A Justice of the B.C. Supreme Court has concluded that a dog owner was liable for personal injuries sustained by a cyclist based on the common law doctrine of scienter pursuant to which animal owners are liable if their animals have a propensity to cause a type of harm and the owner knew of that propensity. Liability is strict. It is not necessary to establish negligence. (Gallant v. Slootweg, CALN/2014-031, [2014] B.C.J. No. 2145, British Columbia Supreme Court)

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