Here’s a comprehensive, practice-oriented legal guide—Philippine context—on dog-bite liability: who’s liable, what you can claim, defenses, criminal exposure, and the exact steps to protect yourself whether you’re the victim or the dog owner. (No web search used.)

I. Sources of liability at a glance

A. Civil liability (damages)

Civil Code, quasi-delict: The possessor/keeper (not just the registered owner) of an animal is liable for damage the animal causes, even if it escapes or is lost. Liability is avoided only if the damage was due to force majeure or the victim’s own fault. In practice, this works like a presumption of negligence: the keeper must show proper care and a legally valid excuse.
Contributory negligence: If the victim was partly at fault (e.g., provoked the dog, trespassed, ignored “Beware of Dog” signs), damages may be reduced (not eliminated).
Vicarious liability: If a househelp/handler negligently lets the dog roam, the employer/household head can be liable; if the handler is a minor, parents may be liable for lack of supervision (parents’ liability for minors).

B. Statutory/administrative duties (rabies control)

The Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 imposes duties on owners/keepers: register and vaccinate dogs, leash/confine, report and quarantine after a bite, and assist the bite victim (including medical attention). Non-compliance can mean fines/penalties and can be used as proof of negligence in a civil case.

C. Criminal exposure

If a dog bite results from reckless imprudence (e.g., repeatedly letting an aggressive dog roam), the keeper may face criminal liability for physical injuries by negligence. Violations of the Anti-Rabies Act and disobedience of lawful orders (e.g., refusing mandated quarantine) can also carry penal sanctions.

II. Who can be liable—and when

Registered owner of the dog.
Current possessor/keeper (person actually controlling the dog at the time, e.g., relative, househelp, walker).
Property possessor (e.g., a lessee who keeps the dog on the premises).
Parents/guardians if a minor negligently handles the dog.
Business establishments (e.g., a shop with a guard dog) can be liable if safety measures are inadequate.

Courts look at effective control and preventive measures: leashing, fencing, muzzling for known biters, warning signs, prior incidents, and compliance with vaccination and quarantine rules.

III. Common defenses (and how far they go)

Victim’s fault (provocation, teasing, hitting, grabbing food/puppies, entering a clearly restricted area).
Trespass (entering without consent into a fenced/posted property).
Assumption of risk (experienced handler voluntarily undertook a known dangerous task).
Force majeure (rare for dog bites; think earthquake knocks down a fence and the dog bolts).
Intervening cause (another animal/person triggered the attack in a way the keeper could not foresee or prevent).

Even with a defense, liability may only be mitigated (reduced), not wiped out, depending on proof.

IV. What victims can claim (heads of damages)

Medical costs (ER, vaccines, sutures, antibiotics, follow-ups, PEP series).
Transportation and incidental expenses (including caregiver costs).
Lost income/earning capacity (with proof of salary/business income or reasonable estimates for informal workers).
Moral damages (pain, fright, anxiety, scarring; stronger when disfigurement or trauma occurs).
Exemplary damages (for gross negligence, repeated loose-dog incidents, deliberate refusal to comply with quarantine).
Attorney’s fees and costs (when the victim was forced to litigate).

Keep all receipts, medical certificates, photos of the wound, and treatment logs—these directly drive the computation.

V. Procedure: what to do after a bite

For the victim

Immediate care: Wash the wound thoroughly (soap/water), seek treatment at an Animal Bite Treatment Center/clinic, and follow PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) orders.
Report and document:
- Barangay blotter and/or police blotter.
- Ask the owner for vaccination card and demand quarantine/observation of the dog for the mandated period.
- Keep photos/videos, CCTV, witness details.
Demand letter: Send a written demand to the owner/keeper to reimburse medical expenses (and other damages as they accrue).
Conciliation: If both parties live/work in the same city/municipality, start with Katarungang Pambarangay conciliation (unless an exception applies).
Case filing:
- Civil: Claim damages (regular civil action or small claims if within the Supreme Court’s monetary threshold).
- Criminal (if warranted): Reckless imprudence for physical injuries; or violations of rabies-control obligations.

For the owner/keeper

Assist the victim promptly; do not obstruct medical care.
Produce vaccination records and submit the dog to observation/quarantine as required.
Notify authorities of the incident if required locally; comply with instructions (e.g., muzzling, confinement, follow-up vaccination).
Preserve evidence (to show you exercised due care): fence/leash, signage, handler instructions, prior training, proof of vaccinations, records of containment.
Coordinate on reimbursement (medical bills, transportation). Prompt, reasonable assistance can avert litigation and exemplary damages.

