Install
Dog Laws & Policy terms
The rules dogs and owners live under: leash laws and local ordinances, pet custody and service-animal rules, and state and national dog bills.
Breed-specific legislation A law that bans or restricts dogs by breed or appearance, such as pit bull type dogs, rather than by what an individual dog has done. Dangerous dog law A law that lets authorities declare a dog dangerous after an attack or threat and set conditions for its owner, such as an enclosure, muzzle or insurance. Dog license A local government registration of a dog, often required by law, usually needing proof of rabies vaccination and giving a tag that helps return a lost dog. Leash law A local or state rule that requires a dog to be on a leash or under control in public, with set exceptions such as designated off-leash areas. Off-leash When a dog is allowed to move without a leash, legal only in places that permit it, such as fenced dog parks, some trails and private land. One-bite rule An older legal rule under which an owner is liable for a bite only if the owner knew the dog was dangerous, so in practice the first bite was often free. Strict liability for dog bites A legal rule that makes a dog's owner responsible for a bite injury regardless of whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous. Tail docking and ear cropping The surgical shortening of a dog's tail and reshaping of its ears for looks; banned or restricted in many countries and opposed by vets when cosmetic. Tethering law A state or local law that limits how and how long a dog may be tied or chained outdoors, to prevent neglect and injury.