Dog Laws

Dog Laws have been in effect for a long time. Some are common sense laws, but others, such as dog breed bans, have just come about.

Take a look at this cute pit bull puppy, Merlin and his friend Pierre. There is nothing aggressive or dangerous about this little guy. It is bad owners that have given this dog breed a questionable reputation.

We'll touch on a few of the most important laws that will effect you and your pet.

Breed Ban Laws

There is much controversy over this law in all states of the U.S. The primary dog breeds effected by this are guard dog breeds, such as Rottweilers, Dobermans and Pit Bulls.

With the current rise in dog attacks from Pit Bulls, these canines are basically under fire.

The attacks from these dogs have been severe to fatal. Even though fatal dog attacks are rare, they receive quite a bit of attention on TV and in the newspapers prompting public support of the ban on certain dog breeds.

People against breed bans state that dog bites and attacks are unrelated to breed while those for the ban are showing the facts as they appear particular to a breed.

Keep in mind most of the guard dogs are not born with aggressive tendencies. They are trained as they mature to attack, protect and be aggressive.

Usually this "training" is abuse. Dogs are neglected, tormented, etc. to make them more aggressive and dangerous.

As the saying goes, there are no bad dogs, just bad owners.

Always check your homeowners association, apartment lease, etc. before you buy a guardian type dog, to see if they are allowed to be on premises.

Dog Bite Laws

This dog law is sometimes in conjunction with the breed ban laws. You should know, however, that every dog is capable of biting someone, not just a specific breed.

If your dog bites someone, it will be taken away, put in quarantine (even if they have had their shots) and euthanized. This is true, especially if the dog involved is one mentioned above in the breed ban law.

Owners of the dog can also be sued for medical expenses resulting from the bite, pain and suffering, as well as mental anguish resulting from the attack.

Some states and counties have a one bite rule which states that if a gentle dog bites someone, the owner can't be held liable for the dog's first time.

As long as the bite is not severe, owners may receive a warning or fine.

People are not the only "animals" protected by the bite law. Attacks on other dogs and livestock causing injury are covered as well.

Dog Barking Laws

This is a noise law, so if your dog is outside all the time or in an apartment and barks constantly day and night, expect to get a warning, fine and finally you may have to get rid of your dog.

Dog Leash Laws

These dog laws protect both humans and dogs from bites and diseases passed from one dog to another.

It also keeps dogs safe from theft, traffic, running away or becoming lost.

Dogs must be in the owner's control at all times. Never let your pet run loose in public places. You could get a warning or fine if you keep it up.

If you need to let your dog run, there are many dog parks that allow off leash pets to have fun. You can find them in most states. Always follow the rules and regulations for the parks.

Animal Cruelty Laws

The previous laws were to protect people. This law protects the animals.

The first animal cruelty law in the U.S. was written and enacted in the mid 1800's to protect working animals from abuse.

In present day, animal cruelty is showing up on a regular basis. It can range anywhere from injuring and killing an animal to neglect and everything in between.

The person responsible for this is subject to felony convictions with heavy fines and time in jail.

And please, be a good dog owner. Don't let our four legged friends get a bad rep for something owners are responsible for, not the dog.