RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS OF THE WESTERN STATES MODEL DOG OWNER REGULATIONS

1. Dogs are Personal Property

(a) The (city) (county) (state) of _____________ recognizes that dogs are personal property.

(b) No city, county or state authority shall restrict, or prohibit the ownership of dogs by breed.

(c) No breed specific ordinances enacted in _________ shall stand.

(d) The (city) (county) (state) of _____________ recognizes the right of the people to own any breed of dog in a responsible manner.

(e) Dogs are valuable property that shall be taxed by the city, or county against their assessed value, or the annual cost of care and/or maintenance, which ever is applicable.

2. Containment

(a) All dogs shall be securely contained to their owners premises. The dog owner shall protect the public from his/her dogs. The assumption of liability is upon the dog owner.

(b) All dogs shall be securely leashed when off of the owners premises, and under the of a supervision of a person who is physically capable of controlling the dog.

(c) Parents who allow their child to lead a dog in public access areas, assume all liability for any accident, harm, or injury caused.

(d) Dog owners who allow a child to lead their dog in public access areas, assume all liability for any accident, harm, or injury caused.

(e) Owners walking their dog(s) in public areas are required to pick up, and properly dispose of stool waste deposited from their dog(s).

(f) Owners of dogs found at large by animal control authorities must produce documentation, upon demand, of the dog's immunizations as required by the state.

3. Standard of Care

(a) It is the responsibility of each dog owner to provide for their dog(s);
1.) Ownership for the entirety of the dog(s) life.
2.) Nutrition on a regular daily basis, and clean potable water readily available.
3.) Containment to the owners premesis
4.) Training
5.) Immunizations as required by state law, and veterinary medical treatment as necessary for maintenance of health

(b) If the owner cannot provide for the dog, it is the owner's responsibility to;
1.) Find the dog a new owner.
2.) Pay for euthanasia by a licensed veterinarian.
3.) Pay a local animal shelter to provide for the dog until a new owner can be found.

(c) Failure to meet any of the standards of care are violations. The owner(s) shall be charged with either/or negligence, criminal negligence, or cruelty to animals depending upon the severity of the situation.
1.) If found guilty the Court shall fine the owner, and/or order or jail time commensurate with the harm done to the animal.
2.) The Court may remove the animal from the custody of the owner.
3.) The Court shall cause the property of dog owners who have been found guilty, to be posted with warning signs that are clearly visible on all perimeters that state, "IRRESPONSIBLE ANIMAL OWNER".
4.) The signs may be removed after five years with no violations.

4. Noise Nuisance

(a) It is the responsibility of the owner to prevent his/her dog from causing a noise nuisance by barking. Incessant barking indicates lack of care.
1.) Owners may be ticketed for noise nusiance, and fined.
2.) This section does not apply to dogs barking to alert their owners.

5. Dogs At Large

(a) Any owner who allows his/ her dog to run at large shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first violation

(b) The second violation shall incur a fine of two hundred dollars ($200.00)

(c) The third violation shall incur a fine of four hundred dollars ($400.00)

(d) The fourth violation by the owner shall cause the dog to be confiscated by the Animal Control Authorities and, after evaluation of temperament by qualified personnel, either placed into a responsible home, or humanely euthanized.

(e) Nothing in this section shall pertain to owners hunting with dogs.

6. Owner Liability

(a) A dog owner will be charged with negligence for any property damage, or harm, or injury done by his/her dog when the dog was at large, off of the owners premises, and out of the owners immediate control. If the dog's owner is found guilty in a Court of law, then he/she shall be held liable. This liability shall include remuneration, fines, and/or jail time, at the Court's disgression, and depending upon the severity of the damage, harm, or injury done by the dog.

(b) A dog owner shall be charged with negligent homicide, whose dog kills a person when at large, off the owners premises, and out of the immediate control of the owner. The dog shall be confiscated by the authorities, and humanely euthanized, and tested for rabies at the cost to the owner.

(c) A dog owner shall be charged with reckless endangerment, whose dog injures a person, or causes an accident while at large, off the owners premises, or out of the immediate control of the owner. The dog shall be removed from the owners custody, and be evaluated on temperament by qualified personnel, and either be placed in a responsible home, or humanely euthanized.

(d) A dog owner shall be charged with aggravated nuisance should his/her dog menace a person when at large. The owner shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500.00) and placed on probation for six months, during which time if any violations occur he/she shall lose custody of the dog. The dog shall be evaluated by qualified personnel, and either be placed in a responsible home, or humanely euthanized.

(e) A dog owner shall pay remuneration, and fines, if found guilty of negligence in a Court of law, when his/her dog being at large, and out of the owner's control, trespasses upon another's property, and injures, or kills an animal, or animals belonging to that person(s) whose animal(s) were contained to their property. The dog owner shall be placed on strict probation for the period of one(1) year, during which time should any further violations occur, the dog shall be removed from the custody of the owner. The dog shall be evaluated by qualified personnel, and either placed into a responsible home, or humanely euthanized.

(f) Any dog owner, by whose violations has caused his/her dog to be removed from his/her custody, shall not be allowed by the Court to own another dog for a period of ten (10) years.

(g) No dog owner will be held liable if the dog bites, injures, or kills an intruder, a burglar, a trespasser, or anyone who threatens the owner, or his/her safety while on, or off of the owner's premises while the dog is under control of the owner.

(h) Any person who is bitten as a result of teasing, or tormenting a dog that is contained to it's owners premises, or who is bitten while teasing, or tormenting a dog that is contained to the owner's premises shall have no legal recourse for damages.

(i) Any parent whose child is bitten, or mauled by a dog, due to the parent's inattendance to his/her child shall be charged with reckless endangerment of a child.

(j) Any parent whose child dies as a result of a dog mauling, due to the parents inattendance, shall be charged with negligent homicide.

7. Dog Abandonment

(a) Any person who is found guilty of abandoning a dog, or dogs by dumping it/them alongside any thoroughfare, or by moving away and leaving the the dog, or dogs shall be subject to a one thousand dollar fine ($1,000.00)per dog, and three months jail time, or a one thousand dollar ($1,000.00) per dog fine, and community service not to exceed six months, per dog abandoned, at the discretion of the Court.

8. False Reporting

(a) Any person who makes a false, or malicious report to Animal Control shall be charged with a gross misdemeanor.

9. Criminal Activity

(a) Any person who uses a dog as a weapon during the commission of a crime against a human being shall be charged with a class A felony.

(b) A dog owner shall be charged with aggravated nuisance, and animal cruelty if he/she is found facing off dogs in any public area with the purpose of simulating a dog fight, or promoting a dog fight, or planning a dog fight, and fined five hundred dollars ($500.00). The dog owner shall be placed on strict probation for the period of one (1) year during which time if any violations occur, the dog owner shall be fined one thousand ($1000.00), and he/she shall lose custody of the dog, and any other dogs occupying the premises of the violator. The dog(s) shall be evaluated by qualified personnel, and either be placed in a responsible home, or be humanely euthanized.

(c) Any person who causes an animal harm, injury, or damage for the purpose of training, or engaging in dog fighting shall be charged with a Class A felony. This does not include any legal surgery such as earcropping, tail docking, or dew-claw removal performed by a licensed veterinarian.