North Dakota Dangerous Dog Law

What happens in the first 10 days?

The state health department's rule of practice is that a healthy dog that bites someone is confined and watched for 10 days¹³. A veterinarian should examine the dog at the start and at the end. If it shows signs of rabies, it is euthanized and its brain is tested; if it is healthy on day 10, the bitten person does not need rabies shots¹³. "Confinement" under the rabies chapter means a building, cage, fence, pen or other secure enclosure that keeps the dog away from other animals and from everyone except the owner, a caretaker and their households¹². A dog can therefore usually be observed at home.

The rabies chapter gives the Department of Health and Human Services real power. It may seize and quarantine, or confine and observe, a dog that has bitten someone if the owner is "unwilling or unable" to follow its recommendations¹². Except in an emergency, seizing a dog from private property requires an administrative search warrant¹². When the dog is not seized, a law enforcement officer with jurisdiction decides whether it is impounded or quarantined and how it is confined¹². On request, a veterinarian examines the dog at the owner's expense¹².

Ignoring an impound or quarantine order, hiding or moving the dog to avoid seizure, or recklessly hindering officials is an infraction¹². Bites can be reported to the Division of Disease Control, which follows up with the owner and the bitten person when needed¹⁴. More in dog bite quarantine.

Who pays for quarantine and rabies shots?

The owner pays the quarantine and veterinary costs, and the cost of the bitten person's rabies treatment, if the dog was not licensed or not vaccinated or confined as state or local law requires¹². That rule does not limit any other claim against the owner¹². If the bitten person cannot afford the treatment, the department may provide the rabies biologics free¹².

Is there a dangerous-dog law in North Dakota?

Not at the state level. North Dakota has no statute that defines a "dangerous" or "potentially dangerous" dog, requires registration, insurance or a special enclosure, or sets a hearing for a dog that bites⁴. Those rules come from cities. State law lets every city "license dogs, and to regulate the keeping of dogs, including authorization for their disposition or destruction in order to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public"¹⁶. Cities may also restrict dogs running at large and run pounds¹⁶. An owner facing a dangerous-dog notice should read the city ordinance that applies, including its appeal deadline.

The state's nuisance-dog procedure

The one state procedure is old and narrow. A dog that "habitually molests a person traveling peaceably on the public road or street" is a public nuisance⁴. Anyone may file a written complaint with a district or municipal judge. The judge first notifies the owner to take the steps needed to stop the dog. Only after a further complaint does the judge summon the owner to a hearing⁴. If the owner is unknown, notice is published in a newspaper 10 days before the hearing⁴.

If the judge finds the dog is a nuisance, the law gives the judge no other option: the judge must order a peace officer to "kill and bury the dog"⁴. The owner pays the costs; if the dog is not found to be a nuisance, the person who complained pays⁴. The chapter does not cover a single bite, a dog on private property or a dog that attacks other animals.

In 2023 the Legislature nearly widened it. House Bill 1364 would have amended the nuisance chapter after a Burleigh County resident described a dog that terrorized neighbors on their own property¹⁷. It passed the House 56-34 and an amended version passed the Senate 46-0, but it failed on a 45-45 tie in the House on April 3, 2023¹⁷. The chapter in force in October 2026 is unchanged.

Can a dog be put down after a bite?

Under state law, yes in three situations: the nuisance judgment above⁴; a dog that has bitten someone and that a veterinarian finds shows signs of rabies¹²; and any destruction a city ordinance authorizes¹⁶. A separate statute lets anyone kill a dog caught killing, chasing or worrying livestock or poultry without civil liability to its owner²⁰. See dog bite euthanasia laws.

Can the owner be charged with a crime?

No statute targets dog attacks. In a fatal or serious attack, prosecutors would use the general Criminal Code. Recklessly causing a death is manslaughter, a class B felony; negligently causing one is negligent homicide, a class C felony¹⁸. Creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death is reckless endangerment, a class A misdemeanor, or a class C felony when the conduct shows extreme indifference to human life¹⁹. City ordinances add their own penalties for at-large or vicious dogs. See dog bite criminal charges.

