When Dangerous Dog Owners Fail To Follow The Law
When residents fail to abide by dangerous dog requirements, the local community is often concerned for their own safety and the safety of their pets, and someone can get bit.
There is no question that the result is serious safety issues, especially for vulnerable members of our population, such as children and the elderly. Not only have some been mauled, but others who survive will often suffer permanent injuries, such as losing part of a limb and/or facial injuries. Some have even contracted rabies and/or meningitis from these bites. Some are even hurt while trying to rescue their own dog from an attack.
Georgia State Law
Georgia’s dangerous dog law dictates that dangerous dogs are not allowed off their owner’s property unless they are under the “immediate physical control” of the owner, and this includes being on a leash that is less than six feet long, locked in a crate or other enclosed space, or engaged in a ‘working dog’ activity, such as herding.
Ordinance in Macon
In addition, in Macon-Bibb County, a dangerous dog is defined as one that:
- Causes a substantial puncture of a person’s skin without needing to cause “serious injury” (abrasions, nips and scratches not included as “substantial punctures”);
- Aggressively attacks in a manner that is likely to induce the reasonable belief that they pose an imminent threat of serious injury to someone (where barking, growling, or showing teeth are not sufficient to fall within this category); or
- While off the owner’s property, kills another pet (so long as the dog who caused the pet’s death was not working as or training to be a herding, hunting, and/or predator control dog).
In addition, it is illegal for anyone to have a “dangerous” or vicious dog without a certificate of registration, where a dog control officer has certified that very specific requirements are met in order to ensure that the dangerous dog is not a public hazard.
What About Stray Dogs?
In some cases, it can be unclear whom a vicious or dangerous dog belongs to. If a dog escapes from the local animal control shelter, and you are bitten, it is possible for you to file a case against the city or municipality in which you live.
Let Us Help You Today
There is a day in court for those who have been harmed by vicious dogs and/or suffered from dog bites. Contact our experienced Macon dog bite attorneys at the Law Offices of Buzzell, Welsh & Hill today for a free consultation to find out more regarding your rights in these circumstances.
Source:
library.municode.com/ga/macon-bibb_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIICOOR_CH5AN_ARTIINGE
