Understanding Atlanta’s Dog Laws – What You Should Know from A Georgia Personal Injury Attorney
The city of Atlanta is a very dog-friendly place, providing ample parks for both on-leash walks as well as parks specifically allowing dogs to run and interact with others while off-leash. However, along with the perks that Atlanta has to offer to dogs and dog owners comes a responsibility that all dog owners to take steps to ensure their dogs are behaving and complying with all rules and regulations as enacted by the city of Atlanta.
Many of the rules and regulations governing the behavior of dogs and dog owners are common sense and self-explanatory. But, despite the common-sense nature of the rules and regulations, some dog owners continue to break the rules. When rules and regulations are violated, there is a risk that people and other pets may suffer injuries. For example, if a dog owner is aware that his or her dog may not interact well with other dogs, but decides to let the dog run off-leash in a leash-only park, that dog owner is posing an unnecessary risk to other people and pets.
What Are Atlanta’s Rules and Regulations for Dogs and Dog Owners?
Atlanta has enacted a variety of rules and regulations that govern the conduct of dogs and dog owners. Examples of such rules and regulations include, but are not limited to, the following:
- All dogs must be leashed at all times in the city of Atlanta except in designated off-leash dog parks;
- All dog owners must pick up after their dogs, utilizing dog bags when necessary;
- Dogs are allowed in all parts of Atlanta city parks except for pools, tennis courts, lakes, amphitheaters, golf courses, and the zoo, among other locations;
- All dog owners are responsible for the conduct of their dogs and must take all steps possible to minimize or eliminate a dog’s misconduct. This includes potentially putting a muzzle on the dog;
- All dogs at designated off-leash dog parks are not allowed to wear prong collars;
- Dogs are not allowed at A, B, and C festivals in the city of Atlanta; and
- Dogs barking excessively in designated off-leash dog parks must be removed by the dog owner.
If any of Atlanta’s rules and regulations regarding dogs and dog owners are violated, dog owners may be cited by police. While the consequences of violating one of these rules or regulations may not be severe, it still demonstrates that dog owners must do whatever they can to ensure their dogs are not posing a safety risk to other individuals and pets.
The consequences of a dog bite or dog attack can be catastrophic for both the person or pet injured as well as the dog’s owner. Nobody wants to see a person suffer injuries or death from a dog bite or dog attack. As such, following Atlanta’s dog laws is an important part of helping to reduce the risk of dog bites and other attacks happening in our city.
Put Our Law Firm’s Over 39 Years Of Legal Experience To Work For Your Case!
If you or a family member have been injured in any type of dog attack or accident involving someone else’s negligence, call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law for your free consultation today to learn about your legal rights as well as what steps can be taken to protect those rights. Montlick & Associates has been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast for over 39 years, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. Our personal injury lawyers in Atlanta have been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast for over 39 years.
No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED® (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.
Source: https://www.atlantaga.gov/residents/parks-recreation
