(a) If a dog that has previously been declared by a court to be dangerous, when unjustified, attacks and causes serious physical injury or death to a person, the owner of the dog shall be guilty of a Class B felony.

Attorney's Note

Under the Alabama Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class B felony2 to 20 yearsup to $30,000
Class C felony1 to 10 yearsup to $15,000
Class A misdemeanorup to 1 yearup to $6,000
Class B misdemeanorup to 6 monthsup to $3,000
Class C misdemeanorup to 3 monthsup to $500
For details, see Ala. Code § 13A-5-6 and Ala. Code § 13A-5-7
medical exam

Ask a your personal injury law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified your personal injury lawyers.
Automobile accidents, negligence, medical malpractice, liability, and more
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Alabama Code 3-6A-5

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) If a dog that has not been declared by a court to be dangerous, when unjustified, attacks and causes serious physical injury or death to a person, and the owner of the dog had prior knowledge of the dangerous propensities of the dog, yet demonstrated a reckless disregard of the propensities under the circumstances, the owner of the dog shall be guilty of a Class C felony.
(c) If a dog that has previously been declared by a court to be dangerous, when unjustified, attacks and causes physical injury to a person, the owner of the dog shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(d) If a dog that has not been declared by a court to be dangerous, when unjustified, attacks and causes physical injury to a person, and the owner of the dog had prior knowledge of the dangerous propensities of the dog, yet demonstrated a reckless disregard of the propensities under the circumstances, the owner of the dog shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
(e) In addition to any fines imposed by the court, a person guilty of violating subsection (a), (b), (c), or (d) shall pay all expenses, including, but not limited to, shelter, food, veterinary expenses for boarding, and veterinary expenses necessitated by impoundment of the dog, medical expenses incurred by a victim from an attack by a dangerous dog, and other expenses required for the destruction of the dog.
(f)

(1) When a dog declared to be dangerous is outside and not contained in the proper enclosure of a dangerous dog pursuant to Section 3-6A-3, the owner of the dangerous dog shall be present and shall restrain the dangerous dog with a secure collar and leash.
(2) An owner of a dog declared to be dangerous who violates subdivision (1) shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor, except that a second or subsequent adjudication or conviction is a Class B misdemeanor.
(g) An owner of a dog that is the subject of a dangerous dog investigation who refuses to surrender the dog to an animal control officer or law enforcement officer, upon the request of the animal control officer or law enforcement officer, shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
(h) Any person who knowingly makes a false report to an animal control officer or law enforcement officer that a dog is dangerous is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
  Previous section
Next section  
 Chapter 6A Contents