§4-42.4. Owners of dangerous dogs, bite or attacks on public

386 words·~2 min read·/ok/title-4-animals/4-42-4

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

property - Penalty.

A. It is unlawful for the owner of any dog that previously has:

1. When unprovoked inflicted bites on any person or severely injured any person either on public or private property; or

2. When unprovoked created an imminent threat of injury or death to any person, to permit such dog to run at large or aggressively bite or attack any person while such person is lawfully upon public or private property. Upon conviction, the violator shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one

(1)year, or by imposition of a fine not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition, the owner shall be liable for damages as provided in Section 42.1 of this title.

B. The owner of any dangerous dog as defined by Section 44 of this title, or any dog that is described in subsection A of this section, that attacks any person causing the death of such person shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class D1 felony offense punishable by imprisonment as provided for in subsections B through F of Section 20N of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or by the imposition of a fine not to exceed Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

C. It is unlawful for any person to release any dog upon a law enforcement officer while the officer is in the performance of official duties. Upon conviction, the violator shall be guilty of a Class D1 felony offense punishable by imprisonment as provided for in subsections B through F of Section 20N of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or by imposition of a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

D. It shall be an affirmative defense to a prosecution pursuant to subsection A or B of this section that the injury or death was sustained by a person who, at the time, was committing a willful criminal act upon the premises of the owner of the dog or was assaulting the owner of the dog. Added by Laws 2006, c. 262, § 1, emerg. eff. June 7, 2006. Amended by Laws 2025, c. 486, § 330, eff. Jan. 1, 2026.