Dangerous Dogs; Duty of Owner of Dangerous Dog.
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 8-3-11
in effectSec. 8-3-11. - Dangerous Dogs; Duty of Owner of Dangerous Dog.
Upon conviction, a court of competent jurisdiction may order the defendant to:
A. Enroll, attend, and complete an approved animal behavior modification at the owner/custodian's expense.
B. Registration and Tag.
1. Within 30 days after an animal is classified as dangerous, the owner of the animal must obtain a dangerous dog tag for the animal from Memphis Animal Services. The tag shall be worn by the dog at all times and renewed annually. The animal services director, or their designee, is only authorized to issue such tags and renewals to persons who are at least 18 years old and who present to the animal services director, or their designee, sufficient evidence of:
a. A current certificate of rabies vaccination for the animal;
b. A proper enclosure to confine a dangerous animal and the posting at all entry points of the premises a clearly visible warning sign of a dangerous animal on the property or premises which reads:
WARNING
DANGEROUS DOG ON PREMISES
c. Proof that the dog has been spayed/neutered and microchipped;
d. Proof of a current public liability insurance policy or a bond of not less than $50,000.00 insuring the owner of the animal for any damages, whether arising from personal injury or otherwise, which may be caused by the dangerous animal. Such policy must provide for 30 days' notice to the city of Memphis Animal Services prior to cancellation or expiration of the policy. In the event such liability insurance or bond is canceled, lapses, or for any other reason becomes unenforceable, the owner shall be in violation of the provisions of this chapter and title;
e. Payment in accordance with the current fee schedule as defined in this chapter for the issuance of a dangerous dog tag.
2. If the owner/custodian does not obtain a dangerous dog tag within 30 days or fails to comply with any of the conditions listed herein, the classified dog shall be forfeited and must be immediately surrendered to Memphis Animal Services or shall be impounded by an animal services officer.
3. The owner/custodian shall immediately notify the appropriate animal control authority when an animal that has been classified as dangerous:
a. Is running at-large or unconfined;
b. Has bitten a human being;
c. Is sold, given away, or dies; prior to a dangerous animal being sold or given away, the owner shall provide the name, address, and telephone number of the new owner to the animal control authority; any new owner residing in the city must comply with all the requirements of this chapter and title without further order of the court.
d. Is moved to another address.
B. Confinement outdoors.
1. All dangerous dogs shall be confined in a securely enclosed and locked pen or kennel, except when leashed and muzzled as provided in this section.
2. Such pen, kennel or structure shall be at least 20 feet from any street or sidewalk, ten feet from any property line and must have secure sides and a secure top to the structure.
3. Such structures must be locked with a key or combination lock when any animal is within the structure.
4. Such structure must have a secure concrete bottom or floor attached to the sides of the pen or the sides of the pen must be embedded in the ground no less than two feet.
5. All structures erected to house dangerous animals must be a minimum of six feet by ten feet (6'×10') enclosure and comply with all zoning and building regulations of the city.
6. All such structures must meet the definition of adequate shelter as defined in this chapter and must be inspected and approved by Memphis Animal Services.
D. Confinement indoors. No dangerous animal may be kept on a porch, patio or in any part of a house or structure that would allow the animal to exit such building of its own volition. In addition, no such animal may be kept in a house or structure when any unbarred window is open or when any screened window or screen door is the only obstacle preventing the animal from exiting the structure.
E. Leash and muzzle.
1. No person shall permit a dangerous animal to go outside its kennel or pen unless such animal is securely leashed with a substantial restraint no longer than four feet in length.
2. No person shall permit a dangerous animal to be kept on rope or other type of leash outside of its kennel or pen unless a competent person at least 18 years old is in physical control of the restraint.
3. Such animal may not be leashed to inanimate objects.
4. All dangerous animals on a leash outside the animal's kennel must be muzzled to prevent such animal from biting persons or other animals. The muzzle should not cause injury to the animal or interfere with its vision or breathing but shall prevent it from biting any person.
F. Any dog charged as dangerous, notwithstanding a later finding of not guilty, must be fitted with a microchip implant and spayed/neutered within 30 days of the biting incident with no exceptions.
(Ord. No. 5843, § 1, 7-11-2023)
Source: City of Memphis, Code of Ordinances and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/memphis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT8AN_CH8-3DOCA_S8-3-11DADODUOWDADOFetched: 10/28/2026