Legislation Sponsored by Maddox,Gene 172nd (2)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 5/2/2024

HB 0148 NeutralDangerous and vicious dogs; injury and damage liability; define Maddox,Gene 172nd
2/7/2011 House Second Readers Judy --
Animal Control General County Government Land Use/Zoning Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards

This bill re-writes Georgia's law on ownership of dangerous and vicious dogs. If a dog bites, attacks or attempts to bite or attack a person or domestic animal, then the owner of the dog or the person providing care to the dog will be liable for any damages, including consequential damages.  

HB 146 does not allow anyone in a residentially zoned area to train dogs to attack humans (or house dogs that have been trained to attack humans) unless such a use is specifically allowed in the county's zoning regulations.

HB 146 does not allow a person convicted of a serious felony, felony dogfighting or animal cruelty, felony trafficking of illegal drugs to own or reside with a dog that has not been spayed or neutered or a dog that has been classified as dangerous or vicious until ten years after the felon has completed his or her sentence.

HB 146 allows any judge to order the euthanasia of a dog if the court finds, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, that the dog has killed or seriously injured a person or presents a danger to people.

HB 146 also rewrites the Dangerous Dog Control Law as the Responsible Dog Ownership Law.
HB 0685 NeutralResponsible Dog Ownership Law Maddox,Gene 172nd
5/3/2012 House Date Signed by Governor JudyNC JUDY -
Animal Control General County Government Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
HB 685 extensively revises provisions relating to dangerous and vicious dogs, defining both, and providing for liability to owners for injuries and damage (to persons or property) caused by these dogs.
 
All counties and cities will have to designate an individual as a "dog control officer" to aid in the administration and enforcement of the act, with cities and counties being able to partner and provide one officer over multiple jurisdictions.  The dog control officer will receive complaints, make a determination whether a dog is dangerous or vicious, notify owners of said determination and will participate in a hearing process if it occurs.  They will also set out standards by which such dogs can be impounded or euthanized, maintain a registry of such dogs, and ensure the enforcement of other aspects of the law such as having these dogs microchipped and that vicious dogs carry liability insurance of no less than $50,000.        
 
The bill expressly allows local governments to charge any and all reasonable fees for administering the law; to be more restrictive in their regulations on dangerous and vicious dogs than prescribed by these minimum standards; and stipulates that local governments cannot be held liable for their failure to enforce any of these provisions that result in a person suffering an injury by a dangerous or vicious dog.     
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