AN ACT

RELATING TO ANIMALS; ENACTING THE DANGEROUS DOG ACT; AUTHORIZING SEIZURE AND DESTRUCTION OF DANGEROUS DOGS; DECLARING EXCEPTIONS; IMPOSING REGISTRATION AND HANDLING REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING PENALTIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Dangerous Dog Act".

     Section 2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Dangerous Dog Act:

          A. "animal control authority" means an entity authorized to enforce the animal control laws of a city, county or state, whether acting alone or in concert with other governmental authorities. In those areas not served by an animal control authority, the sheriff or municipal law enforcement shall carry out the duties of the animal control authority under the Dangerous Dog Act;

          B. "dangerous dog" means a dog that caused a serious injury to a person or domestic animal;

          C. "owner" means a person who possesses, harbors, keeps or has control or custody of a dog or, if that person is under the age of eighteen, that person's parent or guardian;

          D. "potentially dangerous dog" means a dog that may reasonably be assumed to pose a threat to public safety as demonstrated by the following behaviors:

                (1) causing an injury to a person or domestic animal that is less severe than a serious injury;

                (2) chasing or menacing a person or domestic animal in an aggressive manner and without provocation; or

                (3) acting in a highly aggressively manner within a fenced yard or enclosure and appearing able to jump out of the yard or enclosure;

          E. "proper enclosure" means secure confinement indoors or outdoors, such as in a fenced yard, locked pen or other structure, that is designed to prevent the animal from escaping the confined area and young children from entering the confined area but does not include chaining, restraining or otherwise affixing the animal to a stationary object; and

          F. "serious injury" means a physical injury that results in broken bones, multiple bites or disfiguring lacerations requiring sutures or reconstructive surgery.

      Section 3. EXCEPTIONS.--A dog shall not be declared a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog if:

          A. the dog was used by a law enforcement official for legitimate law enforcement purposes;

          B. the threat, injury or damage was sustained by a person or domestic animal who was:

                (1) trespassing upon premises occupied by the owner or the dog;

                (2) provoking, tormenting, abusing or assaulting the dog or had repeatedly, in the past, provoked, tormented, abused or assaulted the dog; or

                (3) committing or attempting to commit a crime; or

          C. the dog was:

                (1) responding to pain or injury;

                (2) protecting itself or its offspring; or

                (3) protecting or defending a human being or domestic animal from attack or assault.

     Section 4. SEIZURE OF DOG--PETITION TO COURT.--

          A. If an animal control authority has probable cause to believe that a dog is a dangerous dog and poses an imminent threat to public safety, the animal control authority may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction in the county where the animal is located for a warrant to seize the animal.

          B. If an animal control authority has probable cause to believe that a dog is a potentially dangerous dog and poses a threat to public safety, the animal control authority may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction in the county where the animal is located for a warrant to seize the animal.

          C. After seizure, the animal control authority shall impound the dog pending disposition of the case or until the owner has fulfilled the requirements for a certificate of registration pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 of the Dangerous Dog Act.

          D. After seizure:

                (1) the owner may admit that the dog is dangerous or potentially dangerous and comply with the requirements for a certificate of registration pursuant to Section 5 of the Dangerous Dog Act; or

                (2) the animal control authority may, within fourteen days after seizure of the dog, bring a petition in court seeking a determination of whether the dog is dangerous or potentially dangerous. If the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the dog is dangerous and poses an imminent threat to public safety or potentially dangerous and poses a threat to public safety, the court shall order the owner to comply with the registration and handling requirements for the dog and obtain a certificate of registration within thirty days or have the dog humanely destroyed. If the court does not make the required findings pursuant to this paragraph, the court shall immediately order the release of the dog to its owner.

          E. If the owner does not admit that the dog is dangerous or potentially dangerous and the animal control authority does not bring a petition in court within fourteen days of seizure of the dog, the court shall immediately order the release of the dog to its owner.

          F. If the owner admits that the dog is dangerous and transfers ownership of the dog to the animal control authority, the animal control authority may humanely destroy the dog.

