Hammond v. Robins

GETTY, Judge.

In Slack v. Villari, 59 Md.App. 462, 476 A.2d 227 (1984), we recognized that a dog owner may be responsible for acts of his animal under either of two theories, negligence or strict liability — the latter arising from the owner’s knowledge of the animal’s propensity to cause harm. The present case, decided prior to our decision in Slack, presents a factual scenario somewhat similar to Slack, but sufficiently distinguishable to warrant a contrary result.

Concisely stated, Slack involved the dog owner opening a fence gate to allow the animal to walk through toward the kitchen door.…