Washington courts hold the owner of a wild animal liable if the owner knew or reasonably should have known that the wild animal had the same dangerous propensity that caused the present victim's injury. "We do not believe that a separate rule of law for cases involving wild animal attacks is necessary." Frobig v. Gordon, 124 Wn.2d. 732, 737, 881 P.2d 226 (1994).
Allowing a vicious dog to run at large is a crime. A criminal statute, RCW 9.08.010, prohibits allowing any animal known to have vicious or dangerous tendencies to escape or run at large. Violation of any such statute makes a person liable under the doctrine of negligence per se. This would apply, however, only to a "person having the care or custody" of such animal.