          G. A determination that a dog is not dangerous or potentially dangerous shall not prevent an animal control authority from making a subsequent application for seizure based on the dog's subsequent behavior.

     Section 5. REGISTRATION AND HANDLING REQUIREMENTS FOR DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOGS.--

          A. An animal control authority shall issue a certificate of registration to the owner of a potentially dangerous dog if the owner establishes that:

                (1) the owner is able to keep the dog under control at all times;

                (2) a license, if applicable, has been issued pursuant to the requirements of the jurisdiction;

                (3) the dog has a current rabies vaccination;

                (4) the owner has a proper enclosure for the dog;

                (5) the owner has paid an annual fee, if applicable, established by the animal control authority to register a potentially dangerous dog;

                (6) the dog has been spayed or neutered;

                (7) the dog has been implanted with a microchip containing owner identification information that is also provided to the animal control authority; and

                (8) the owner has entered the dog in a socialization and behavior program approved or offered by the animal control authority.

          B. If a dog previously determined to be potentially dangerous has not exhibited any of the behaviors specified in Subsection D of Section 2 of the Dangerous Dog Act for thirty-six consecutive months, the owner may request the animal control authority in the jurisdiction to lift the requirements for registration pursuant to this section. If the animal control authority has no reasonable basis to believe that the dog has exhibited the behaviors specified, it shall relieve the owner of the requirements of this section.

          C. An animal control authority shall issue a certificate of registration to the owner of a dangerous dog if the owner, in addition to the requirements of Subsection A of this section, establishes that:

                (1) the owner has paid an annual fee, if applicable, established by the animal control authority to register a dangerous dog;

                (2) the owner has written permission of the property owner or homeowner's association where the dangerous dog will be kept, if applicable;

                (3) the dangerous dog will be maintained exclusively on the owner's property except for medical treatment or examination;

                (4) when the dangerous dog is removed from the owner's property, the dog shall be caged or muzzled and restrained with a lead no longer than four feet, and the dog shall be under complete control at all times;

                (5) the dangerous dog will not be transported in a vehicle that might allow the dog to escape or gain access to any person or animal outside the vehicle; and

                (6) a clearly visible warning sign with a conspicuous warning symbol indicating that there is a dangerous dog on the premises is posted where the dog is kept and is visible from a public roadway or from fifty feet, whichever is less.

          D. An animal control authority may order the immediate impoundment or humane destruction of a dog previously determined to be a dangerous dog if the owner fails to abide by the conditions for registration, confinement or handling set forth in this section.

     Section 6. PROHIBITED ACTS--PENALTIES.--

          A. It is unlawful for an owner of a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog to:

                (1) keep the dog without a valid certificate of registration;

                (2) violate the registration and handling requirements for the dog;

                (3) fail to notify the animal control authority immediately upon:

                     (a) the escape of the dog; or

                     (b) an attack by the dog upon a human being or a domestic animal;

                (4) fail to notify the animal control authority of the dog's death within five business days;

                (5) fail to notify the animal control authority within twenty-four hours if the dog has been sold or given away and provide the name, address and telephone number of the new owner of the dog;

                (6) fail to surrender the dog to an animal control authority for safe confinement pending a determination of the case when there is reason to believe that the dog poses an imminent threat to public safety; or

                (7) fail to comply with special handling or care requirements for the dog that a court has ordered.

          B. Whoever violates a provision of Subsection A of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced in accordance with the provisions of Section

31-19-1 NMSA 1978 and, for a second or subsequent offense, is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be sentenced in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978.

          C. An owner of a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog that causes serious injury or death to a domestic animal, without provocation, is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be sentenced in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978.

          D. An owner of a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog that causes serious injury to a human being, without provocation, is guilty of a third degree felony and shall be sentenced in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978.

          E. An owner of a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog that causes the death of a human being, without provocation, is guilty of a third degree felony resulting in the death of a human being and shall be sentenced in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978.

          F. Prosecution pursuant to this section requires a showing that:

                (1) an owner knew of the propensity of a dog to inflict serious injury; or

                (2) the dog had previously been found by a court to be a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog.