CANINE INCIDENT CASE REVIEW
Canine Incident Case Review™
When your dog’s behavior becomes a legal matter, waiting is not a strategy.
Has your dog bitten someone?
Has Animal Control come to your home?
Have you received a summons?
Has someone alleged that your dog is dangerous?
Are you facing a hearing, civil claim or other court-related matter involving your dog?
This is no longer simply a training concern.
Your dog’s future may depend upon what happens next.
Virginia Takes These Cases Seriously
Virginia law specifically addresses proceedings involving dogs alleged to be dangerous and dogs alleged to be vicious.
Dangerous dogs; investigation, summons, and hearing
Under Virginia law, Animal Control or law enforcement may seek a summons requiring a guardian to appear in General District Court when there is reason to believe a dog meets the statutory standard for a dangerous dog. Unless the court finds good cause otherwise, the evidentiary hearing is generally to occur within 30 days, and the Commonwealth must prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
A dangerous-dog finding can also result in restitution and does not prevent an injured party from pursuing additional civil remedies.
Vicious dogs; penalties
Virginia separately defines and regulates dogs alleged to be vicious. Under the statute, a court finding that a dog is vicious can result in an order that the dog be euthanized. The law also provides potential criminal consequences in certain cases involving gross, wanton and culpable disregard in the care, control or containment of an animal that causes serious injury to a person.
And a dangerous-dog finding can follow the family home.
Virginia Code § 3.2-6540.01 requires, among other things, at least $100,000 in qualifying liability insurance or a $100,000 surety bond, dangerous-dog registration, identification requirements, warning signs at the residence, and specific confinement/leash/muzzle requirements. Virginia law also allows property agreements and community restrictions to prohibit dangerous dogs or impose requirements more restrictive than the state standard.
That can affect much more than the dog.
It can affect your household.
Your insurance.
Where your dog can be kept.
How your dog must be managed.
Your financial exposure.
And in the most serious cases, whether your dog comes home.
Do not wait until the night before court to start understanding your case.
Not sure where to begin?
Pre-Case Incident Call — 30 Minutes | $199
Focused phone guidance after a bite, Animal Control contact, summons, or serious incident chore deciding whether a full Case Review is appropriate.
Your Dog Is More Than the Incident
A bite report tells us that something happened.
It does not automatically tell us:
What happened before it.
What the dog was experiencing.
What the environment looked like.
Whether there were previous warning signs.
Whether pain, illness or other health changes may have been relevant.
How the humans involved responded.
Whether there had been previous incidents.
What management existed.
What changed.
Or who this dog has been throughout the rest of their life.
The incident matters.
So does the complete behavioral story.
That is what Canine Incident Case Review™ is designed to examine.
Part I — Facility Case Review
Up to 45 Minutes | $299
Conducted at Rewilded Wellness Center™.
Adia reviews the available case information with the guardian, including as applicable:
Animal Control reports
Summons + court documents
Incident reports
Behavior history
Previous incidents
Medical history relevant to behavior
Previous training or professional involvement
Known triggers + behavioral patterns
Current household management
Guardian account of the incident
Environmental circumstances
Immediate safety concerns
This portion establishes the history and context.
A Required Two-Part Review
Part II — In-Environment Behavioral Assessment
Up to 60 Minutes | $399
Conducted within approximately 48 hours of Part I, subject to scheduling.
Incident Case Review™ is the only behavioral service for which Adia conducts an in-home/in-environment assessment.
Why?
Because the dog seen inside a consultation room may not be the dog involved in the circumstances being evaluated.
The home.
The property.
Visitors.
Entry points.
Household relationships.
Fences.
Environmental triggers.
Movement through the space.
All may provide important context.
We do not intentionally provoke or recreate the incident.
The purpose is to observe the dog and relevant environment as safely and naturally as possible.
Complete Canine Incident Case Review™
$698
Both parts listed above are required to complete the review.
What You Receive
Following completion of the two-part assessment, you receive a comprehensive written professional report.
Depending upon the case, the report may address:
Relevant behavioral history
Incident history + context
Environmental observations
Observed behavioral responses
Known patterns + triggers
Current management
Risk-management considerations within Adia’s professional scope
Relationship + handling considerations
Health-related observations that may warrant veterinary discussion
Recommendations for immediate management
Recommendations for additional professional support
Professional behavioral observations relevant to understanding the dog and circumstances of the case
The report may be provided to your attorney or used as supporting behavioral documentation related to your matter.
The goal is simple:
Your dog should not be reduced to the worst moment of their life without their complete behavioral story being understood.
If Adia’s participation is requested for a hearing, court appearance, attorney consultation or other formal case-related matter:
Beginning at $599
Final fees depend upon preparation, additional document review, travel, waiting time, length of appearance and scope of involvement.
Court-related participation is scheduled separately and is subject to availability.
Time Matters
If Animal Control has already contacted you or you have received a summons, the time to begin gathering information is now.
Virginia’s dangerous- and vicious-dog statutes contemplate court proceedings on relatively short timelines; absent good cause, both statutes generally call for evidentiary hearings within 30 days of issuance of the summons.
BEGIN YOUR INCIDENT CASE REVIEW
Important Professional Scope
Canine Incident Case Review™ provides canine behavioral assessment, professional observations, management recommendations and written documentation.
Adia is not an attorney.
This service does not provide legal advice, legal representation or a guarantee regarding the outcome of any Animal Control investigation, civil action or court proceeding.
Guardians facing legal proceedings should consult a Virginia-licensed attorney regarding their rights, obligations and legal strategy.
Court Appearance + Professional Case Support
Need to Schedule a Case Review Pre-Call?
Fill out the form and then click the button to schedule a call.