Arizona’s ‘bite-and-run’ law claps back at irresponsible dog owners — but jail time?
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Marc Lamber
Submitted photo/Lamber Goodnow
In theory, an owner who leaves the scene of a dog bite could face jail. In practice, that’s likely to be rare unless the act is willful, repeated or involves a dog with a known history of biting. Most cases will end in a citation or fine, not incarceration.”
When a dog bites someone, chaos often follows. Some owners panic and bolt, leaving the victim unable to identify the dog or confirm its vaccinations. Under Arizona’s new law, Senate Bill 1241, that kind of “bite-and-run” is now a crime.
As of late September, anyone responsible for a dog that bites a person must provide the owner’s name and contact information to the victim. That duty applies in public places and when the person bitten is lawfully on private property, including the owner’s own yard. Failure to comply is a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by up to four months in jail and a $750 fine.
Before SB 1241, owners had to report bites to animal control, but didn’t have to identify themselves to the victim. The new law closes that gap, promoting accountability and ensuring victims can quickly confirm vaccination and insurance details.
Few would dispute that owners should stay and take responsibility. But some may feel lawmakers went too far in attaching potential jail time to what might simply be panic or confusion, though their goal, ensuring owners stay at the scene, is sound.
When a bite happens, running makes it worse
The penalty for violating SB 1241 mirrors Arizona’s law for leaving the scene of a fender-bender (A.R.S. § 28-662). In both contexts, fault isn’t the issue; the duty to stop and identify yourself is. Lawmakers appear to view both through the same public-safety lens: when harm occurs, running makes it worse.
In theory, an owner who leaves the scene of a dog bite could face jail. In practice, that’s likely to be rare unless the act is willful, repeated or involves a dog with a known history of biting. Most cases will end in a citation or fine, not incarceration.
Fear of euthanasia is misplaced
Many owners leave not to avoid responsibility, but out of fear their dog will be seized or euthanized. That fear is understandable but often misplaced.
Dogs are typically quarantined for 10 days for observation, not automatically destroyed. Euthanasia occurs only when a dog tests positive for rabies, poses a continuing danger or the owner refuses to comply with quarantine rules.
Still, that human reaction underscores why lawmakers should consider allowing owners — or those responsible for the dog, who report or provide contact information within 24 hours to avoid criminal penalties. That change would preserve accountability while acknowledging compassion.
Violating SB 1241 can result in a criminal citation, but owners can also face civil liability for injuries caused by their dog. In civil cases, fault is presumed under Arizona’s strict liability statute, though provocation can be a defense.
Editor’s note: Marc Lamber is a trial attorney and personal injury group chair who has practiced law in Arizona for more than three decades. He lives in Paradise Valley. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
