When Good Dogs Do Bad Things
Tennessee law requires owners to keep their dogs under reasonable control at all times, and to keep their dogs from running at large. “Running at large” means going uncontrolled onto another person’s property, or onto a road, street, or public place. A person who breaches this duty is strictly liable for injuries caused to another person by the dog. The owner is responsible, even if the owner was not negligent, and even if the owner had no notice of the dog’s dangerous traits. There are five exceptions: • When the injured person was trespassing on private property; • When the injured person was