Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 749 of the Regular Session
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State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S3/13/25 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 342 3
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By: Senator A. Clark 5
By: Representative Gonzales 6
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ANIMALS; TO AMEND 9
THE LAW CONCERNING INJURIES TO CERTAIN ANIMALS BY 10
DOGS TO AUTHORIZE TREBLE DAMAGES; AND FOR OTHER 11
PURPOSES. 12
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Subtitle 15
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INJURIES TO 16
CERTAIN ANIMALS BY DOGS TO AUTHORIZE 17
TREBLE DAMAGES. 18
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 20
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SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 20 -19-102 is amended to read as follows: 22
20-19-102. Injuries to domesticated animals by dogs — Definition. 23
(a)(1) As used in this section, “domesticated animals” includes , but 24
is not limited to, without limitation sheep, goats, cattle, swine, and 25
poultry, and other livestock . 26
(2) A person owning or having in possession or under control a 27
dog is liable for damages to the owner or owners of a domesticated animal 28
killed or injured by the dog for the full value of the domesticated animal 29
killed or injured. 30
(b)(1) A person engaged in raising domesticated animals or owning 31
domesticated animals who sustains a loss or damage to any of his or her 32
domesticated animals by a dog has a right of action against the owner, 33
possessor, or controller of the dog. 34
(2) A person knowing that a dog has killed or is about to catch, 35
injure, or kill a domesticated animal has the right to kill the dog, without 36 As Engrossed: S3/13/25 SB342
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liability to the owner of the dog. 1
(c)(1) The person sustaining loss or damage under subsection (b) of 2
this section and desiring remuneration may go before file a complaint with 3
the circuit court or district court having jurisdiction where the loss or 4
damage occurred as permitted by the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure and 5
allege the: 6
(A) loss Loss or damage sustained, the; 7
(B) value Value of the loss or damage , and the identity; 8
and 9
(C) Identity of the dog and the dog's owner, possessor, or 10
controller by filing a complaint with the circuit court or district court 11
having jurisdiction as permitted by the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure, . 12
(2) The circuit court or district court having jurisdiction 13
under subdivision (c)(1) of this section which under the rules may issue: 14
(A) Issue a summons to the defendant to appear in the 15
circuit court or district court having jurisdiction and answer the 16
allegations.; and 17
(B) Award the plaintiff treble the damages or loss in 18
subdivision (c)(1)(B) of this section. 19
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/s/A. Clark 21
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APPROVED: 4/17/25 24
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