How Georgia Classifies a Dog as “Dangerous” or “Vicious” — and Why It Matters After a Bite

Key Points:

• Georgia law doesn’t label any specific breed as vicious, but dogs can be legally classified as dangerous or vicious based on their behavior and their history of attacks. 
• Once a dog is deemed dangerous, the owners will face strict legal obligations, such as secure confinement, liability insurance, and potential criminal penalties for violations. 
• Breed still matters in real-world cases, since insurers, judges, and juries often view breeds like Pit Bulls or Rottweilers as a higher risk. 
• Victims can recover damages if they prove the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous, with evidence like prior bite reports, neighbor complaints, or leash law violations.

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Being bitten by a dog is a terrifying incident, especially when the dog’s breed is one known for aggressive behavior, like a Pit Bull, Rottweiler, or German Shepherd. You might wonder whether Georgia law treats certain breeds as inherently dangerous and what rights you have as a victim. 

While Georgia doesn’t automatically label any breed as “vicious,” the law does recognize that some dogs and their owners pose greater risks when bites occur – but based on the dog and owner’s history – not on the breed itself. If you’ve been bitten, it’s important to understand how Georgia defines and handles dangerous or vicious dogs. 

How Georgia Defines a Dangerous or Vicious Dog 

Georgia’s dog bite laws are found under O.C.G.A. § 4-8-20, known as the Responsible Dog Ownership Law. This statute doesn’t single out certain breeds, but focuses on a dog’s behavior and history of attacks. 

A dog is legally considered “dangerous” if: 

• It causes a severe puncture wound to a victim’s skin with its teeth without serious injury. 
• It aggressively attacks or endangers someone without being provoked. 
• It kills another pet while off its owner’s property. 

A dog is considered “vicious” if: 

• It seriously injures a person, or 
• The dog kills a person. 

Once a dog is classified as dangerous or vicious, Georgia law imposes strict requirements on the owner. This usually includes special registration, secure enclosures, warning signs, and sometimes liability insurance. Understanding how Georgia classifies and regulates dangerous dogs is important, but it’s just as critical to know what to do immediately after the attack. 

What to Do If You Were Bitten by a Known Aggressive Breed in Georgia 

Following a dog bite, your reaction matters. You should seek treatment early on, and keep track of all related evidence throughout the process:  

1. Seek immediate medical treatment: Even small punctures have the potential to get infected or scar. 
2. Report the bite: Report the incident to your local Department of Public Health or Animal Control. This keeps a record of the dog's history. 
3. Obtain the dog’s information: Gather the dog owner’s name, address, and any available history of prior bites or complaints. 
4. Photograph everything: This includes your injuries, the location of the attack, and the dog if it’s safe to do so. 
5. Contact a personal injury attorney early on: Georgia’s laws on owner liability, leash ordinances, and prior knowledge are complex. A personal injury lawyer can help gather the right evidence quickly, including prior Animal Control reports or insurance information. 

What Happens After a Dog Is Declared Dangerous in Georgia? 

After a serious dog bite in Georgia, Animal Control or local law enforcement will investigate the attack. If officials determine the dog meets the criteria for a dangerous or vicious classification, several steps follow: 

1. The owner is first notified in writing that the dog has been classified as either dangerous or vicious. 
2. The owner can then choose to appeal the classification to a local board within seven days. 
3. If upheld, the owner must comply with strict regulations. They will need to register the dog with the county each year, confine the dog in a secure, locked enclosure with posted warning signs, maintain a minimum of $50,000 in liability insurance for a vicious dog, and never allow the dog to be off-leash or outside the enclosure without a muzzle. 

If an owner violates these rules and the dog bites again, penalties can include criminal charges, fines, and in some cases, mandatory euthanasia of the animal. 

Are Some Dog Breeds More Likely to Be Declared “Dangerous”? 

While Georgia doesn’t maintain an official list of banned or restricted breeds, local governments can pass ordinances targeting high-risk breeds, such as: 

• Pit Bulls 
• Rottweilers 
• Doberman Pinschers 
• Chow Chows 
• Presa Canarios 
• Wolf Hybrids 

Certain Georgia counties may also impose additional restrictions or require registration for dogs known to have aggressive tendencies. While the state doesn’t call a Pit Bull “vicious” by default, the context matters: a dog’s breed, strength, and bite history can all influence how an insurance adjuster, a judge, or a jury views the owner’s responsibility. 

Why Breed Still Matters in a Dog Bite Claim 

Even though Georgia law looks at behavior, not breed, your case may still hinge on whether the dog was a type known for aggression or past incidents. This can take many forms, including: 

• If a homeowner knows that their dog has snapped or bitten before, that prior action can establish liability. 
• If a landlord allows a tenant to keep a dog breed commonly considered dangerous,  and fails to act on prior complaints the landlord may share legal responsibility. 
• Insurance companies may use breed evidence to try and deny coverage or limit payouts, which can be challenged by your personal injury attorney. 

Ultimately, the law holds owners accountable when they fail to control or restrain dogs they know pose a risk, regardless of the breed. 

How to Prove the Owner Knew Their Dog Was Dangerous 

Georgia's modified "one bite" rule means that to sue for damages, you will be required to prove the owner knew or should have known the dog would bite or attack. Some evidence that can prove this includes: 

• Prior bite reports filed with Animal Control. 
• Witness statements from neighbors or delivery workers who’ve seen aggressive behavior. 
• Veterinary or training records showing a dog’s behavioral history. 
• Owner admissions, such as  texts, emails, or social posts acknowledging the dog’s aggression. 
• Violation of leash laws or prior warnings from authorities. 

An experienced dog bite personal injury attorney can obtain these records quickly and use them to prove negligence or recklessness under Georgia law. 

Dog Bite Attacks on Children in Georgia 

Children are unfortunately among the most frequently injured victims of dog attacks. Their smaller size makes them more vulnerable to bites to the face, head, and neck. Because of this, Georgia law allows parents to pursue damages for: 

• Medical treatment and reconstructive surgery 
• Emotional distress and trauma therapy 
• Long-term scarring or disfigurement 

If the dog was known to be aggressive or classified as “dangerous,” these factors can significantly increase the value of the case. 

How The Millar Law Firm Can Help With Your Dog Bite Case With a Dangerous Breed 

Dog bite cases often come down to proving what the owner knew, and whether they acted responsibly once they knew their dog was dangerous. Our firm investigates: 

• Prior Animal Control or police reports 
• Neighborhood complaints or complaints by delivery workers 
• If the dog was restrained or licensed 
• Local ordinances that restrict or label certain breeds 
• State laws prohibiting or limiting individual breeds 

If your child or you were injured by a vicious or dangerous dog, we can pursue damages for medical expenses, suffering and pain, scarring, mental trauma, and lost wages. We’ll provide individualized, 1:1 support to help you through this process, and won’t rest until you and your family have the answers, accountability, and compensation you deserve.