2022 Georgia Code
Title 4 - Animals
Chapter 8 - Dogs
Article 1 - General Provisions
§ 4-8-4. Liability of Owner or Custodian for Damages Done to Livestock, Poultry, or Pet Animal by Dog

1. The owner or, if no owner can be found, the custodian exercising care and control over any dog which while off the owner’s or custodian’s property causes injury, death, or damage directly or indirectly to any livestock, poultry, or pet animal shall be civilly liable to the owner of the livestock, poultry, or pet animal for injury, death, or damage caused by the dog. The owner or, if no owner can be found, the custodian exercising care and control over any dog shall be liable for any damage caused by such dog to public or private property. The liability of the owner or custodian of the dog shall include consequential damages.
2. This Code section is to be considered cumulative of other remedies provided by law. There is no intent to eliminate or limit other causes of action which might inure to the owner of any livestock, poultry, or pet animal.

History. Ga. L. 1969, p. 831, § 4; Ga. L. 2012, p. 1290, § 2/HB 685.

The 2012 amendment, effective July 1, 2012, in subsection (a), in the first sentence, substituted “while off the owner’s or custodian’s property” for “goes upon the land of another and”, substituted “livestock, poultry, or pet animal” for “livestock or poultry”, and substituted “livestock, poultry, or pet animal for injury, death, or damage” for “livestock or poultry for damages, death, or injury” near the end, and added the second sentence; and, in the second sentence of subsection (b), substituted “eliminate” for “do away with” and substituted “livestock, poultry, or pet animal” for “livestock or poultry” at the end. See the editor’s note for applicability.

Cross references.

Provisions regarding liability of owner of dog which kills or injures livestock, § 51-2-6.

Editor’s notes.

Ga. L. 2012, p. 1290, § 6/HB 685, not codified by the General Assembly, provides, in part, that the amendment of this Code section shall apply to proceedings for the classification and registration of dogs which are pending on July 1, 2012, as well as to such proceedings which arise on or after July 1, 2012.

Law reviews.

For survey of developments in Georgia torts law from mid-1980 through mid-1981, see 33 Mercer L. Rev. 247 (1981).

For article on the 2012 amendment of this Code section, see 29 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 180 (2012).