Dog Laws by State

If a previously friendly dog injures someone on its owner’s property, the owner will be held liable. But if a previously friendly dog injures someone in a public place, the owner may not be held liable. Many jurisdictions in Alabama have leash laws, which could make a previously friendly dog’s owner liable for damages if the owner failed to comply with the leash law or other applicable local rules or ordinances.

People injured by previously friendly dogs may only recover actual damages for such as lost wages and injury-related medical bills. They may not recover for pain and suffering. Where it can be proven that an owner was aware of a dog’s aggressiveness and the owner’s negligence caused the injuries, the injured person can recover non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. In certain egregious cases, punitive damages may also be recovered.

Alabama law allows recovery for dog bites and other types of injuries, such as being knocked to the ground.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Alabama, the statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
AL Code § 3-1-3 and AL Code § 3-6-1

In Alaska, any person injured by a dog, whether the injury is the result of a bite, being knocked to the ground, falling while fleeing from a dog, or any other manner, may recover damages from the dog owner if the owner knew or should have known that the dog had a propensity to cause injury.

Alaska law also allows people injured by a dog, or other domestic animals, to recover damages under the legal theory of negligence.

People injured by dogs may also recover damages under the legal theory of negligence per se, which happens when a dog owner is found to have violated a local city or town ordinance that is intended to prevent dog injuries, such as a leash law.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Alaska, the statute of limitations is two (2) years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
Unlike many states, Alaska does not have a statute governing dog injury claims but such claims are governed by case law.

A person injured from a dog bite can recover from the dog owner, provided the injured person was not provoking the dog or trespassing. This is referred to as “strict liability” And means the dog owner is liable irrespective of knowledge of the dog’s viciousness.

This standard does not apply to injuries caused by dogs in a manner other than a bite, such as a knockdown. A dog owner may be liable for injuries caused by a knockdown, upon a showing of negligence.

A landlord is generally not liable for injuries caused by a tenant’s dog. If, however, landlord becomes aware of the presence of a dangerous dog in a tenant’s home, and does nothing to remove the dog, the landlord may be liable to the injured person.

Arizona law does not permit lawsuits for damages against any governmental agency using a dog in military or police work, if the bite occurred while the dog was defending itself from a provoking act or assisting an employee of the agency in certain official actions, such as executing a search warrant.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Arizona, the statute of limitations is one (1) year from the date of injury for a dog bite. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

Under another Arizona statute of limitation, a lawsuit for injuries caused by a dog in a manner other than a bite [such as a knockdown or while fleeing from a dog] a claim must be filed within two (2) years of the date that the injury happened, or or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
Ariz. Rev. Statutes, §11-1025

In Arkansas, cities and towns are authorized to promulgate local ordinances regarding the ownership and control of dogs.

In some cities and towns in Arkansas, the owner of a dog that is known to be dangerous from past history will be found liable for damages caused by such dog without regard to the owner’s negligence or fault. A dog’s propensity to injure may result from playfulness as well as viciousness.

Other cities and towns may hold a dog owner liable for damages without regard to negligence, or the dog owner’s knowledge of dangerousness.

Still other Arkansas cities and towns allow a person injured by a dog not known to be dangerous, to recover damages if they can prove that the owner was negligent in the handling of their dog. If the owner of a dog violates a local ordinance that is intended to prevent harm from dogs, such as a leash law, the violation of the ordinance can generally be presented as evidence of negligence.

The types of damages that a person who is injured by a dog in Arkansas may recover include actual costs, such as medical bills, lost wages, property damage and other expenses. An injured person may also recover damages for pain and suffering, depression, post-traumatic stress, anxiety and other impacts on one’s quality of life.

Damages may be reduced, however, by the percentage of an injured person’s comparative negligence for causing the injury. If an injured person is 50% or more responsible for causing the injury, such as by tormenting or teasing a dog, recovery will be barred.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Arkansas, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

In New Jersey, a dog owner will be held liable for injuries caused by their dog without proof of negligence, provided the injured person was not trespassing with criminal intent.

Persons injured by dogs in New Jersey may recover economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical bills, future medical bills, lost wages, physical therapy, and other costs. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental harm, permanent physical limitations, loss of companionship, and scarring.

A landlord in New Jersey may be held liable for injuries caused by a tenant’s dog, if the landlord knew that the dog posed a danger to others and failed to have the dog removed from the rented premises.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In New Jersey, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
N.J. Rev. Stat. § 4:19-16 (2022)

While In New Mexico does not have a dog bite statute, the owner of a dog that injures a person may be liable under other types of liability, such as negligence, nuisance, or willful misconduct of various kinds.

