Tips for staying safe and reporting at-large dogs
'Tis the season for lots of kids and caregivers walking to and from school. In some instances, pedestrians may encounter off-leash dogs. If you find yourself in a situation where you spot a dog without an owner, take these steps to stay safe:
- Walk in a different direction. Once you spot an at-large dog, and before it sees you, it's best to take off in the opposite direction to avoid them.
- If a dog starts to chase you, stop moving. A dog's instinct is to chase you if you run.
- Keep your arms loose at your sides - don't flail around
- Speak in calm tones, telling it to go home or that it's a good dog
- Don't touch or pet the dog or look it in the eye
Once you are safe and away from the dog, report it to Hillsborough County Animal Control at (813) 744-5660. Give as much detail as possible, including exact location and description of the animal.
Dog owners with off-leash animals are subject to citations and fines as outlined in the Animal-at-Large Ordinance. The ordinance dictates that any pet when off its owner's property or in a public place must be under direct control. If cited, the fines are at least $100 and up to $500 for multiple violations.
All bark, no bite
Of the 62 million dogs currently living in U.S. households, roughly 4.5 million of them are reported for dog bites every year, with many of those victims being children.
Most of those dog bites are preventable through proper training and socialization of your dog, as well as educating children and individuals on how to approach a dog. Any dog can bite, so the more you know and do, the better prepared you will be.
Here are some tips from Hillsborough County's Code Enforcement Animal Control Division on dog bite prevention:
- Never leave children unsupervised with a dog. Any dog can bite.
- Spay or neuter your dog to deter roaming and aggressive behaviors
- Watch the dog's body language. Many times, dogs will give warning signs prior to biting such as growling, backing away, dilated pupils, raised hackles, ears going back, and lip licking.
- Take your dog to the veterinarian annually for check-ups, vaccinations, and registration tags. Dogs that are sick or in pain can bite even if they never have in the past.
- Do train, but don't chain, your dog. Tethering in Hillsborough County is illegal.
- Make your dog a party animal. Socialize your pet to be comfortable with people and other pets.
- Dogs are territorial, so don't allow yours to wander the neighborhood
- Avoid playing teasing games, like tug-of-war, since your dog may not know its own strength, and may think it is playing even when it is being aggressive
- Never bother a dog when it is eating, sleeping, nursing babies, or even having a treat
- Do not try to break up dogs engaged in biting or fighting with your hands. If you feel you must break up a fight use water from a hose or a stick to separate the dogs.
- If confronted by an aggressive dog, avoid direct eye contact or sudden moves, including running away. Also avoid making loud noises like screaming or shouting.
- Teach children to avoid strays and to ask permission before petting other people's dogs
Dangerous dog database
Hillsborough County Animal Control maintains a database with photos and addresses for dogs deemed dangerous. An owner whose dog has been classified as dangerous in Hillsborough County must register the dog with Animal Control within 14 days of the determination. Failure to properly register a dangerous dog may result in a fine of up to $500. Learn more.
Learn more
Dog bite prevention requirements are enforced through citations and fines. Review animal-related ordinances in Chapter 6 of the Hillsborough County Code and learn how to avoid fines for the most commonly cited ordinances.