Dog owners would face penalties for bites involving people or animals

People who own or possess covered dogs would face penalties based on the dog's bite history and the harm caused. The rules would cover people who own or possess dogs that bite people, domestic animals, or livestock. One unprovoked bite would be an infraction, a lower-level offense. A later bite following an unprovoked bite would be a class B misdemeanor. For a later bite, serious injury to a person or an animal's death would mean a class A misdemeanor. If a previous attack also caused either result, the offense would be a class E felony. A person's death would mean a class D felony. Felonies are more serious criminal offenses. Courts could order payment of medical bills caused by a bite or the replacement cost of an animal killed by a bite. The listed criminal and civil penalties would not apply when the person attacked was committing or attempting a crime. This exception would exclude trespass under section 569.150 without other criminal acts, attempts, or intent, and trespass under section 569.140 by children under 12.

Animal control authorities or the county sheriff would immediately seize covered dogs for destruction, with a chance for owners to appeal. These rules would cover dogs with the stated bite history or harmful attack, and their owners or possessors. Seizure would apply to a later bite following an unprovoked bite. It would also apply when a dog with no past bites attacks and seriously injures or kills a person, domestic animal, or livestock. An owner or possessor could file a written court appeal and notify the authority that seized the dog. Destruction would be blocked while the appeal is pending and until the court orders destruction. A court could require the owner or possessor to pay for the dog's care during the appeal. Dogs would be exempt from destruction for attacks on people committing or attempting crimes. This exception would exclude trespass under section 569.150 without other criminal acts, attempts, or intent, and trespass under section 569.140 by children under 12. Dogs would be held for ten business days after written notice to the owner or possessor, then destroyed unless an appeal blocks destruction. The court would hold a hearing within 30 days of the appeal's filing.

A person, property owner, or livestock owner could kill a dog whose aggression makes them fear for a life. The permission would cover people facing the described aggression, including property owners and livestock owners. The dog would have to show aggression toward the person or owner that makes them fear for their own life, another person's life, or the life of a domestic animal or livestock.