The bill proposes to repeal the existing section 578.024 of Missouri law and replace it with a new section that outlines the offense of keeping a dangerous dog, along with associated penalties. Under the new provisions, a person is deemed to be keeping a dangerous dog if they own or possess a dog that has bitten any person, domestic animal, or livestock without provocation on one occasion, or has previously bitten and then bites again on a subsequent occasion. The penalties for this offense vary based on the severity of the attack, with infractions for first-time bites, class B misdemeanors for subsequent bites, and escalating to class A misdemeanors or class E felonies if serious injury or death occurs. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the immediate seizure and impoundment of dogs that have previously bitten, with a process for the owner to appeal the decision. The court is empowered to order the owner to pay for medical bills resulting from the bite or the replacement cost of any deceased domestic animal or livestock. Furthermore, it allows individuals to kill a dog that poses a threat to their safety or the safety of others. The bill also clarifies that owners are not liable if their dog attacks a person engaged in criminal activity, with specific exceptions for trespassers.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (6615H.01): 578.024