New Mexico law defines a potentially dangerous dog as one that poses a threat to public safety as evidenced by:

• causing injury to a person or domestic animal that is less severe than a serious injury

• chasing or menacing a person or domestic animal in an aggressive manner without provocation

• acting in a highly aggressive manner within a fenced yard or enclosure and appearing able to jump out of the yard or enclosure.

New Mexico defines a “dangerous dog” if it caused serious injury to a person or domestic animal. However, a dog will not be declared dangerous or potentially dangerous if it was:

• responding to pain or injury

• protecting itself or its offspring

• protecting or defending a person or domestic animal from an attack

The owner of a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog must comply with registration and handling requirements within 30 days or have the dog humanely put down.

The owner of a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog is required to:

• Keep the dog under control at all times, have a proper enclosure, have a microchip implemented, and be licensed, among other things;

• Keep the dog exclusively on the owner’s property except for medical treatment or examination;

• Keep the dog muzzled and restrained with a lead no longer than four feet, and keep the dog under complete control at all times when the dangerous dog is removed from the owner’s property, or keep the dog caged;

• Post a clearly visible warning sign with a conspicuous warning symbol indicating that there is a dangerous dog on the premises is posted where the dog is kept and is visible from a public roadway or from 50 feet, whichever is less.

In New Mexico, a landlord may be held liable for injuries caused to people by a tenant’s dog if they injured person can prove by a preponderance of evidence that the landlord was legally responsible for control and maintenance of the property, the landlord knew or should have known that a tenant’s dog was vicious or potentially dangerous, and the landlord fails to remove such dog from the tenant’s premises.

People injured by a renter’s dog may also be able to recover damages from a landlord under a premises liability theory when they can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the landlord owed them a duty of care, that the landlord breached that duty, and the landlord’s breach caused the person to be injured.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In New Mexico, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
Smith v. Village of Ruidoso, 128 N.M. 470 (1999)

While New York does not have a dog bite statute, New York does have a statute for civil penalties. Under that statute, in addition to a dog owner’s liability when negligence is proven, a dog owner who negligently permits his or her dog to bite someone is subject to a civil penalty of up to $400. In cases where the dog causes a serious injury, the owner will be subject to a civil penalty up to $800.

New York also has a Dangerous Dog statute. The statute defines a “dangerous dog” as a dog that:

1. without justification, attacks a person, a companion animal, a farm animal or a domestic animal and causes physical injury or death. “Physical injury” means impairment of physical condition or substantial pain;

2. a dog that behaves in a manner which a reasonable person would believe poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical injury or death. “Serious physical injury” means physical injury which creates a substantial risk of death, or serious disfigurement, protracted impairment of health or impairment of the function of a bodily organ;

3. a dog that, without justification, attacks a service dog, guide dog or hearing dog and causes physical injury or death.

In New York, a landlord can be held liable for injuries caused by a tenant if the injured person can prove that the landlord was negligent. A landlord who has knowledge that a tenant keeps a dangerous dog on the premises and fails to take reasonable steps to remove the dog, or to ensure that it is fully contained to prevent injury, may be liable for damages stemming from negligence.

In addition, some cities, counties, in New York prohibit certain breeds of dogs from being kept at rental properties and a landlord can be held liable for injuries when he or she knowingly allows a prohibited breed from staying on the property.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In New York, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

While North Carolina does not have a dog bite statute, it does have a “Dangerous Dog” statute. The owner of a dangerous dog shall be liable for damages or any injuries that a dog inflicts upon a person, without the need to prove that the owner was negligent, provided the injured person was not was committing a willful trespass, tormenting, abusing, assaulting the dog or committing or attempting to commit a crime.

North Carolina’s dangerous dog statutes do not apply to certain dogs such as law enforcement dogs and hunting or herding dogs.

There is no requirement that the injured person prove that the dog that caused their injury actually bit someone in the past. “Owner” means any person or legal entity that has a possessory property right in a dog. In general, the owner of a dog that has been deemed dangerous will be liable for damages without the need to prove that the owner was negligent.

Under North Carolina law, a dangerous dog means a dog that without provocation:

• kills or inflicts severe injury on a person;

• Is determined to be potentially dangerous because the dog has engaged in one or more of the behaviors listed in subdivision (2) of this subsection;

• A dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting, or any dog trained for dog fighting.

