Full Statute Name:  LEY Nº 553 , 2014

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Country of Origin:  Bolivia Last Checked:  June, 2018 Date Adopted:  2014
Summary: This law contains the legal framework that establishes the minimum legal conditions for the possession of dangerous dogs. The purpose of this law is to prevent aggression against people and their property by prohibiting the possession of dangerous dogs. Possession of dangerous dogs is allowed with prior authorization, obtaining a license, and compliance with safety measures established in this law.
Documents:  PDF icon LEY Nº 553.pdf (197.11 KB)

Dangerous dogs, according to this law, are “animals of dangerous breeds of the canine species, which due to their breed typology and to their aggressive nature, size or jaw power, have the capacity to cause death or slight, serious and very serious injuries to people." The following breeds, their crosses and hybrids, are considered dangerous dogs:

  • American Staffordshire Terrier.
  • American Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
  • Pit Bull Terrier
  • Bull Terrier
  • Bullmastiff
  • Doberman
  • Argentine Dogo
  • Dogue de Bordeaux
  • Fila Brasileiro
  • Rottweiler
  • Tosa Inu

This law lays out the responsibilities of owners of dogs considered dangerous. Some of these responsibilities include: to care for and protect the dog considered dangerous; to not mistreat them; to not abandon them; to request authorization prior acquisition; to register them; and to follow the security measures for the possession of dangerous dogs. Dangerous dogs must be adequately muzzled and kept on a non-extendible leash when on public areas.

Training a dangerous dog for purposes of dog fighting, breeding them for profit, and entering a dangerous dog into the country without previously obtaining a license are prohibited under this law.

Article 270 BIS is created and incorporated to the Criminal Code: "Who by action or omission is responsible for the aggression of any animal that is under their custody, and as a result of the aggression, any of the consequences indicated in Article 270 of the Criminal Code take place, shall be punished with imprisonment of two (2) to four (4) years and will be permanently disabled for the possession of these animals." The death of the victim increases the imprisonment from five (5) to ten (10) years.

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