DEALING WITH
DANGEROUS DOGS
By: Elaine Gower
S
an Diego Animal Services receives over 2,500
reports of dog bites, annually. Many bite victims
are seriously injured with children suffering most
of those injuries.
Typically, homeowners associations have
narrow definitions of what constitutes undesirable
behavior in a dog such as acting out, growling, or
snapping. In most of these cases, an association can
determine that such behavior constitutes a vicious dog.
Once the issue is identified, the board should take action
34
|
SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY INSIDER
SPRING 2020
such as requiring the dog be on a leash when it is in
common areas, that the leash be no longer than six feet,
and that the person holding the leash be able to control
the dog. When an owner cannot control the dog, they
become a danger to the homeowners and a liability to the
association.
A dog can be declared a public nuisance animal or a
dangerous dog if it has repeatedly violated state and local
laws, damaged or inconvenienced the community, and/
or injured or killed another animal. If a dog attacks or