Assembly bill would revise ‘vicious dog’ definition

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey could soon revise its standards for what constitutes a vicious dog.

Lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require courts to find clear and convincing evidence that a dog has been involved in fighting and that it poses a serious threat to people or other domestic animals.

The Assembly's Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee was set to consider the bill Thursday but opted not to instead.

Under current law, a dog's involvement in a fight would be enough for the court to declare the animal vicious. It also prescribes that the dog must be euthanized if it's found to be vicious.

The measure would also add criteria for declaring a dog potentially dangerous. Under current law, a municipal court is required to declare a dog potentially dangerous if the court finds the dog has been trained, tormented, badgered, baited or encouraged to engage in unprovoked attacks upon persons or domestic animals

The legislation would also require the court also find that the dog poses a serious threat of injury or death to a person or domestic animal.

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