State-Specific Dog Laws

State Laws (incl. statute numbers) Humane Society contact information
Alabama  AL ST § 3-1-1 – 29; AL ST § 3-6-1 – 4Title 3. Animals. Chapter 6. Liability of Owners of Dogs Biting or Injuring Personshttp://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusalst3_1_1_3_8_1.htm  http://www.petloveshack.com/Alabama.html
Alaska  AK ST § 03.55.010 – 070 – Title 3. Agriculture and Animals. Chapter 55. Dogs.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusakst3_55.htm  http://www.creatures.com/AK.html
Arizona  AZ ST § 11-1001 – 1029 Title 11. Counties. Chapter 7. Intergovernmental Operations. Article 6. Animal Control.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusazst11_1014.htm  http://www.azhumane.org/
Arkansas  AR ST 20-19-101 – 408 Chapter 19. Animals.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusarst20_19_101_408.htm  http://www.petloveshack.com/Arkansas.html
California  CA FOOD & AG § 30520Food and Agricultural Code. Division 14. Regulation and Licensing of Dogs.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stuscacalfoodagcode30501_31683.htm  http://www.wonderpuppy.net/cashelters.htm
Colorado  CO ST § 13-21-124 Title 13. Courts and Court Procedure. Damages.§ 13-21-124. Civil actions against dog ownershttp://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stuscost25_4_601_615.htm  http://www.coloradohumane.org/
Connecticut   CT ST § 22-327 to § 22-367a Title 22. Agriculture. Domestic Animals. Chapter 435. Dogs and Other Companion Animals. Kennels and Pet Shopshttp://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusctst22_327_367.htm  http://www.cthumane.org/site/PageServer
Delaware  DE ST TI 7 Pt. I, Ch. 17, SUBCHAPTER I, 1701-25 TITLE 7.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusdest_t7_ch17_1701_1725.htm  http://www.dehumane.org/
District of Columbia  Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia   http://www.legalaiddc.org/
Florida  FL ST § 767.04; FL ST § 767.11; FL ST § 767.13; FL ST § 767.16 Title XLV. Torts. Chapter 767. Damage by Dogs.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusflst767_04.htm  http://www.floridahumanesociety.org/
Georgia  GA ST § 4-8-1 – GA ST § 4-8-28 Title 4. Animals. Chapter 8. Dogs.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusgast4_8_21.htm  http://www.petloveshack.com/ge.html
Hawaii  HI ST § 143-1 to HI ST § 143-19 – Definitions, Licensing and Tag Provisions, Impoundment and Stray Dog Provisionshttp://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stushist143_1.htm  http://www.hawaiianhumane.org/
Idaho  ID ST § 25-2801 – 2808 TITLE 25. ANIMALS. CHAPTER 28. DOGS.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusidst25_2801_2808.htm  http://www.idahohumanesociety.com/
Illinois  510 ILCS 5/1 – 26); 510 ILCS 50/2 – 25); (510 ILCS 72/1 – 905)Chapter 510. Animals. Act 5. Animal Control Act.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusilst510ilcs5_1_72_1.htm  http://www.hscipets.org/
Indiana  IN ST 15-2.1-6-1 – 15-5-18-4 – Title 15. Agriculture and Animals.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusinst15_2_1_6_1.htm  http://www.indyhumane.org/
Iowa  IA ST 351.1 – 351.43 – Dogs and other animals http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusiast351_1_43.htm  http://www.hsni.org/
Kansas  KS ST § 47-229 – 835 CHAPTER 47.–LIVESTOCK AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusksst47_229_47_835.htm  http://www.kshumane.org/
Kentucky  KY ST § 258.095 -350; KY ST § 258.991. Title XXI. Agriculture and Animals. Chapter 258. Animal Control and Protection.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stuskyst258_095.htm  http://www.kyhumane.org/
Louisiana  LA R.S. 2451 – 2778 Title 3. Agriculture and Forestry.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stuslars2451_2778.htm  http://www.humanela.org/
Maine  ME ST §3901 – 4162 Title 7: AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusmest3401_4162.htm  http://www.beespetboarding.com/resources.html
Maryland  MD Code § 11-501 – Article 24. Political subdivisions –Miscellaneous Provisions. Title 11. Licenses. Subtitle 5. Regulation of Animals.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusmdcode11_501_514.htm  http://www.dogrescue.org//
Massachusetts  MA ST 16A – 175See e.g. Part I. Administration of the Government. Title XX. Public Safety and Good Order.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusmast136A_175.htm  http://www.masshumane.org/
Michigan  Michigan Dog Law of 1919See e.g. § 287.288, Common Law Liabilityhttp://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusmist287_261_395.htm  http://www.michiganhumane.org/site/PageServer
Minnesota  Minnesota Pet and Companion Animal Welfare Act http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusmnst346_01_347_56.htm#IV  http://www.mnhumane.org/
Mississippi  Numerous state codes may apply. See e.g. MS ST § 95-5-19 – 21 Title 95. Torts. Chapter 5. Trespass.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusmsst41_53_1.htm  http://www.hssm.org/
Missouri  MO ST 273.010 – 405 Chapter 273. Dogs—Cats.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusmost273_010_405.htm  http://www.hsmo.org/
Montana  MT ST 27-1-715 Title 27. Civil Liability, Remedies, and Limitations. Chapter 1. Availability of Remedies – Liability. Part 7. Liabilityhttp://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusmtst7_23_101.htm  http://www.midwestpetfinder.com/montana_shelters.htm
