Snyder v. Patterson

Citations

• 161 Pa. 98
• 28 A. 1006
• 1894 Pa. LEXIS 640

Syllabus

<p>Negligence — Vicious dog — Liability of one who harbors.</p> <p>A person, although not the owner of a vicious dog, may make himself liable to others as owner by knowingly keeping or harboring the animal upon his premises after knowledge of his vicious propensities.</p> <p>The plaintiff was injured by a vicious dog in the immediate vicinity of the defendant’s premises. The owner was a boy of about fourteen years of age who lived with defendant. His mother was defendant’s sister, and housekeeper. The dog had been given to the boy some two years before the accident took place, and had been brought by him to defendant’s home and there kept with his knowledge and consent. Held, that the question of defendant’s liability was for the jury.</p> <p>There is no general rule that the owner of the premises on which a dog may be harbored is liable for its vicious acts regardless of the age, employment, or home of its owner, or the circumstances under which the injury was inflicted. The question of liability must depend on the circumstances in each case. By Mr. Justice Williams.</p>