Leash Laws in DC Dog Bite Cases
For men and women alike, a dog can be a best friend. They provide companionship, can be a motivation for exercise, to stay in a routine, and have been proven, on average, to make their owner live longer. Of course, owning a dog takes work. Even on the snowy days in DC, your dog requires exercise. You may get up early to let your dog out as part of your routine despite blistering cold or sweltering heat. But can your dog relieve itself anywhere? What are the laws that govern how you control your dog? In Washington, DC, there are leash laws. Leash laws in DC dog bite cases dictate whether your dog gets to roam free or whether it must stay within your domain and control. Understanding how leash laws intersect with liability is essential for victims seeking compensation after a dog bite.
Under negligence laws in Washington, DC, we must prove four elements to be successful at trial. The first element is that the dog owner owes a legal duty to anyone foreseeable. There are a few ways to do this. The first, more nuanced way is through the common law. The common law is a precedent that has been decided by past judicial decisions. For example, if a judge determines that a dog owner not having an electric fence breaches a legal duty, that becomes law. That can be overridden by other judges or by Congress. Generally, a state legislature would be the one to write laws for a particular state. However, Washington, DC, is unique in how laws are written. Thus, we rely on DC Council members to write a law that the DC Mayor signs.
Below, we explore how DC leash laws affect dog bite cases and establish liability against dog owners.
Dog Owner Responsibilities
We must consider several dog owner responsibilities when discussing leash laws in DC dog bite cases. Some responsibilities are rooted in the law, while others are moral. We will parse the most important ones you should look out for if you are a dog owner or victim of a dog attack.
General Responsibilities of Dog Owners
Under § 8-1803 of the DC Code, dog owners must vaccinate their dogs for rabies and distemper. Distemper is a highly contagious disease that causes fever, vomiting, and dehydration in dogs. Second, a dog owner must provide adequate care to their dog. The Code defines what adequate care is, but this is generally something one can intuit with common sense.
One general responsibility that stands out to some dog bite victims is when a dog does not have a collar. The DC Code requires dogs to wear a collar or harness. If one is not wearing one, a bite victim may argue that this is per se negligence. However, a dog bite victim is not necessarily in the class intended to be protected by this law. Moreover, the causation element may fail between the two facts. Thus, we should look to other points of negligence beyond a dog not wearing a collar when it injures you.
Enforcement of Leash Laws in D.C.
You must understand certain terminology to understand leash laws in DC dog bite cases. If a dog is at large in DC, it means it is off the premises of whoever has dominion over it at that moment and not leashed, tethered, or otherwise under adequate means of control of a person capable of physically restraining it. The last part of that definition can be a question for a jury. However, if the dog does escape from the owner’s grasp, it is clear that it was an unreasonable means of control or that the person was not physically capable of restraining it. An ancillary point here is that a tethered dog is not at large. To tether a dog is defined in the DC Code as a line connected to a stationary object by which an animal is fastened to restrict its range of movement.
Of course, we may still argue that the tethering is negligent. For example, if the tethered dog can still reach the entrance to a store or restaurant, and that dog bites someone, we may successfully argue that the dog owner was negligent despite the dog not being at large. The DC Code further emphasizes that dogs must be leashed or otherwise restrained.
Penalties for Violating DC Leash Laws

There are criminal and civil penalties for violating DC leash laws. Criminal penalties imposed on violators of the DC Code with respect to dog ownership are more clear-cut. In general, the criminal penalty is $500. However, there are select instances where the fine may reach up to $1,000 for violating a DC leash law. The first instance where a fine may reach up to a thousand dollars is if the dog owner neglects to provide their dog with adequate care. The second is if the dog owner intentionally harms an animal. Third, if someone abandons a dog in their possession, you may be subject to paying a higher fine. This summarizes the criminal penalties for violating DC leash laws.
The civil liability of violating a DC leash law can be far greater. However, the intent behind the larger monetary amount is different. For a criminal penalty, the rationale is that you should be deterred from acting in ways deemed harmful by the legislature. The purpose of civil liability arising from a dog bite is to compensate the victim. This can theoretically be less than the criminal fine, or it can be substantially more. Our DC dog bite lawyers have handled a range of dog bite cases, from more nominal amounts to six-figure sums.
Legal Protections for Dog Bite Victims Under Leash Laws
When you are bitten by a dog in Washington, DC, the law may allow you to make a claim against the owner. Dogs are seen as property under the law. Dog owners are liable for violating leash laws in DC dog bite cases. If a violation of the law results in an injury to a third party, you, as the dog owner, are liable. However, you should go through a DC dog bite lawyer to prove the elements of your case. Our goal in representing you is to hold the wrongdoer accountable. However, a dog owner is not liable for your injuries merely because their dog bites you. They must act negligently in some way. Moreover, their negligent behavior must be both the proximate and actual cause of your injury.
Our experienced legal team will not only prove the legal elements of negligence by a preponderance of the evidence, but we will demonstrate the full extent of your damages. For example, if you develop a permanent scar from a dog bite, that can negatively and irreparably affect the rest of your life. Our team will fight to obtain justice for any wrongdoing you suffer, whether it be nerve damage, infection, or soreness.
Contact Gelb & Gelb Today
Are you looking to learn more about leash laws in DC dog bite cases? Call our office today for a free case consultation. We will walk you through the merits of your case, how much it may cost you to pursue, and whether we believe you have a chance at trial.
Call us today at (202) 331-7227!
