The owner or keeper of a dog shall restrain and control such dog on a leash when such dog is not on the property of its owner or keeper and is in proximity to a person with a disability accompanied by a service animal, provided such service animal is readily identifiable as a service animal, is in the direct custody of such person and is licensed in accordance with section 22-345. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall have committed an infraction. If an owner or keeper of a dog violates the provisions of this section and, as a result of such violation, such dog attacks and injures the service animal, such owner, keeper, or both, shall be liable, as provided in section 22-357, for any damage done to such service animal, and such liability shall include liability for any costs incurred by such person with a disability for the veterinary care, rehabilitation or replacement of the injured service animal and for reasonable attorney's fees. As used in this section, “disability” and “service animal” have the same meanings as provided in section 22-345.
Credits
(1996, P.A. 96-243, § 9, eff. June 6, 1996; 1998, P.A. 98-61, § 1; 2023, P.A. 23-17, § 9, eff. June 7, 2023; 2024, P.A. 24-18, § 10, eff. July 1, 2024; 2024, P.A. 24-108, § 41, eff. Oct. 1, 2024.)