal rights and strengthens your ability to pursue a claim against the dog owner. Careful documentation, official reporting, and skilled legal guidance are key to ensuring that victims of dog attacks in Missouri receive the justice and compensation they deserve.

Types of Recoverable Compensation from a Dog Bite in Missouri

In Missouri, dog owners are subject to strict liability for bites, meaning they can be held responsible regardless of the dog’s past behavior or the owner’s knowledge of aggression. This rule applies to all dogs, including banned or restricted breeds. Victims do not need to prove that the owner was negligent. Instead, the bite victim must show three key elements: that the dog bit them, that the bite caused injury, and that the incident occurred in a location where the victim had a legal right to be. Once these elements are established, the owner is generally liable for damages.

The value of a dog bite case in Missouri can vary widely depending on the severity of injuries and the circumstances surrounding the attack. Cases involving banned or restricted breeds, such as Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, or Doberman Pinschers, often result in higher compensation because these animals are considered more dangerous and capable of causing severe injuries. The amount of money a dog bite victim can recover depends on factors such as medical costs, lost income, long-term disability, and emotional trauma.

Medical and Rehabilitation Expenses

Victims of severe dog bites may incur significant medical expenses, including surgeries, wound care, physical therapy, and reconstructive procedures. Compensation typically covers these costs in full. Rehabilitation expenses, such as ongoing therapy to restore mobility or function after a severe bite, are also recoverable, as they are considered necessary to return the victim to their pre-injury condition.

Lost Income and Lost Earning Capacity

If a dog bite prevents a victim from working, they may recover lost income for the period of missed employment. In cases where the bite causes long-term disability or permanent injury, compensation may also include lost earning capacity, reflecting the impact on future employment opportunities and earning potential.

Pain, Suffering, and Emotional Distress

Missouri law allows victims to recover damages for pain and suffering, which includes physical discomfort as well as emotional and psychological harm. Victims may experience anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress after a severe dog attack. Compensation for emotional distress recognizes the lasting impact of the attack on a victim’s quality of life.

Property Damage

If clothing or personal belongings were damaged during a dog attack, victims may also seek reimbursement for repair or replacement costs.

FAQs: Missouri Dog Bites Involving a Banned Breed

Q: What dog breeds are considered banned or restricted in Missouri?

A: While Missouri does not have a statewide breed ban, many cities and municipalities restrict or ban breeds like Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, and mixes of these dogs. Local ordinances often define these breeds broadly and impose rules regarding containment, registration, or public interaction.

Q: What types of injuries can result from a bite by a banned breed?

A: Bites from banned breeds can cause severe injuries, including puncture wounds, deep lacerations, broken bones, and crushing injuries. Victims may also suffer infections, long-term disabilities, and emotional trauma such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress.

Q: How is the value of a dog bite case determined in Missouri?

A: Case value depends on the severity of injuries, medical and rehabilitation costs, lost income, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and any property damage. Cases involving banned or dangerous breeds often result in higher compensation due to the increased risk and severity of injury.

Q: What steps should I take after a dog bite?

A: You should report the incident to animal control or local authorities, document the scene and your injuries, collect witness information, preserve records, and contact an experienced Missouri dog bite attorney.

Q: How can your firm help?

A: Powell Law Firm has extensive experience handling dog bite cases, including attacks by banned breeds. We can investigate the incident, gather evidence, assess damages, and pursue maximum compensation on your behalf – whether through a favorable settlement or a favorable litigation result – ensuring your rights are fully protected.

Contact an Experienced Missouri Dog Bite Lawyer Today for More Information

Dog bites can result in debilitating injuries, some of which can be lifelong. If you suffered injuries in Missouri because of a dangerous dog, it’s important that you have experienced legal representation in your case. At Powell Law Firm, we can gather the necessary evidence, file a claim or lawsuit, and aggressively fight for the justice and compensation you deserve in your Missouri dog bite case.

For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a knowledgeable Missouri dog bite attorney, please call our office at (314) 293-3777 or contact us online today to learn more about your options.

Contact US