Batesville City Council Debates Changes to Leash Law

Indiana is known to have strict dog bite laws, considering an owner can be held liable for any unprovoked attack their animal commits, regardless of the animal’s history. Despite the nature of current state regulations, our Terre Haute personal injury lawyers at Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin point out that some citizens feel firmer local ordinances are needed as well.

The need for local regulations to control canines was a hot topic at a recent Batesville City Council meeting. One local woman felt the city’s leash laws need to be restructured to require all dogs to be restrained by a leash while in public. She felt the change is overdue after continually seeing unrestrained dogs in the area and worrying her children would be bitten.

According to The Herald-Tribune, current regulations require a dog be restrained by a lead, leash, or voice commands. Opponents of the change claim the current policies provide enough guidance for safety and argue that even a restrained dog is capable of biting or attacking.

Officials concluded further research into the matter is necessary before any decisions or changes to the law are made.

At Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin, we understand the role the law plays in helping prevent an Indiana dog bite injury from occurring and we’re hopeful the final decision that will be reached in this matter helps reduce dog bites and dog attacks.