§ 4-10. Harboring potentially dangerous dogs.

(a)

No person owning, harboring or having the care of a potentially dangerous dog shall allow or permit such animal to go unconfined on the premises of such person.

(b)

No person owning or harboring or having the care of a potentially dangerous dog shall allow or permit such dog to go beyond the premises of such person unless such dog is securely leashed and humanely muzzled.

(c)

A potentially dangerous dog is "unconfined" if not in a proper enclosure upon the premises of the person described in subsection (a) of this section. A proper enclosure means, while on the owner's property, a potentially dangerous dog or a dangerous dog shall be confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure, suitable to prevent the entry of young children and design to prevent the animal from escaping. Such pen or structure shall have secure sides and a secure top and shall also provide protection from the elements for the dog. If the pen or structure has no bottom secured to the sides, the sides must be embedded in the ground no less than one (1) foot.

(d)

A person who is convicted of violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. The maximum fine is set at five hundred dollars ($500.00) or incarceration in jail for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days, or both such fine and imprisonment. In addition, any potentially dangerous dog as defined in this chapter, which attacks a human being or domestic animal may be ordered destroyed at any time when in the court's judgment such potentially dangerous dog represents a threat of physical harm to human beings or domestic animals.

(Ord. No. 96-19, 12-12-96)

State law reference

Jurisdiction and duties of local governments regarding dangerous dog control, O.C.G.A. § 4-8-20.