Being a dog owner can be an amazing and rewarding experience. Having your furry friend by your side wherever you go not only aids your mental health, but your physical health as well. Research continues to show that owning a dog is beneficial, as they lower your stress levels, decrease the risk of asthma, and have been linked to lower blood pressure. With all of the positive qualities dogs bring into our lives, it’s important to note that owning a dog is a big responsibility and comes with its own challenges. Being aware of the rules and regulations when it comes to dog ownership is vital to maintaining a happy and healthy relationship with your dog and aiding in your dog’s sociability. Here we go over leash and dog bite laws in Connecticut that every dog owner in the state should know.
Leash Laws
In Connecticut, your dog is not allowed to roam on another person’s property, the sidewalk, public highways, or state parks. This indicates that your dog must be in your control and leashed in these places. Violators may be punished with a fine.
It’s also important to note that any roaming dog, dog without a tag, or unleashed dog can be taken into custody by animal control. In this case, the dog will be taken to the city pound.
Dog Bite Laws
Many states follow a one-bite rule. This means that the dog must have a history of aggressiveness for the bite victim to have grounds for a claim. The dog must have bitten someone in the past or the owner must have known their dog had a propensity for aggressive behavior but failed to prevent the attack. However, Connecticut does not follow this one-bite rule.
According to the legal team at the Law Offices of James A. Welcome, Connecticut is a strict liability state, meaning that the victim doesn’t have to prove that the dog owner was negligent or the dog had a history of aggression. If the bite victim was lawfully on public or private property and did not provoke the dog, the dog owner is completely responsible for the injury.
In Connecticut, after a dog bites an individual, the dog must be quarantined for 14 days. Animal control officers may order the dog to be restrained or euthanized. Further, dog bite victims are immune from criminal and civil liability for causing fatal injuries to the dog if the attack happens off of the dog owner’s premises.
Keep Your Dog Safe and Happy
When it comes to leash and dog bite laws, it’s simple to help your dog remain safe and to avoid liability. Keep your dog properly leashed when in a public place, and make sure your dog is well socialized to avoid any type of aggressive behavior. Proper socialization and training is best done when your dog is a puppy, and if you follow the right steps and dedicate the time and effort, you will have a healthy and happy dog that will be a priceless addition to your life.