Nebraska  NE ST § 54-617 – 624; § 54-625 – 641 CHAPTER 54. LIVESTOCK. ARTICLE 6. DOGS AND CATS. (B) DANGEROUS DOGS.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusnest54_601_641.htm#dangerous  http://www.nehumanesociety.org//
Nevada  NV ST 568.370 Title 50. Animals.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusnvst193_021_568_370.htm  http://www.nevadahumanesociety.org/
New Hampshire  NH ST § 466:1 – 54; 47:17 Title XLV. Animals. Chapter 466. Dogs and Cats. Dog Control/Restraint Provisionshttp://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusnhst466_1_437A_9.htm#control   http://www.nhhumane.org/
New Jersey  NJ ST 2C:29-3.1 Title 2A Chapter 19. Dogs, Taxation and Liability for Injuries Caused by.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusnjst4_19_1_4_19A_17.htm#vicious
New Mexico  NMSA 1978, § 77-1-1 – 20 – Chapter 77. Livestock Code. Article 1. Dogs and Domesticated Animals.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusnmst77_1_1_19.htm  http://www.magicyellow.com/category/Animal_Shelters/-State_NM.html
New York  New York Agriculture and Markets Law. Chapter 69 Of the Consolidated Laws. Article 7. Licensing, Identification and Control of Dogs.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusnyagmktslaw106_126.htm#licensing  http://www.humanesocietyny.org/
North Carolina  N.C.G.S.A. § 67-1 – 36 – Statute 67. Dogs. Article 1. Owner’s Liability.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusncst19A_20_130A_201.htm#bite  http://www.magicyellow.com/category/Animal_Shelters/-State_NC.html
North Dakota  NDCC 42-03-01 – 04 TITLE 42. NUISANCES. CHAPTER 42-03. DOGS AS PUBLIC NUISANCE.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusnd23_36_01.htm#s42_03_01  http://www.greenpeople.org/webpage.cfm?linkpage=http://petprojectnd.com&memid=15975&pmtlevel=0
Ohio  OOH ST §955 Title 9 Ch. 955 Dogshttp://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusohst955.htm  http://www.hsoac.org/
Oklahoma  OK ST T. 4 § 41 – 47Title 4. Animals. Chapter 3. Dogs and Cats.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusokt4_41_402.htm  http://www.older-dog.com/Oklahoma-Humane-Society-Shelters.htm
Oregon  OR ST § 609.010 – 994 Title 48. Animals. Chapter 609. Animal Control; Exotic Animals; Dealers. Dogs.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusorst433_340_609_994.htm  http://www.oregonhumane.org/index.asp
Pennsylvania  PA ST 3 P.S. § 459-507http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stuspa3ps459_502.htm  http://www.altoona.net/cphs/
Rhode Island  RI ST § 4-13-1.1Chapter 13. Dogshttp://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusrist4_13_1_4_19_21.htm  http://www.older-dog.com/Rhode-Island-Humane-Society-Shelters.htm
South Carolina  Code 1976 § 47. Animals, Livestock and Poultry. Chapter 3. Dogs and Other Domestic Pets. Article 1. Regulation by Counties and Municipalities.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusscst47_3_10_47_7_170.htm  http://www.humanesocietysc.org/
South Dakota  SD ST 40-34-1 – 15http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stussdst40_34_1_40_12_6.htm  http://www.sfhumanesociety.com/
Tennessee  TN ST §§ 44-17-101 – 505Title 44. Animals and Animal Husbandry. Chapter 17. Dogs and Cats.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stustnst44_17_101_505.htm  http://www.discoveret.org/smbc/tnrescue.htm
Texas  TX Health & Safety Code §§ 822.001 – 100Title 10. Health and Safety of Animals. Chapter 822. Regulation of Animals. Subchapter A. Dogs That Are a Danger to Personshttp://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stustxhealthsafetycode822_001_828_015.htm  http://www.charleeshouse.org/Resources/ResourcesTX2.htm
Utah  UT ST § 18-1-1 – 3Title 18. Dogs. Chapter 1. Injuries by Dogs.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusutst10_17_101_26_26_7.htm  http://www.utahhumane.org/
Vermon  VT ST T. 20 § 3541 – 3805; § 4301 – 4304; § 5001 – 5007; § 4748; § 3511 – 3513Title 20: Internal Security and Public Safety. Chapter 193: DOMESTIC PET OR WOLF-HYBRID CONTROL.  http://www.netpets.org/dogs/dogresc/vermont.htm
Virginia  VA ST § 3.1-796.66 – 87Chapter 27.4. Comprehensive Animal Laws. Article 1. General Provisions.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusvast3_1_796_66_89.htm  http://www.creatures.com/VA.html
Washington  WA ST § 16.08.040 – WA ST 16.08.100Title 16. Animals and Livestock (Refs & Annos). Chapter 16.08. Dogs (Refs & Annos). 16.08.040. Dog bites—Liability and Dangerous dogs and related provisions.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stuswast16_08_040.htm  http://southwesthumane.org/
West Virginia  WV ST § 19-9-1 – 40; § 19-20-1 – 25; §§ 19-20A-2 – 8;Chapter 19. Agriculture. Article 20. Dogs and Cats.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stuswvst19_9_1_19_20A_8.htm  http://www.wvhumane.com/pleasants/
Wisconsin  WI ST § 174.001 – 15Chapter 174. Dogs.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stuswist174_001_15.htm  http://www.wihumane.org/
Wyoming  WY ST § 11-31-101 – 108; § 11-31-201 – 214; § 11-31-301TITLE 11. AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK AND OTHER ANIMALS. CHAPTER 31. DOGS AND CATS. ARTICLE 1. IN GENERAL, ARTICLE 3. ANIMALS RUNNING AT LARGE.http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stuswyst11_31_102_301.htm  http://network.bestfriends.org/wyoming/news/1952.html