American Disability Rights
  • Menu
    • Guide to Disability Rights Laws
    • Service Dogs
    • Service Dogs in Training
    • Emotional Support Animals
    • Public Access
    • Reasonable Accommodations
American Disability Rights
  • Service Dogs
  • Emotional Support Animals
  • Disability Civil Rights
  • Menu

Harassment of assistance dog by humans or other dogs; penalty

Georgia Service Dog Codes

Harassment of assistance dog by humans or other dogs; penalty

Any state laws supplement and complement the national disability discrimination laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Air Carrier Access Act and the Rehab Act.

ADR COMMENT:  Georgia only grants public access and housing rights residents with physical or sensory disabilities.  Mental health disabilities are not covered under state law.

ADR COMMENT:  Georgia only grants public access rights for service dogs in training to individuals with proper credentials for an accredited school for assistance dogs and the animal must be wearing identification for the school.

O.C.G.A. § 16-11-107.1

Current through the 2017 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

  • Official Code of Georgia Annotated
  • TITLE 16. CRIMES AND OFFENSES
  • CHAPTER 11. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY
  • ARTICLE 4. DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTALITIES AND PRACTICES
  • PART 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

§ 16-11-107.1. Harassment of assistance dog by humans or other dogs; penalty

  • (a)  As used in this Code section, the term:
    • (1)  “Assistance dog” means a dog that is or has been trained by a licensed or certified person, organization, or agency to perform physical tasks for a physically challenged person. Assistance dogs include guide or leader dogs that guide individuals who are legally blind; hearing dogs that alert individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to specific sounds; and service dogs for individuals with disabilities other than blindness or deafness, which are trained to perform a variety of physical tasks, including, but not limited to, pulling a wheelchair, lending balance support, picking up dropped objects, or providing assistance in a medical crisis.
    • (2)  “Harass” means to engage in any conduct directed toward an assistance dog that is knowingly likely to impede or interfere with the assistance dog’s performance of its duties or that places the blind, deaf, or physically limited person being served or assisted by the dog in danger of injury.
    • (3)  “Notice” means an oral or otherwise communicated warning proscribing the behavior of another person and a request that the person stop the particular behavior.
  • (b)  Any person who knowingly and intentionally harasses or attempts to harass an assistance dog, knowing the dog to be an assistance dog, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 90 days or a fine not to exceed $500.00, or both.
  • (c)  Any person who has received notice that his or her behavior is interfering with the use of an assistance dog who continues to knowingly and intentionally harass an assistance dog, knowing the dog to be an assistance dog, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 90 days or a fine not to exceed $500.00, or both, provided that any person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this subsection shall be punished as for a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.
  • (d)  Any person who knowingly and intentionally allows his or her dog to harass an assistance dog, knowing the dog to be an assistance dog, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 90 days or a fine not to exceed $500.00, or both, provided that any person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this subsection shall be punished as for a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.
  • (e)  Any person who knowingly and intentionally allows his or her dog to cause death or physical harm to an assistance dog by rendering a part of the assistance dog’s body useless or by seriously disfiguring the assistance dog, knowing the dog to be an assistance dog, shall be punished as for a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.

  • Georgia Service Dog Laws
    • Definitions
    • Harassment of assistance dog by humans or other dogs; penalty
    • Interference, denial of admittance or exercise of rights
    • Right to equal public accommodations; right to be accompanied by guide dog or service dog
    • Right to housing accommodations

  • Search
  • Donate to ADR Today

© 2017- American Disability Rights, Inc. Do not reuse text, graphics or educational materials without written permission.

Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Sitemap

An IRS 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Tax Exempt Organization.

SearchPostsLogin
Wednesday, 1, Jan
HUD asks FTC to investigate websites selling assistance animal documentation
Sunday, 10, Nov
Families claim they paid thousands for service animal and got expensive pet
Saturday, 9, Nov
DOJ settles ADA complaint about hotels not honoring reservations for disabled vets with service dogs
Wednesday, 6, Nov
Norwich man says car dealership denied him job because of service dog
Sunday, 3, Nov
The number of fake emotional support dogs is exploding – why?
Sunday, 3, Nov
Amid pit bull debate, service dogs prove life-changing for Sioux City veterans

Welcome back,