VI. Evidence checklist (both sides)

Medical: ER notes, physician’s affidavit/medical certificate, photos at different healing stages, itemized bills, vaccine stickers/lot numbers.
Incident: Time, exact location, weather/lighting, presence of leash/muzzle, open vs. closed gate, CCTV or phone video, eyewitness statements.
Ownership/possession: Vaccination card bearing owner’s details; registrations; neighbor/barangay certifications of who houses the dog.
Compliance: Proof of fence/gate, muzzle/leash, warning signs, prior incident reports (or lack thereof).
Damages: Payslips/income proof, ride receipts, caregiver expenses, scar assessment.

VII. Special scenarios

1) Bite inside the owner’s residence

If the victim was an invited guest or worker, owners must still use ordinary care to prevent bites (leash, isolate, warn).
If the victim intruded (climbed a fence at night), owner’s defenses are stronger.

2) Stray/unknown dog

Purely stray bites complicate liability. Focus on medical care first; report to barangay/city vet for capture/observation. If a nearby keeper is effectively harboring the animal (feeding, housing), they may be treated as a possessor.

3) Working/security dogs

Using dogs for security doesn’t excuse negligence. Businesses should have clear warning signs, trained handlers, secure confinement, and incident protocols.

4) Children as victims

Standard of care is higher: owners must anticipate that children act unpredictably. Damages (especially moral) often increase where scarring occurs.

5) Repeat biter/known aggressor

Prior incidents heighten duty of care (muzzle, double‐gate, training). Failure can support exemplary damages or even criminal negligence.

VIII. Insurance and risk management

Homeowner’s/tenant’s liability policies (if any) may cover third-party bodily injury from pet incidents; promptly notify the insurer and comply with claim protocols.
Practical controls: secure fencing, self-closing, self-latching gates, visible warnings, muzzles in public, obedience training, handler rules, and documented vaccinations/deworming. These are both safety and legal-defense measures.

IX. Timelines and limitation periods

Civil action based on quasi-delict: generally 4 years from the date of injury to file.
Criminal negligence: prescriptive periods depend on injury classification (minor/less serious/serious) and applicable statutes; consult counsel promptly.
Barangay conciliation interrupts prescription while the case is under mediation.

X. How courts think about amounts

Courts typically award all proven medical costs, reasonable lost income, and moral damages scaled by pain, trauma, and scarring; exemplary damages appear where there’s gross negligence (e.g., repeated escapes, ignoring quarantine orders). Keep expectations evidence-based; photos and doctor’s notes are key.

XI. Practical playbooks

Victim’s 10-step playbook

Wash wound; get PEP; follow medical advice.
Blotter + get dog owner’s details and vaccination card.
Demand quarantine/observation of the dog; record dates.
Keep receipts and medical papers; photograph healing.
Demand letter for reimbursement.
Start barangay conciliation (if required).
If unpaid, file civil action (small claims or regular).
Consider criminal complaint if recklessness is strong.
Track scar assessment (final medical report).
PhilHealth/insurance filings, if applicable.

Owner/keeper’s 10-step playbook

Assist victim; do not downplay injuries.
Present vaccination records; quarantine dog as required.
Confine/muzzle to prevent recurrence; fix gates/fences.
Notify barangay/city vet if required.
Document your safety measures.
Reimburse reasonable medical/transport promptly (get receipts).
Avoid admissions beyond facts; let documents speak.
If demanded with excessive claims, propose amicable settlement (installments are better than litigation).
For repeat issues, seek professional training and improve containment.
Check insurance and notify carrier on time.

Bottom line

In Philippine law, keepers/possessors of dogs are presumptively liable for bite injuries; they escape liability only for force majeure or victim’s fault.
The Anti-Rabies Act duties (vaccinate, leash/confine, report, quarantine, assist) are both public-health mandates and powerful civil-liability markers.
Victims should treat first, document relentlessly, and demand reimbursement; owners should comply immediately, assist, and contain to minimize exposure.
Most disputes settle at the barangay or demand-letter stage when parties act promptly and reasonably.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For serious injuries, repeat incidents, or disputed facts, consult counsel to tailor strategy, evidence, and claim valuation.