{"id":372733,"date":"2019-05-10T12:07:21","date_gmt":"2019-05-10T17:07:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/georgia-law\/georgia-dog-bite-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-05-07T16:36:14","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T21:36:14","slug":"georgia-dog-bite-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/georgia-law\/georgia-dog-bite-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Georgia Dog Bite Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Georgia Dog Bite Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Kit Yona, M.A.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Katrina Wilson, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll examine the dog bite laws in Georgia, how fault is determined in dog bite claims, and how dogs are assigned certain classifications.<\/p>\r\n

Dog Bite Responsibility in Georgia<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Letting your dog romp free in one of Atlanta\u2019s beautiful parks may sound wonderful. But beware of running afoul of the law. Georgia is a \u2018one bite rule<\/a>\u2019 state. This means that once a dog has at least one bite on their record, the owner is expected to be aware of the potential threat their dog presents.<\/p>\r\n

While the owner can still be found liable if their dog has no first bite on file, they are expected to be more careful if their dog has bitten before. They are held to a higher standard<\/a> for liability<\/a>. As set out in 2012\u2019s Responsible Dog Ownership Law<\/a>, the dog owner must understand the level of threat it carries and take steps to minimize risk to others.<\/p>\r\n

Dog owners in Georgia aren’t held strictly liable. But they may be found liable if they’re negligent in taking care of their dangerous dog. The Responsible Dog Ownership Law sets minimum standards at a state level, but counties and cities can add more restrictions and penalties.<\/p>\r\n

In general, you\u2019ll be responsible for any damages or injuries your dog causes if it\u2019s off your property.<\/p>\r\n

Georgia Dog Classifications<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Once a dog has at least one recorded bite incident, an animal control official will use the Responsible Dog Ownership Law to do a case evaluation. This will determine whether the dog should be classified as either vicious or dangerous.<\/p>\r\n

Dangerous Dogs<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

The lesser of the two classifications, a dog can be considered dangerous for reasons that include:<\/p>\r\n