Arkansas Dog Bite Laws

Key Takeaways

• Arkansas dog bite laws often depend on negligence, prior knowledge of a dog’s dangerous behavior, and whether the owner properly restrained the animal.
• Arkansas does not have one broad statewide strict-liability dog bite statute that automatically applies to every bite.
• The law in Arkansas does create a criminal offense for unlawful dog attacks when an owner knows or has reason to know the dog has dangerous propensities, negligently allows an attack, and the attack causes death or serious physical injury.
• Leash laws in Arkansas are largely local, meaning cities and municipalities often set their own rules for dogs running at large, restraint, and confinement.
• Little Rock requires dog owners to securely confine dogs or control them by leash or another proper supervised restraint.
• Little Rock also has specific rules for dangerous dogs and vicious dogs.

Dog bite laws vary from state to state, and Arkansas has its own framework for determining when a dog owner may be responsible after an attack. Unlike states with broad strict-liability statutes, Arkansas dog bite cases often turn on facts such as whether the dog had shown prior aggression, whether the owner knew or should have known the dog posed a risk, and whether the dog was properly restrained under local rules.

For people in Little Rock, local leash laws and animal-control ordinances can play an important role. Arkansas law gives municipalities authority to regulate dogs running at large, and Little Rock has its own rules addressing confinement, restraint, dangerous dogs, and vicious dogs. Understanding how these laws work together can help explain what responsibilities dog owners have and how liability may be evaluated after a bite.

How Arkansas Dog Bite Laws Work

Arkansas dog bite law is commonly evaluated through negligence principles. In general, negligence asks whether a person failed to use reasonable care under the circumstances. In the dog bite context, that may involve questions about how the dog was kept, whether it was properly restrained, whether it had shown warning signs before, and whether the owner followed applicable local ordinances.

A dog owner may face responsibility when facts show that the owner failed to act reasonably to prevent foreseeable harm. Examples may include allowing a dog to roam loose, failing to repair a broken gate or fence, ignoring aggressive behavior, failing to supervise the dog around guests or children, or violating a leash or confinement ordinance.

Arkansas also has a specific criminal statute addressing certain serious dog attacks. Under Arkansas Code § 5-62-125, a person commits unlawful dog attack if the person owns a dog they know or have reason to know has a propensity to attack, cause injury, or endanger others without provocation; negligently allows the dog to attack another person; and the attack causes death or serious physical injury. The offense is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, and the court or jury may require restitution for medical bills caused by the attack.

That statute is not the only law that may matter after a dog bite. Still, it shows how Arkansas treats serious attacks involving dogs with known dangerous tendencies.

Is Arkansas a Strict Liability Dog Bite State?

Arkansas does not have a broad statewide strict-liability dog bite statute that automatically makes a dog owner civilly responsible for every bite, regardless of the dog’s history or the owner’s conduct. Instead, dog bite cases often depend on negligence, knowledge of dangerous tendencies, local ordinance violations, or other facts showing that the owner failed to use reasonable care.

This is why the facts surrounding the attack matter. A prior bite may be important because it can show that the owner knew the dog was dangerous. But a prior bite is not the only fact that may matter. Other warning signs can also be relevant, including growling, snapping, lunging, chasing people, escaping confinement, attacking other animals, or generating prior complaints.

Local leash laws may also affect the analysis. If a dog was loose or improperly restrained in violation of a city ordinance, that violation can become important when evaluating whether the owner acted reasonably.

Arkansas Leash Laws and Dogs Running at Large

Arkansas does not have one single statewide leash law that applies identically in every city, town, and county. Instead, leash and restraint requirements are often handled at the local level. Arkansas Code § 14-54-1102 gives municipalities authority to prevent dogs from running at large and to impound dogs running at large within the municipality.

Because of this local-control structure, the leash law that applies after a dog bite may depend on where the attack happened. A dog bite in Little Rock may involve different restraint rules than a dog bite in Fayetteville or an unincorporated county area.

City Leash Laws in Arkansas

For example, North Little Rock states that all dogs must be confined at all times, either on a leash with a responsible handler, in a fenced yard, or on a trolley system. The city also notes that owners of dogs found running loose or confined illegally may receive citations.

Fayetteville also prohibits animals from running at large. The city explains that cats and dogs are considered “at large” when they are not under the physical control of the person in charge, and that dogs and cats being walked must remain on leash the entire time. Animals found running at large may be impounded, which can result in fees and fines.

In Fort Smith, owners may not allow dogs or cats to run at large within the city. The city’s animal ordinance information states that dogs and cats must be on a leash and under the control of a person when outside a secure enclosure.

Rogers takes a similar approach. The city explains that dogs must be confined or in the owner’s physical control at all times, and that “physical control” means a leash. The city also makes clear that voice command is not physical control.

County Leash Laws in Arkansas

County rules may also matter. For example, Faulkner County defines an “at large” dog as one that is not under the owner’s direct control and is off the owner’s real property without adequate supervision and control. The county also recognizes “repeatedly at large” dogs when a dog leaves the owner’s property more than once within an eighteen-month period.

These examples show why location matters in an Arkansas dog bite case. One city may focus on leash control in public spaces. Another may emphasize confinement or trolley systems. A county ordinance may also define “at large” differently.

When a dog bite happens, the applicable local ordinance can help answer important questions. It may show whether the owner properly restrained the dog or whether the dog was unlawfully running at large. A leash-law violation may also support a negligence claim.

Little Rock Leash Laws

Little Rock has specific rules for dog confinement and restraint. Under Little Rock Code § 6-16, a person who owns, possesses, or keeps a dog must keep the dog securely confined behind a fence or otherwise restrained on the person’s property by adequate means to prevent escape. The ordinance also requires owners to effectively control the dog on or off their property. They must use a leash or another supervised restraint that the dog cannot escape.

