California Dog Bite and Leash Laws

A general law that used to be considered the “standard” for all states is known as the “one bite free” law. It states that if the dog has never bitten anyone before, and the owner does not have a degree of knowledge that their animal is dangerous, a court will take little to no action. It basically allows every dog one free bite with no legal recourse. California is one of many states that has a strict dog bite statute, which is a law that overrules the one bite free law in order to encourage dog owners to better train their pets and to veer away from purchasing notoriously dangerous canines. In California, a dog owner is found liable even if the dog has never bitten anyone or shown a tendency of aggressive behavior. A victim of a dog bite must simply show that the dog was owned by the defendant, the bite took place on public property or while the victim was lawfully on private property, the victim was actually bitten by the dog and that the victim was injured by the dog. Only in the cases of the victim's trespassing onto private property, and under assumption of risk (if the dog was provoked) is the statute reconsidered.

In California it is illegal to leash a dog to anything unless it is provided with adequate food and shelter. This means that even when you are on a walk with your dog and you want to stop into an establishment for a cup of coffee, you are not legally allowed to tie up your dog outside while you are inside. This law is a misdemeanor offense, and is based on the belief that every dog should be provided with enough area to exercise, and leash lengths do not allow for exercise. Exemptions of this dog leash law are when the animal is in transit, in a vehicle or in physical possession of a person.

Dog owners have a responsibility to ensure public safety. Owners of identified "vicious dogs" must act with extreme caution. A vicious dog is one that, when unprovoked, attempts to bite or attacks a human or domestic animal. Such a dog has been known to endanger the safety of those around him or her and has a reputation for vicious behavior. Owners of vicious dogs must legally have them enclosed in a fence or structure at least 6 feet tall that prevents the entrance of any young children, and ensures that the animal is unable to escape. Such dogs are only permitted to leave their enclosure to see the vet or if court-ordered, and during those times the dog must be muzzled and restrained with a chain that has the strength of 300 pounds and does not exceed 3 feet.

If you or a loved one has been bitten or injured by a dog, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical bills as well as pain and suffering. Because dog bite laws are complicated you should hire an attorney who can explain your case.