Under North Carolina law, a “Potentially Dangerous” dog is one that has:

• Inflicted a bite on a person that resulted in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations or required cosmetic surgery or hospitalization;

• Killed or inflicted severe injury upon a domestic animal when not on the owner’s real property; or,

• Approached a person when not on the owner’s property in a vicious or terrorizing manner in an apparent attitude of attack.

In North Carolina, a landlord can be found liable for injuries caused by a tenant’s dog when the landlord has control of a tenant’s dog through language in a lease, or otherwise, and the landlord knew of a dog’s dangerous tendencies.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In North Carolina, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 67-1 through 18

North Dakota does not have a Dog Bite Statute or a Dangerous Dog Statute.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In North Dakota, the statute of limitations is 6 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
Sendelbach v. Grad (May have been overruled or modified by O’Leary v. Coenen)

In Ohio, the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is liable in damages for any injury or death to person that is caused by the dog, unless the injury or death was caused to the person who was committing or attempting a criminal trespass on the property of the owner/ keeper or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog on the owner’s property.

Additionally, the owner of a dog is liable for any injury or death caused by the dog if the harm to the person who was on the property of the owner solely for the purpose of engaging in door-to-door sales or other solicitations regardless of whether the individual was in compliance with any requirement to obtain a permit or license to engage in door-to-door sales.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Ohio, the statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
Ohio Rev. Code. Ann. § 955.28

In Oklahoma, a person injured by a dog can recover against the dog’s owner(s) without the need to prove negligence provided the injury occurs on a place where her or she has a lawful right to be. A person is considered to be lawfully upon the private property of the owner of a dog when in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by law or [the postal regulations of the United States] when reading meters, making repairs to any public utility, when working on said property at the request of the owner or any tenant or when on such property upon the invitation of the owner or lessee of such property.

The term “public place” means and includes any and all public buildings, parks, playgrounds and recreational facilities, and any and all places of business, amusement or entertainment which are privately owned, where merchandise, property, entertainment or facilities are offered for sale, hire, lease, or use.

In Oklahoma, a person injured by a dog can recover from the landlord of the place where a dog is located if the landlord was aware that such dog was dangerous or vicious.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Oklahoma, the statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
4 Okla. Stat. Ann. § 4-42.1

The owner of a dog will be held liable if they knew of the dogs’ dangerous propensities without the need to prove negligence. A person injured by a dog bite can recover against the dog owner provided he or she proves that the injury was caused by the dog owner’s negligence.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Oregon, the statute of limitations is two (2) years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
Westberry v. Blackwell, 282 Or. 129 (1978)

In Pennsylvania, proving that a dog owner’s negligence resulted in injury to a person can be achieved in a number of ways. A dog owner will be liable for injuries if he or she knew that the dog had “unmistakable vicious tendencies” and failed to adequately control the dog. Pennsylvania law holds that a dog can display vicious behavior without actually biting a person. Additionally, Pennsylvania law states that a previous bite by a dog does not automatically render that dog vicious.

In Pennsylvania, dog owners will generally be found negligent if they violate the law which requires that dogs be restrained at all times.

Pennsylvania may allow a claim against a landlord if:

• The landlord knew that there was a dangerous dog on the property and failed to take steps to remove it.

• The landlord specifically cared for the dog or had control over the dog when the bite occurred.

• The landlord allowed a dog that had been deemed “dangerous” onto the property.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
3 Ps. Stat. § 459-502

In Rhode Island, people injured by dogs can recover damages from a dog owner/keeper for dog bites or knockdowns. Proof of negligence is not required if an injury occurs outside the dog’s enclosure. Dog owners/keepers can be found liable for injuries caused by a dog when a local ordinance or leash law is violated. If a dog previously injured someone, the owner/keeper is liable for double damages and the court may order that the dog be put down.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Rhode Island, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-16

Under South Carolina law, a “dog” includes all members of the canine family. “Vicious dog” means any dog evidencing an abnormal inclination to attack persons or animals without provocation.

People injured by a law enforcement dog may not recover damages, provided the dog was handled according to all applicable rules and regulations governing the proper use of police dogs.

South Carolina also has a “dangerous animal” law. Under the law, a dangerous animal includes a dog that the owner knew or reasonably should know, has a propensity to attack unprovoked, cause injury, or threaten the safety of people. South Carolina also deems a dog as “dangerous” when it has committed an unprovoked attack off the owner’s property that causes bodily injury.

