Sec 11-1014.01. Aggressive dogs; reasonable care requirements; violation; classification; definitions

A. A person who owns or who is responsible for the care of an aggressive dog shall take reasonable care to:

1. Prohibit the dog from escaping to the outside of a residence or an enclosed area, yard or structure.

2. Control the dog in a manner that prevents the dog from biting or attacking a person or domestic animal at all times while the dog is off the owner's or responsible person's property.

B. This section does not apply to any of the following:

1. A dog that is owned by a governmental agency and that is being used in military or police work.

2. A service animal as defined in section 11-1024.

3. A dog that is involved in an otherwise lawful act of hunting, ranching, farming or other agricultural purpose.

C. A violation of subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section is a class 1 misdemeanor. A violation of subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section is a class 3 misdemeanor.

D. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Aggressive dog" means any dog that has bitten a person or domestic animal without provocation or that has a known history of attacking persons or domestic animals without provocation.

2. "Reasonable care" means the degree of care that a person of ordinary prudence would exercise in the same or similar circumstances.