ATLANTA – State Representative Ann Purcell (R-Rincon) commented today on the General Assembly’s passage of House Bill 685, which passed the state Senate earlier last week with a vote of 50 to1 and received final passage on Thursday, March 29, in the state House with a vote of 157 to 0, showing broad bipartisan support for the measure. Sponsored by State Representative Gene Maddox (R-Cairo), HB 685 not only clarifies state law regarding dangerous and vicious dogs in Georgia, but it also includes a measure that was originally co-sponsored by Rep. Purcell to help protect the public from dangerous dogs. Continue reading “Rep. Ann Purcell’s Legislation Makes Way through General Assembly, Heads to Governor”
Rep. Houston’s Amendment Will Increase Public Safety from Dangerous Dogs
ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives recently passed House Bill 685, legislation that clarifies state law regarding dangerous and vicious dogs in Georgia. Sponsored by State Representative Gene Maddox (R-Cairo), HB 685 included language that was first introduced by State Representative Penny Houston (R-Nashville) through House Bill 717.
“I am proud to be a part of this important legislation that will ultimately save lives,” said Rep. Houston. “Although Georgians are free to own any breed of dog they choose, dog owners must be responsible in ensuring their dog doesn’t cause harm to another person.”
In accordance to an amendment offered by Rep. Houston, HB 685 will penalize negligent dog owners whose failure to secure their dog results in a dog attack causing severe injury or death to a human being. HB 685 also establishes a classification system for dangerous and vicious dogs. According to the bill, “dangerous dog” means any dog that causes substantial puncture of a person’s skin without causing serious injury or who kills a pet animal while off the owner’s property. “Vicious dog” refers to any dog that inflicts serious injury on a person.
Upon the report of a dangerous or vicious dog, HB 685 would allow an animal control officer to verify the dog’s dangerous or vicious classification. That officer would then mail a notice to the dog’s owner, requesting the owner to appear for a hearing, which would officially determine the dog’s classification and potentially allow for the euthanasia of that dog.
HB 685 also requires owners of dangerous or vicious dogs to have a certificate of registration. This registration would automatically be issued to owners of dangerous dogs. Owners of vicious dogs would receive a certificate of registration if they are able to follow a number of provisions which include maintaining an enclosure to confine the vicious dog, clearly marking the enclosure with warning signs, obtaining a microchip for the dog, and maintaining adequate liability insurance.
Rep. Houston was led to introduce HB 717 and the amendment to HB 685, after a dangerous dog attacked and killed a local Lowndes County woman in December 2011. As the woman, Misti Wyno, was leaving her neighbor’s home, the neighbor’s male pit bull either broke its chain or was unchained and attacked, leaving mortal wounds to Wyno’s legs, neck, and head.
According to the American Humane Association, an estimated 4.7 million dog bites occur in the United States each year, and nearly 800,000 of these require medical care. These bites total more than $1 billion in damage each year. Approximately 58 percent of attacks that caused human deaths involved unrestrained dogs on their owners’ property.
HB 685 was passed by the Georgia House of Representatives on March 7, 2012, by a vote of 170 to 0. For more information on HB 685, please click here.
Representative Penny Houston represents the citizens of District 170, which includes portions of Berrien, Colquitt, and Cook counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1997, and is currently a Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. She also serves on the Banks & Banking, Budget and Fiscal Oversight, Economic Development & Tourism, and Ways & Means committees.
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