Dog bites occur on the owner's property about 70% of the time.

Mandatory Quarantine

State law requires that all dogs and cats be quarantined for bites that break the skin of a person. Quarantine is required regardless of current rabies vaccinations. The place of quarantine will be the City Animal Control Shelter, a private veterinary clinic, or the residence of the pet owner. The Animal Control Officer will determine the place of quarantine based on the conditions or severity of the bite, previous bite history, the owner's ability to satisfy quarantine requirements and whether local ordinances were in observance at the time of the bite. Failure to quarantine can result in the arrest of the pet owner.

Leash Law means that all dogs must be kept on a leash or other suitable restraint or be confined by a fence on the owner's property. It is considered a violation of the law for your dog to be loose in your own yard, if it is unfenced.

Preventing Dog Bites

· Keep your dog in an adequately fenced enclosure that enables it to exercise according to its size.

· Lock your gate to prevent unauthorized access.

· Housetrain your dog so it can be inside with its family.

· Control your dog with a hand held leash when away from home.

· Visit the dog park and let your pet socialize with other dogs and people. It will keep him happy and content and can help overcome behavior problems. (Do not attempt this if your dog is aggressive)

· Spay or neuter your dog. This will reduce your dog's desire to roam.

· Don't play rough games like wrestling or tug-or-war. It can increase aggression.

· If you don't know how your dog will react to a new situation, be cautious.

· Never leave your dog unattended with a small child.

"KEEPING YOUR DOG ON A CHAIN WILL ULTIMATELY MAKE THE DOG AGGRESSIVE"