Phantom Quadrant presents:

The case law on animal bite cases is confusing to say the least. Under federal law, the animal that bit you can be sentenced to up to 5 years. Under state law, however, a dog could be sentenced to only a fine. One study on this subject found that 90 percent of state and local courts’ punishments for animal bites were criminal offenses. While the issue is debatable, because only about two percent of cases involve serious injury or the death of the dog, the federal sentencing guidelines may reflect the fact that under state law a dog bite case can be considered a misdemeanor.