Dog Bites
Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123 — a dangerous dog's owner is strictly liable for medical costs, and a negligent owner pays a civil penalty
Anyone who sees an attack or a threatened attack on a person or an animal may complain to a dog control officer or the police, and may complain under oath to a judge. If there is probable cause to believe the dog is dangerous, the judge orders it seized. Either way, the judge holds a hearing within five days, on at least two days' written notice to the owner, and the complainant has to prove the dog dangerous by clear and convincing evidence.
Strictly liable for medical costs. The owner or keeper of a dog found dangerous is strictly liable for the medical costs of injuries it causes to a person or an animal, except where the dog's conduct was justified, as when the injured person was committing a crime against the owner or the owner's property, or was tormenting or abusing the dog.
| An owner who negligently lets the dog bite | Penalty |
|---|---|
| An owner who negligently lets the dog biteCausing physical injury to a person or a service, guide or hearing dog | PenaltyCivil penalty of up to four hundred dollars |
| An owner who negligently lets the dog biteCausing serious physical injury to a person | PenaltyCivil penalty of up to one thousand five hundred dollars |
| An owner who negligently lets the dog biteA dog already found dangerous, causing serious physical injury | PenaltyA misdemeanor, a fine of up to three thousand dollars, up to ninety days in jail, or both |
A judge who finds a dog dangerous orders it spayed or neutered and microchipped, with one or more further measures: evaluation and training, secure confinement, a leash held by an adult of twenty-one or older in public, a muzzle in public, or liability insurance of up to $100,000. Euthanasia or permanent confinement requires an aggravating circumstance, such as an unjustified attack causing serious physical injury or death.
Sources for this section (1)
- Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123 — Dangerous dogs
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New York attorney.