I have nothing against cats but who ever wrote and passed this bill, must be cat lovers. Does Tennessee hate dogs? This leaves me and many others with no option other than to get rid of our pet dogs or face the risk of getting fined, and I hate it. Dogs are great for security of your premises, and just nice to have around. I guess my next and only option is to get a gun, or move out of this god forsaken state, or country, of idiots.

Adrift in the Sea of Humility

Oh no, "I've" commited a crime not once but twice this week! Would I get a reduction in sentence because of the frayed leashes?

The problem is that Daisy is not a good Republican dog with proper respect for authority figures. She loves her liberty too much and will take advantage of any opportunity to experience freedom, at least for a few hours.

So what next? Do I have to remove her tag and declare her a libertarian dog and disavow any connection in order to maintain my own freedom?

"Ms GC, we have witnesses who testify they have seen you in contact with said Black and White lawbreaker. You have aided and abetted this criminal and even allowed her into your home during cold weather. How do you answer to That!"

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Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs

If it rains this afternoon I'll spend some more time on this sorry bill, but I have to at least say...

At it's most extreme end of the scale, the bill makes a loose dog that kills a class D felony (which carries 2 to 4 years). There is no intent element written into this law. You are held to strict liability for the conduct of your loose dog.

Demonstrating ignorance of existing law, the bill creates a more serious offense than criminally negligent homicide, which currently makes death of another resulting from one's extreme negligence, a class E felony (1 to 2 years).

On the other end of the spectrum, the bill makes your loose dog (that's all it takes to prove the crime. period.) a class C misdemeanor, which carries 30 days.

Whew, these lawmakers are true artists!

The way I read it, SB0139/HB0106 section (a) says it's an offense to let a dog run loose pretty much anywhere except on your own property (even in a dedicated off-leash dog park!). However, section (d) provides no punishment for breaking section (a) unless the dog causes property damage or bodily injury to someone.

The amendment includes the punishment for breaking section a without property damage or bodily injury.

From the Bill:

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), the provisions of this section shall not apply to a dog:
(1) On a hunt or chase;

My dog found the loophole. Whenever he leaves the yard, he is--technically-- either chasing or hunting something.

Well trained dogs have never bothered me. I see no reason for owners of well trained dogs to have to keep them on a leash even. They don't run away. They don't jump on people. They don't bite other people or attack other dogs.

Badly trained dogs and those that are dangerously aggressive, should always be kept behind a strong fence and always be on a leash.

Instead of throwing people in jail, why doesn't the State offer free dog training classes? Most private or group classes sponsored by organizations cost anywhere from $60 to $160.00. Not everyone can afford to pay that much.

As usual the government is always more interested in incarceration than education. They'd rather fine people than help them solve problems.

My badly trained dog will find a loophole in the fence or dig one if possible.

So thanks for the heads up stick thrower. Because she's always on a hunt or chase. I don't know if she's ever caught anything but I sometimes recapture her with her nose down a muskrat hole.

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Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs

I take my dogs for a walk outside the back fence pretty regularly. Occasionally we go to Victor Ashe Park, but never the leash-less area.

On neighborhood walks when they were little Gino was trained to "take his sister home". Within a hundred feet or so of the rear gate, I would hand him his sister's leash and he would proudly drag her home.

Now I need to train Heidi to hold Gino's leash so both dogs could technically be on a leash at all times.

I have three fairly close neighbors who raise cattle so my dogs are carefully kept behind closed - and locked - gates. One of those cattle barons has a beautiful malamute who escapes on a regular basis and comes to visit my kids through the fence.

The first time it happened and I took her home, the neighbor thanked me profusely. I told him that I like to think he would do the same for me if, God forbid, my dogs should ever get out. He changed the subject straightaway by asking how I was liking my retirement.

The Hill Online

"And, hey, if dogs then why not cats?"

I agree, especially since the ammendment states that an owner will be held liable regardless of whether the dog harms anyone or damages anything.

Why would this not apply to cats?

KTB

If anyone is concerned, please write your State of TN elected official, Senate and House.

Is that a lot of folks make a big stink out of dogs running loose and I agree it is a problem when the dog is aggressive or destructive.

We try very hard to keep our dogs in the fence but anyone can come in our yard and open the gate. We try to keep locks on the gate that is in the side yard but the back gate we keep unlocked because we have to run outside and get our dogs in when school lets out. Why? 'Cause the parents of the kids that walk by our house on their way home have NEVER taught their kids that it is NOT okay to torment or injure a dog that is behind a fence with sticks or rocks or pieces of bricks. They have also NEVER taught their kids that someone else's yard is NOT a public thoroughfare. And they have NEVER taught their kids to show simple respect for a property owner that asks them to please not walk through the yard, or yell, scream, or abuse the dogs in the fence.

But I can guaran-damn-tee ya that if our dogs ever got loose and bit the tar out of some kid's ass, we sure as hell would be sued for it, even if the kid is the one that has been throwing rocks and poking our dogs with sticks every day.

Wonder if bear traps are illegal to put in your yard as a "bear preventative" measure...this is Tennessee after all, Davy Crockett kilt him a "bar over thar".

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"You can't fix stupid..." ~ Ron White"

"I never said I wasn't a brat..." ~ Talidapali

Maybe dog owners need to take a page from the NRA. This dog control law is just the first step toward banning all dog ownership. It's time to draw a line in the sand (uh, just be careful where you step).

You can have my dog when you pry his jaws off my cold dead fingers.

I live in a home in East Knoxville and I ahve 3 small children.. we just got some new neighbors a few months ago and they have several dogs. The pit bull they keep in the house but they let it out for hours at a time daily. Every time we exit the house we are forced to watch ourselves and my kids can not play in the yard. My grandmother can not walk down and check her mail. Animal control so far has done nothing so if you ask me putting the responsibility for a dog off it's premisis onto it's owner is only logical. perhaps it will cause people to be more careful. Everything your dog does should and must be your responsibility. Would you rather be attending a funeral for some small child that your dog killed?? Your pet may be nice at your home but might not feel the same about a stranger or a small child running away from it in fear. It is an animal instinct to chase it. Please take responsibility for your pets.. if something happens to my children you are dang right I am going after the owner.