How do you Put a Price on Your Pooch? Veterinary Malpractice

A case in Georgia is stirring up some very emotional issues involving the relationship between people and their pets, as well as the monetary value of animals who provide their owners with love, companionship, and affection.

Currently, an animal of any kind is not looked at as being more valuable than any other piece of property, like a toaster or a lamp. A pet is worth the price paid for it, and in the case of Lola, a mixed-breed dachshund, the price was zero because she was adopted as a rescue dog.

Lola’s owners believe there was negligence involved by a kennel where she was boarded because the dog was given a medication that caused her to become seriously ill and eventually pass away. The circumstances are detailed in a news article here, but the issue coming before the Georgia Supreme Court is not so much who was at fault but what is the value of a family pet?

How can anyone measure the value of a “member of the family” who acts as protector, foot warmer, adoring companion, friend, and confidant? This case may well be a harbinger of things to come as some groups around the world are calling for more advanced, almost human rights for animals.

Veterinarian malpractice lawsuits aren’t common, though, because the measure of damages for the loss of a pet in most states is the market value of the pet. In other words, what someone else would pay for an identical pet of the same age, breed and condition.

The truth is your lawyer’s fees may be more than you’re able to recover in court. Also, as a general rule, pet owners like you have to prove the same things you would have proven in a medical malpractice case, which isn’t always easy or inexpensive.

A few states allow money damages for emotional distress and loss of companionship. However, awards for an owner’s mental suffering are the exception rather than the rule.

Veterinary malpractice is not a popular area of practice for attorneys, but there are some who specialize in the area of veterinarian negligence and animal rights. MalpracticeAttorneys.com believes that every citizen has the right to consult with a skilled and experienced attorney when they are the victim of someone else’s negligence or malpractice. Our service is free to victims, and the first step to working with us is to register by clicking here. We will be in touch with you promptly to discuss your case.