Dogs in Arizona, United States: rules, tax and travel

Dogs 3 months and older are licensed through the county; the county board of supervisors sets the fee and the licence period follows the rabies revaccination interval (A.R.S. 11-1008).[1]

Dogs must be leashed, or enclosed in a car or cage, in public parks and on public school property, except at recognised kennel club or school or park events. In a declared rabies quarantine area, dogs off the owner's property must be on a leash of no more than 6 feet under the owner's direct control. Dogs over 3 months at large must wear a collar or harness with a licence tag. Vicious dogs and females in season may not be at large (A.R.S. 11-1012). Counties and cities may have stricter leash rules.[2]

Bite liability: strict. The owner is liable for a bite in a public place or where the victim is lawfully present, regardless of the dog's former viciousness; decision makers may not consider breed (A.R.S. 11-1025).[3]

Breed rules: counties may enforce a city's dog rules only if they are not breed-specific (A.R.S. 11-1005). Animallaw.info lists Arizona as barring breed-specific local rules.[4]

Rabies: A.R.S. 11-1014 assumes vaccination under the state rules; an unvaccinated biting dog or cat is quarantined at least 10 days. Rules refer to the national Compendium (A.A.C. R3-2-409).[5]