Breed rules

No state law bans or protects any breed, and none stops cities from passing breed-specific ordinances under their power to regulate dogs¹⁶. Compare breed-specific legislation across the states.

What if the dog bites again?

State law has no repeat-bite rule; city ordinances may. The civil risk rises sharply, though. An earlier bite is the classic proof that the owner knew the dog was dangerous, which is what a victim must show to win¹.

Rules for a declared dog in North Dakota

North Dakota rules in brief

Reporting. The state health department asks that animal bites and possible rabies exposures be reported to its Division of Disease Control at 701.328.2378 or 800.472.2180¹⁴. Bites themselves are not on the state's list of mandatory reportable conditions; rabies in an animal or a person is¹⁵. City ordinances may add a duty to report to police or animal control.

Euthanasia. A dog that "habitually molests" people on a public road or street can be declared a public nuisance by a district or municipal judge after a warning and a second complaint, and the judge must then order a peace officer to "kill and bury the dog"⁴. The health department may euthanize a biting dog that a veterinarian finds shows signs of rabies¹². Cities may authorize the destruction of dogs by ordinance¹⁶.

Criminal penalties. No North Dakota statute makes a dog attack a crime in itself. A fatal or near-fatal attack can fall under the general offenses: manslaughter (recklessly causing death, class B felony), negligent homicide (class C felony) or reckless endangerment^18,19. Ignoring a rabies quarantine order is an infraction¹².

Breed rules. No North Dakota statute bars breed-specific ordinances, and state law lets cities regulate the keeping of dogs, including their "disposition or destruction"¹⁶.

Compare states: dangerous dog laws by state, bite quarantine rules, euthanasia after a bite. If your dog bit someone, start with what happens next.

Sources

1. Sendelbach v. Grad, 246 N.W.2d 496 (N.D. 1976), CourtListener (Free Law Project). Checked 17 October 2026.
2. O'Leary v. Coenen, 251 N.W.2d 746 (N.D. 1977), CourtListener (Free Law Project). Checked 17 October 2026.
3. N.D.C.C. § 9-10-06, Willful acts and negligence - Liability, North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
4. N.D.C.C. ch. 42-03, Dogs as public nuisance, North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
5. N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16, Actions having six-year limitations, North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
6. N.D.C.C. § 28-01-25, Disabilities extend limitations on actions generally, North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
7. N.D.C.C. § 28-01-18, Actions having two-year limitations, North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
8. N.D.C.C. § 32-03.2-02, Modified comparative fault, North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
9. N.D.C.C. §§ 32-03.2-04 and 32-03.2-11, Economic and noneconomic damages; exemplary damages, North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
10. N.D.C.C. ch. 32-12.1, Government liability (§§ 32-12.1-03, 32-12.1-10), North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
11. N.D.C.C. § 32-12.2-04 (notice of claim against the state) and § 28-01-22.1 (actions against the state), North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
12. N.D.C.C. ch. 23-36, Rabies control, North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
13. Rabies FAQs, North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. Checked 17 October 2026.
14. Rabies Guidance for Veterinarians (updated April 2024), North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. Checked 17 October 2026.
15. N.D. Admin. Code § 33-06-01-01, Reportable conditions, North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
16. N.D.C.C. § 40-05-01(22), (47), City powers: dogs; animals running at large, North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
17. HB 1364 (2023), relating to animals as a public nuisance: bill overview and actions, North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
18. N.D.C.C. §§ 12.1-16-02 and 12.1-16-03, Manslaughter; negligent homicide, North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
19. N.D.C.C. § 12.1-17-03, Reckless endangerment, North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.
20. N.D.C.C. §§ 36-21-10 and 36-21-11, Dogs worrying or damaging livestock, North Dakota Legislative Branch. Checked 17 October 2026.