Delaware General Assembly

Out of Committee 4/24/24

Reported from Committee; to list ready for consideration (Ready List)

4/16/24

Townsend

Sen. Walsh
Rep. K. Williams

Sen. Wilson
Reps. Griffith, Osienski

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 AND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DOGS.

This Act simplifies and in some cases increases the civil penalties for violations of laws related to dogs that run at large, dogs that bite a person or domestic animal while running at large, and dogs that are declared dangerous or potentially dangerous. It also expands the requirements for keeping or maintaining a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog to include provisions related to liability insurance, licensing, vaccination, microchipping, and leashing. The Act also makes changes to Department procedures relating to dogs, including the following: (1) Removes an unused provision requiring that notification of the impoundment of a running at large dog be made to the dog owner in writing. (2) Gives the Department of Health and Social Services 15 days, rather than 5 days, to file a civil action after impounding a dog and identifying and informing the dog owner. (3) Changes from 48 to 24 the number of hours that a person can confine a dog that is not the person’s own before contacting the Department to report the dog. Finally, the Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

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Takes effect upon being signed into law

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