Iowa Dog Bite Law

Iowa is a strict liability state with a law that applies to injuries inflicted upon domestic animals and people.

• Litigation forms and other materials for attorneys
• If your case involves injury to a dog, read this section and also see What To Do If Your Dog Is Injured or Killed

Overview

The Iowa dog bite statute imposes liability upon dog owners in a variety of circumstances. It covers all damage if the dog -

• Bites a person.
• Attempts to bite a person.
• Attacks a person.
• Is "caught in the action of worrying, maiming or killing a domestic animal."

The statute does not apply, however, if the victim is doing "an unlawful act, directly contributing to the injury." It also does not apply if the attacking dog suffers from hydrophobia (a "rabies attack") unless the owner had "reasonable grounds" to know about the illness could have prevented the injury "by reasonable effort."

Here is the text of the statute:

351.28  Liability for damages.

The owner of a dog shall be liable to an injured party for all damages done by the dog, when the dog is caught in the action of worrying, maiming, or killing a domestic animal, or the dog is attacking or attempting to bite a person, except when the party damaged is doing an unlawful act, directly contributing to the injury. This section does not apply to damage done by a dog affected with hydrophobia unless the owner of the dog had reasonable grounds to know that the dog was afflicted with hydrophobia and by reasonable effort might have prevented the injury.