Dangerous Dogs Legislation

Legislation has been introduced in the Michigan House in the effort to curb the problem of dangerous dog bites. The two bill package sponsored by House Democrat Sean McCann of Kalamazoo creates a system where a dog can be officially designated as “dangerous.” Specifically, the measure allows a person to file a complaint stating that a particular dog may be dangerous. That in turn would prompt an investigation to determine if the complaint were true. If the dog is designated dangerous and the owner doesn’t take recommended steps to ensure safety, they could face criminal charges under the bills. The proposal specifies however that dogs would not be designated as dangerous in cases where a person is trespassing on the dog owner’s property, or if a person intentionally provoked the dog attack.