2006 Minnesota Statutes

347.51 DANGEROUS DOGS; REGISTRATION.
    Subdivision 1. Requirement. No person may own a dangerous dog in this state unless the
dog is registered as provided in this section.
    Subd. 2. Registration. An animal control authority shall issue a certificate of registration to
the owner of a dangerous dog if the owner presents sufficient evidence that:
(1) a proper enclosure exists for the dangerous dog and a posting on the premises with
a clearly visible warning sign, including a warning symbol to inform children, that there is
a dangerous dog on the property;
(2) a surety bond issued by a surety company authorized to conduct business in this state in a
form acceptable to the animal control authority in the sum of at least $50,000, payable to any
person injured by the dangerous dog, or a policy of liability insurance issued by an insurance
company authorized to conduct business in this state in the amount of at least $50,000, insuring
the owner for any personal injuries inflicted by the dangerous dog;
(3) the owner has paid an annual fee of not more than $500, in addition to any regular dog
licensing fees, to obtain a certificate of registration for a dangerous dog under this section; and
(4) the owner has had microchip identification implanted in the dangerous dog as required
under section 347.515.
    Subd. 2a. Warning symbol. If a county issues a certificate of registration to the owner of a
dangerous dog pursuant to subdivision 2, the county must provide, for posting on the owner's
property, a copy of a warning symbol to inform children that there is a dangerous dog on the
property. The design of the warning symbol must be uniform and specified by the commissioner
of public safety, after consultation with animal control professionals. The commissioner shall
provide the number of copies of the warning symbol requested by each county and shall charge
the county the actual cost of the warning symbols received. The county may charge the registrant
a reasonable fee to cover its administrative costs and the cost of the warning symbol.
    Subd. 3. Fee. The county may charge the owner an annual fee, in addition to any regular dog
licensing fees, to obtain a certificate of registration for a dangerous dog under this section.
    Subd. 3a. Dangerous dog designation review. Beginning six months after a dog is declared
a dangerous dog, an owner may request annually that the animal control authority review the
designation. The owner must provide evidence that the dog's behavior has changed due to the
dog's age, neutering, environment, completion of obedience training that includes modification of
aggressive behavior, or other factors. If the animal control authority finds sufficient evidence that
the dog's behavior has changed, the authority may rescind the dangerous dog designation.
    Subd. 4. Law enforcement; exemption. The provisions of this section do not apply to
dangerous dogs used by law enforcement officials for police work.
    Subd. 5. Exemption. Dogs may not be declared dangerous if the threat, injury, or damage
was sustained by a person:
(1) who was committing, at the time, a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises
occupied by the owner of the dog;
(2) who was provoking, tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the dog or who can be shown to
have repeatedly, in the past, provoked, tormented, abused, or assaulted the dog; or
(3) who was committing or attempting to commit a crime.
    Subd. 6.[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 8 art 8 s 30]
    Subd. 7. Tag. A dangerous dog registered under this section must have a standardized,
easily identifiable tag identifying the dog as dangerous and containing the uniform dangerous
dog symbol, affixed to the dog's collar at all times. The commissioner of public safety, after
consultation with animal control professionals, shall provide by rule for the design of the tag.
    Subd. 8. Local ordinances. A statutory or home rule charter city, or a county, may not adopt
an ordinance regulating dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs based solely on the specific
breed of the dog. Ordinances inconsistent with this subdivision are void.
    Subd. 9. Contracted services. A county may contract with another political subdivision or
other person to provide the services required under sections 347.50 to 347.54. Notwithstanding
any contract entered into under this subdivision, all fees collected under sections 347.50 to 347.54
shall be paid to the county and all certificates of registration must be issued in the name of the
county.
History: 1988 c 711 s 2; 1989 c 37 s 6-10; 1991 c 195 s 1; 1994 c 550 s 2; 1997 c 187 art
3 s 32; 1Sp2001 c 8 art 8 s 16-18