Little Rock law does not focus only on handheld leashes. Instead, it focuses on whether the dog is securely confined or properly controlled. A fence, enclosure, leash, or other supervised restraint may be relevant depending on the setting.

Little Rock also addresses how dogs may not be confined. The city prohibits direct point chaining, or tethering a dog directly to a stationary object. That rule matters because confinement must be lawful and adequate, not just keep a dog in one place.

In practical terms, Little Rock’s leash and confinement rules may come into play when a dog escapes a yard, runs loose in a neighborhood, approaches someone on a sidewalk or street, or is not under proper control in a public place.

Little Rock Dangerous Dog Rules

Little Rock also has separate rules for dogs classified as dangerous. Under the city ordinance, a dog may be considered dangerous if, without provocation, it attacks or bites a person engaged in lawful activity. A dog may also fall within the dangerous-dog definition if it seriously injures another domesticated animal while off the owner’s property, menacingly chases or approaches a person on public property while not on a leash and under control, acts in a way the owner knows or reasonably should know indicates danger, or has received a similar designation from another governmental body.

Once a dog is designated dangerous, Little Rock imposes additional requirements. Dangerous dogs must be securely confined indoors or in an enclosed and locked pen or physical structure. The ordinance requires the enclosure to prevent escape and prevent entry by the general public, including children. It also provides that electronic containment devices may not be used to confine dangerous dogs.

Little Rock also restricts when a dangerous dog may be outside its kennel, pen, or physical structure. The owner may not allow the dog outside that area unless the dog is muzzled, restrained by a sufficient chain or leash, and under the physical control of an adult. The muzzle must prevent the dog from biting while not interfering with vision or respiration.

These rules show that Little Rock treats dangerous dogs differently from dogs without a dangerous designation. Once a dog has been identified as dangerous, the owner has heightened responsibilities for confinement, restraint, warning signs, and control.

Little Rock Vicious Dog Rules

Little Rock law also addresses vicious dogs. Under the ordinance, it is unlawful to keep a vicious dog within city limits. A dog may be considered vicious if it causes death or serious physical injury to a person engaged in lawful activity. A dog may also be considered vicious if it attacks or bites a person without provocation on two or more occasions.

The same may apply if it seriously injures another domesticated animal more than once while off the owner’s property. A dog may also be vicious if it kills a domesticated animal without provocation.

The classification may also apply if the dog is trained or kept for dog fighting. It may also apply if another governmental body has made a similar designation.

The distinction between a dangerous dog and a vicious dog matters. A dangerous dog may be kept in Little Rock only if the owner complies with the city’s requirements. A vicious dog, by contrast, may not lawfully be kept within city limits.

These classifications can become important when reviewing a dog’s history. Prior bites, complaints, animal-control records, or previous designations may help determine whether a dog had already been recognized as dangerous or vicious before a later incident occurred.

How Local Leash Law Violations May Affect Responsibility

A leash law or confinement violation does not automatically answer every legal question after a dog bite, but it can be important evidence. If a local ordinance required an owner to confine, leash, muzzle, or supervise a dog in a particular way, and the owner failed to do so, that failure may help show that the owner did not use reasonable care.

Examples of potentially relevant ordinance violations may include:

• A dog running loose in a Little Rock neighborhood
• A canine escaping through a broken gate or inadequate fence
• A dog approaching someone on a sidewalk or street without proper control
• A dangerous dog being outside without a muzzle, leash, and adult control
• A dog restrained by a prohibited or inadequate tether
• A vicious dog being kept within Little Rock city limits

The facts surrounding the bite still matter. Relevant questions may include where the bite happened and whether the person was lawfully present. Other questions include provocation, prior history, and local-rule compliance.

What Evidence Helps Explain Which Dog Bite Laws Apply?

Because Arkansas dog bite law often depends on facts, documentation can help clarify which rules apply. Useful information may include where the bite happened and who owned the dog. It may also include the dog’s restraint, history, and animal-control records.

Common evidence may include:

• Animal-control reports
• Police or incident reports
• Photographs of the dog, location, fence, gate, leash, or restraint
• Medical records documenting the injury
• Witness statements
• Prior complaints involving the dog
• Veterinary or vaccination records
• Records of a dangerous-dog or vicious-dog designation
• Local ordinances from the city or county where the bite occurred

This information can help identify the legal issue. It may involve negligence, leash-law violations, or dangerous-dog rules.

How Long Do Dog Bite Claims Generally Have in Arkansas?

Most Arkansas personal injury claims, including many dog bite claims, are subject to a three-year statute of limitations under Arkansas Code § 16-56-105. That statute provides that certain civil actions must be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues.

Dog bite cases are often easier to evaluate when information is gathered early. This is true even when the deadline allows several years. Animal-control records, photographs, witness information, and evidence of broken fencing or restraint problems can become harder to locate over time.

Questions About Arkansas Dog Bite Laws? Talk to a Dog Bite Lawyer Near You

Arkansas dog bite laws involve several layers. These include negligence principles, the unlawful dog attack statute, local leash laws, and dangerous-dog rules. Dog owners must follow local confinement and restraint requirements, and stricter rules apply to dogs classified as dangerous or vicious.

At Taylor King Law, our Little Rock dog bite lawyers help injured Arkansans. We’ll help you understand which Arkansas dog bite laws may apply and how local ordinances affect responsibility. For more than 30 years, our firm has stood beside Arkansans after serious injuries. We’re committed to being On Your Side, By Your Side.

Call Taylor King Law at (501) 712-2554 to schedule a free consultation with a Little Rock dog bite lawyer today.