Are dogs considered personal property?
Question Details:
I took my puppy in for a follow up visit to the vet. The puppy was returned to me with breathing difficulties. The vet X-rayed his chest and found that there was fluid on his lungs. After rushing him to the emergency hospital, he died. All tests resulted with the fact that the dog did not have any virus, bacteria, electrocution, poison, near drowning, or hit by a car. It experienced some sort of trauma at the vet. The vet won't pay for his bills leading up to the accident stating it's personal property and he doesn't have to. Is he right?
He is right that a dog is personal property, but I'm not sure why he thinks that gets him out of paying for injuring it. A car is personal property. If the mechanic damages it, they are liable for it. A painting is personal property, if a moving company destroys it, they are liable for it (subject to special rules for common carriers that we won't go into). A vet that injures or kills an animal is likewise liable.
