Wyoming dog laws: leash, licensing, bites and breed rules

This is a general summary of Wyoming state law about dogs. It is information, not legal advice. Reviewed November 2026.

Leashes and licensing

Wyoming has no statewide leash law or dog licence. Instead, state law gives the job to local government. A board of county commissioners may declare the running at large of dogs and cats in unincorporated areas of the county a public nuisance, and enact regulations about dogs running at large and vicious dogs. On a complaint the county sheriff may arrest the owner or issue a summons for an animal that is running at large or has attacked a person, with a fine of up to $50 for a first conviction and up to $100 for later ones. A county may also require an annual county licence or tag for a fee of no more than $10. Cities and towns may regulate or prohibit animals running at large within city limits and charge a licence fee for keeping or harboring dogs.

A dog that kills, wounds, worries or chases sheep or other domestic animals makes the owner liable for the damage, and anyone who harbors a dog on their premises for twenty days is treated as its owner.

Rabies vaccination

The dog statutes do not set a general vaccination requirement. They let a county board create a rabies control district and then require registration of all dogs and cats there. In such a district the board may require the owner of a dog or cat three months or older to present a valid rabies vaccination certificate from a licensed veterinarian as a condition of registration.

An animal that attacks a person in a vicious manner or bites a person may be impounded by the sheriff or animal control officer and quarantined for at least ten days, or as long as the state health officer decides is necessary. Home quarantine may be allowed if the owner shows a valid rabies certificate, and the owner pays the costs.

Dangerous dogs and bites

Wyoming's dog statutes set up no dangerous-dog registry and contain no dog-bite liability statute. The county statute covers a dog that attacks a person in a vicious manner. That dog may be destroyed, or its owner or custodian fined up to $200, or both. Proof that the animal has bitten or attacked a person at a place where the person was legally entitled to be counts as evidence that it is vicious.

For civil claims, courts use common-law rules. An owner who knows a dog has bitten someone or shown a desire to attack can be liable under the one-bite rule, an injured person can sue for negligence without proving the dog was vicious, and violating an animal-control law such as a leash rule can support a negligence claim.

Breed-specific rules

Wyoming's dog statutes do not address breed, so check your county and city ordinances for any breed rule.

Animal cruelty

The statewide animal-cruelty law makes it a crime for a person with custody of an animal, under circumstances showing extreme indifference to its health or life, to fail to provide food, drink or protection from the weather adequate for the species. A person commits felony cruelty by knowingly, with intent to cause death or undue suffering, beating with cruelty, torturing, tormenting or mutilating an animal. The penalty is up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, and forfeiture of the animal.

Where to check your local rule

Counties and cities often have stricter leash, licence, number-of-dogs and breed rules. Check your city or county animal control website or ordinance code. If your dog has bitten someone or been reported, talk to a lawyer or the animal-control office.