AN ACT CONCERNING ROAMING DOGS.

SB 1446 increases penalties for dog owners or keepers who allow dogs to roam uncontrolled on others' property or public highways. Under this bill, a first violation carries a fine up to $350, a second violation up to $500, and subsequent violations become a class C misdemeanor punishable by fines or up to three months in jail. The law establishes that unauthorized dog presence on private property or roads is considered prima facie evidence of a violation. This bill directly affects dog owners and keepers, effective October 1, 2025, and amends existing statute 22-364.