“Bodily injury” is defined as broken bones, lacerations, punctures of the skin or any physical injury resulting in death.

A “dangerous dog” does not include a dog that attacks a person who is trespassing or who appears to be trespassing.

Owners of dangerous dogs must comply with strict requirements to prevent injury to people, including:

Confining the dog securely indoors or in an enclosed and locked pen outdoors;

Restrict the dog to the owners premises unless the dog is safely restrained, such as on a leash;

The owner of a dangerous dog much register the dog with local law enforcement; and,

Owners of dangerous dogs must maintain at least $50,000 in liability insurance for personal injuries caused by the dog.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In South Carolina, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
S.C. Code. Ann. § 47-3-110

South Dakota does not have a Dog Bite Statute. To recover damages for a dog bite injury, the injured person must prove that the dog owner knew or had reason to know that the dog had vicious propensities and that the owner was negligent in failing to prevent the injury.

In South Dakota, a “vicious dog” is defined as:

• A dog which, when unprovoked, in a vicious or terrorizing manner approaches in an apparent attitude of attack, or bites, inflicts injury, assaults, or otherwise attacks a person in public;

• any dog which on private property when unprovoked in a vicious or terrifying manner approaches in an apparent attitude of attack, or bites, or inflicts injury, or otherwise attacks a mailman, meter reader, serviceman, delivery man, or other employed person who is on the owner’s property with permission.

• a dog cannot be declared vicious if an injury is sustained while a person was committing a trespass or other tort on the owner’s premises, or if the injured person was teasing, tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the dog, or committing or attempting to commit a crime at the time of the injury.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In South Dakota, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
Blaha v. Stuard, 2002 SD 19

A dog owner will not be liable for injuries under Tennessee law if:

The dog is a police or military dog, the injury occurred during the course of the dog’s official duties and the person that was injured was suspected of engaging in conduct that prompted the police or military to utilize the services of the dog;

• The injured person was trespassing upon the private, nonresidential property of the dog’s owner;

• The injury occurred while the dog was protecting the dog’s owner or other innocent party from attack by the injured person or a dog owned by the injured person;

• The injury occurred while the dog was securely confined in a kennel, crate or other enclosure; or

• The injury occurred as a result of the injured person enticing, disturbing, alarming, harassing, or otherwise provoking the dog.

If a dog causes injury to a person while the person is on residential, farm or other noncommercial property, and the dog’s owner is:

1. the owner of the property,

2. on the property by permission of the owner, or

3. as a lawful tenant or lessee, the injured person shall be required to establish that the dog’s owner knew or should have known of the dog’s dangerous propensities.

Under Tennessee law, a “dog owner” means a person who, at the time of the damage caused to

another, regularly harbors, keeps or exercises control over the dog, but does not include a person who, at the time of the injury, is temporarily harboring, keeping or exercising control over the dog.

Under Tennessee law, “running at large” means a dog goes uncontrolled by the dog’s owner upon the premises of another without the consent or goes uncontrolled by the owner upon a highway, public road, street or any other place open to the public generally.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Tennessee, the statute of limitations is 1 year from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-413

In Texas, court’s have held that: “The owner of a dog is not liable for injuries caused by it, unless it is vicious and knowledge or constructive notice of that fact is shown or brought home to the owner.”

A person injured by a dog can recover damages if it is proven that the owner, harborer, or keeper was negligent, and that negligence caused the injury. In addition, dog owners, harborers, or keepers can be liable for injuries caused to people when they fail to stop a dog attack in progress. Finally, dog owners, harborers, or keepers can also be liable for injuries when they violate and animal control law.

Texas does, however, permit a person injured by a dog to recover damages based on negligence. As such, the owner, harborer, or keeper of a dog that causes injury can be held liable even where they did not know of the dog’s dangerousness or vicious nature, provided it can be proven that the owner was negligent, and that negligence caused the injury.

To recover on a negligent handling claim, a plaintiff must prove:

• the defendant owned or possessed an animal;

• the defendant owed a duty to exercise reasonable care to prevent the animal from injuring others;

• the defendant breached that duty; and,

• the defendant’s breach proximately caused plaintiff’s injury.

Under a negligence theory of recovery, the injured person does not need to prove that a dog previously bit a person or acted like it was going to bite someone.

In Texas, a person injured by a dog can also recover damages where a person violates an animal control law, regardless of whether the violation is committed by the dog owner, harborer, or keeper. The injured person must prove that there was a violation of a statute or local ordinance, and the violation caused the injury.

