A statute that covers more than the word "bite" suggests
Under 16 Del. C. §3053F, a dog's owner "is liable in damages for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by such dog" — language that reaches well beyond bites, covering a dog that knocks someone down, chases them, or damages property.
The statute's only exceptions: the injured person was committing or attempting a trespass or other criminal offense on the owner's property, committing or attempting a criminal offense against any person, or teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog. In a 2023 case, Riad v. Brandywine Valley SPCA, the Delaware Supreme Court confirmed the statute's broad definition of "owner" reaches animal welfare organizations too — rejecting the argument that shelters are exempt.