HB1423--THEOFFENSEOFKEEPINGADANGEROUSDOG
SPONSOR: Cook
Currently,apersoncommitstheoffenseofkeepingadangerousdog
ifapersonpossessesadogthathaspreviouslybittenanyperson
ordomesticanimal,withoutprovocationandbitesapersonona
subsequentoccasion. Thisbillmodifiestheoffensetoinclude
domesticanimalsorlivestock. Ifapersonpossessesadogthat
hasbittenanyperson,domesticanimal,orlivestockwithout
provocationonasingleoccasion,itisaninfraction. Thebill
alsospecifiesthatifthesubsequentbiteresultsin:
(1)Thedeathofadomesticanimalorlivestock,itisaclassA
misdemeanor;or
(2)Seriousinjurytoapersonordeathtoadomesticanimalor
livestockafterabitethatpreviouslyresultedinseriousinjury
toapersonordeathtoadomesticanimalorlivestock,itisa
classEfelony.
Thebillalsospecifiesthatthecourtcanordertheowneror
possessorofthedogtopayanymedicalbillofaperson,domestic
animal,orlivestockresultingfrombeingbittenbythedogorthe
replacementcostofthedomesticanimalorlivestockifthebite
resultsinthedeathoftheanimal.
Thebillspecifiesthataperson,propertyowner,orlivestock
ownercankilladogthatshowsaggressionresultingintheperson
orownerfearingforhisorherlife,thelifeofothers,orthe
liveofadomesticanimalorlivestock.