In Texas, a person can be liable for injuries caused by a dog when they fail to stop a dog attack after it has begun.

A landlord or landowner in Texas can be liable for injuries that occur in the common areas of rental properties by their failure to rid a premises of a known dangerous dog.

Texas permits closely related bystanders to recover for emotional distress stemming from dog injuries.

The owner, harborer, or keeper of a dog that causes injury to a person can defend against liability on the grounds that the injured person’s own negligence contributed to the injury. If the injured person is more than fifty percent (50%) at fault, they will be barred or not able to recover damages.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Texas, the statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
V.T.C.A., Health & Safety Code § 822.005

In Utah, the owner or keeper of a dog is liable for injuries regardless of whether the dog is vicious or mischievous or whether the owner has knowledge of such behavior unless:

• the dog was working in law enforcement and was in compliance with all rules and regulations governing the use of dogs at the time of injury;

• the injury or death occurred on the dog owner/keeper’s property while the dog was reasonably secured in a fence or other enclosure and the person injured or killed was trespassing; or,

• the injured person’s fault for causing the injury or death was more than fifty (50%) percent.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Utah, the statute of limitations is four (4) years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
Utah Code Ann. § 18-1-1

In Vermont, dog owners/keepers can be held liable for injuries caused by dogs, provided the injured person can prove that the owner’s negligence caused the injury.

In Vermont, landlords can be held liable for injuries caused by their tenant’s dog.

Landlords owe a duty to take reasonable steps to protect persons outside the rented property from injuries caused by a tenant’s dog, if the landlord knew or had reason to know at the time the lease was entered into that the dog posed an unreasonable risk of harm to such persons.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Vermont, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
Hillier v. Noble, 142 Vt. 552 (1983) (describing negligence standard in dog bite cases).

In Virginia, a person injured by a dog can recover damages against the dog owner if he/she [the plaintiff] proves the owner’s negligence caused the injury. An exception is when the dog owner violates a local ordinance intended to prevent harm from dogs, in which case proof of negligence is not required.

In Virginia, a landlord may be found liable for injuries caused by a dog owned by their tenant under certain circumstances, if the landlord violates the common law duty of exercising ordinary care to protect other persons from injuries that might be inflicted by his dog.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Virginia, the statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
Butler v. Frieden, 208 Va. 352 (1967) (describing negligence standard in dog bite cases).

A person injured by a dog properly engaged in law enforcement may not recover damages for injuries.

Owners of dangerous dogs as determined by past behavior must comply with additional requirements such as registering the dog, confining the dog, and posting a clear warning sign on the property where the dangerous dog is kept.

In Washington, a landlord can be held liable for injuries caused by a tenant’s dog under premises liability when the landlord knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that a dangerous dog is kept on the premises and presents an unreasonable risk of harm to invitees, and fails to take reasonable care to protect them from the danger.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Washington, the statute of limitations is three (3) years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
Wash. Rev. Code § 16-08-040

In West Virginia, a person injured by a dog may recover damages if they prove that the owner was negligent. An owner will generally not be found negligent unless an injured person proves that the owner could have reasonably foreseen the injury, with particular focus on the dogs past behavior and characteristics.

If a person injured by a dog can show that the owner knew that the dog had vicious or dangerous propensities, the owner will be liable without the need to prove negligence.

In West Virginia, any owner or keeper of any dog who permits such dog to run at large will be liable for any to a person while so running at large. The injured person does not have to prove that the owner of a dog was negligent if the injury was caused while the dog was “running at large.”

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In West Virginia, the statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
W. Va. Code § 19-20-13

In addition, a negligent dog owner is subject to a fine of up to $500. A person who is injured by a dog in a second or subsequent attack, may recover double the single damages against the owner, and the owner will face a fine of up to $1,000.

Where the owner of a dog knew or should have known that the dog previously caused injury, the owner will be liable for twice the amount of damages.

In general, landlords are not liable for injuries caused by dogs on leased property unless the dog belongs to the landlord or is under the landlord’s control.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Wisconsin, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
Wis. Stat. § 174.02(1)(a) and Wis. Stat. § 174.02(1)(b)

Unlike some states, Wyoming does not have a Dangerous Dog Statute that applies statewide. Individual counties in Wyoming, however, can enact dangerous and vicious dog ordinances.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:
In Wyoming, the statute of limitations is 4 years from the date of injury. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:
Borns ex. rel. Gannon v. Voss, 2003 WY 74.