Growling and Baring Teeth Insufficient to Raise Question of Fact About a Dog’s Vicious Propensities
The First Department noted that a dog’s growling and baring its teeth is not sufficient evidence to raise a question of fact re: the dog’s vicious propensities:
No court has found that a dog’s growling at one or two other dogs is sufficient to establish vicious propensities, and the Third Department has specifically held that growling and baring of teeth, even at people, is insufficient to give notice of a dog’s vicious propensities … . Here, the evidence, which establishes only that defendant’s dog growled at two other dogs, one of whom had bitten her, and never growled or bared her teeth at any people, is insufficient to raise an issue of fact as to the dog’s vicious propensities. Accordingly, defendant is entitled to summary judgment dismissing the complaint. Gervais v Laino, 2013 NY Slip Op 08819, 1st Dept 12-31-13