Full Statute Name:  West's Alaska Statutes Annotated. Title 3. Agriculture, Animals, and Food. Chapter 55. Care of Animals; Control of Dogs. Article 1. Dogs.

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Primary Citation:  AS § 03.55.010 - 070, § 11.56.705 - 715; § 44.09.140 Country of Origin:  United States Last Checked:  August, 2023 Alternate Citation:  AK ST § 03.55.010 - 070, § 11.56.705 - 715; § 44.09.140 Historical: 
Summary: This collection reflects Alaska's dog laws. The primary dog laws give permission to kill dangerous dogs that are running at large or those that are chasing livestock. It also defines a dangerous dog - "Any dog which when unprovoked has ever bitten or attacked a human being is considered vicious . . ." Notably, "[a]ny person may lawfully kill any vicious or mad dog running at large." This section also allows a village council of an unincorporated village to destroy loose dogs in the village or otherwise control dogs to the extent authorized first class cities. Other laws concern the state dog and harming police dogs.

 (Also see Alaska regulation 7 AAC 27.022, Rabies vaccination and quarantine). 

Title 3. Agriculture, Animals, and Food. Chapter 55. Care of Animals; Control of Dogs. Article 1. Dogs.

Sec. 03.55.010 Killing of vicious or mad dog authorized.

Sec. 03.55.020 Dogs deemed vicious.

Sec. 03.55.030 Dogs that annoy or bite animals or birds

Secs. 03.55.040 - 03.55.060. Dog control by governmental units. [Repealed, § 9 ch 109 SLA 1966.]

Sec. 03.55.070 Power of village council to control dogs.

Title 11. Criminal Law. Chapter 56. Offenses Against Public Administration. Article 5. Obstruction of Public Administration

§ 11.56.705. Harming a police dog in the first degree

§ 11.56.710. Harming a police dog in the second degree

§ 11.56.715. Defense to harming a police dog

Title 44. State Government. Chapter 09. State Seal, Flag, and Emblems

§ 44.09.140. State dog

 

 

Title 3. Agriculture, Animals, and Food. Chapter 55. Care of Animals; Control of Dogs. Article 1. Dogs.

Sec. 03.55.010 Killing of vicious or mad dog authorized.

Any person may lawfully kill any vicious or mad dog running at large.  

Prior Codifications: ACLA 1949, § 33-3-91.

 

Sec. 03.55.020 Dogs deemed vicious.

Any dog which when unprovoked has ever bitten or attacked a human being is considered vicious within the meaning of AS 03.55.010

Prior Codifications: ACLA 1949, § 33-3-92.

 

Sec. 03.55.030 Dogs that annoy or bite animals or birds.

Whenever any dog habitually annoys any wild deer, reindeer, sheep, cattle, horse, or other animal or bird either domestic or wild, or evinces a disposition which makes it likely that it will without provocation bite an animal or fowl, any person may lawfully kill the dog, when at large. The owner or keeper of the dog, if known or reasonably identifiable, shall be notified and given reasonable opportunity to restrain the dog before it is lawful to kill it. Persons authorized to enforce AS 16.05 (Alaska Fish and Game Code) and peace officers may enforce this section.

Prior Codifications: ACLA 1949, § 33-3-93.

 

Secs. 03.55.040 - 03.55.060. Dog control by governmental units. [Repealed, § 9 ch 109 SLA 1966.]

 

Sec. 03.55.070 Power of village council to control dogs.

(a) A village council duly elected by residents of an unincorporated village not within an organized borough may destroy loose in the village and may otherwise control to the extent authorized first class cities.

(b) The council may impose and enforce the provisions of a control ordinance in the total area within 20 miles of the village. The ordinance must generally describe the area in which it is imposed. If two villages having control ordinances lie within 40 miles of each other, the jurisdiction of each village terminates at a point midway between them.

SLA 1962, ch. 120, § 4; SLA 1966, ch. 109, § 7.

 

Title 11. Criminal Law. Chapter 56. Offenses Against Public Administration. Article 5. Obstruction of Public Administration

§ 11.56.705. Harming a police dog in the first degree

(a) A person commits the crime of harming a police dog in the first degree if the person intentionally kills or causes serious physical injury to a police dog, knowing the dog to be a police dog.
 
(b) Harming a police dog in the first degree is a class C felony.
Credits

SLA 1983, ch. 54, § 1.


§ 11.56.710. Harming a police dog in the second degree

(a) A person commits the crime of harming a police dog in the second degree if the person intentionally causes physical injury to or, without causing physical injury to, torments, kicks, strikes, stones, or tampers with a police dog, knowing the dog to be a police dog.

(b) Harming a police dog in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor.

Credits
SLA 1983, ch. 54, § 1.


§ 11.56.715. Defense to harming a police dog

It is a defense to a prosecution under AS 11.56.705 or 11.56.710 that the conduct of the defendant

(1) conformed to accepted veterinary practice; or

(2) was in response to a direct attack on the defendant by a police dog not acting under the control of a peace officer.

Credits
SLA 1983, ch. 54, § 1.

 

Title 44. State Government. Chapter 09. State Seal, Flag, and Emblems

§ 44.09.140. State dog

The Alaskan Malamute is the official state dog.

Credits
Added by SLA 2010, ch. 17, § 1, eff. Aug. 10, 2010.

 

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