Pet and Animal Law

Arizona Legal Advice Columns

The following articles are reprints of Mr. O'Steen's legal advice columns which appeared in The Arizona Republic and other newspapers across the State. We hope that they are helpful in answering some of your legal questions.

If you require more specific or personalized assistance, we encourage you to consult with an attorney.

Owners Can Help Keep Dogs and Other Pets from Unleashing Costly Difficulties

The most recent addition to my family is a beagle puppy we call Keith.  He was named for Rolling Stones rhythm guitarist Keith Richards.

Keith is a typical puppy.  He is friendly, energetic and rambunctious.  He is not, however, vicious.  I expect he never will be.  I have had too much experience with this breed to be concerned about that.

Dog Ownership Comes With a Leash, Legal Obligations

 

Those of us who own dogs have legal responsibilities because of them. This is a summary of the laws pertaining to dog ownership.

Good Fences Tend to Make Dogs Much Better Neighbors

 

I own a beagle named Keith. Keith is not my first beagle; he is my fifth. With the first, I learned that hounds love to roam. Unrestrained, they will follow their noses forever.

Over the years, I have been forced to do a series of upgrades on my backyard fence to make it escape-proof. The result is Keith never has been out of our backyard or house except when he was on a leash.

Law Helps Neighbors Muzzle Nuisance of Barking Dogs

 

Mark Twain once quipped that we should be grateful heaven goes by gift and not merit. If it went by merit, we would stay out and our dogs would go in.

Dogs impose very little on us. They are devoted, they are loyal and they rarely talk back. However, they are not perfect. In fact, occasionally they can be a genuine nuisance—particularly if they bark incessantly. The ones who regularly serenade us, and our neighbors, in the middle of the night especially are deserving of a place other than heaven.

Animals

Owners Can Help Keep Dogs and Other Pets from Unleashing Costly Difficulties

Dog Ownership Comes With a Leash, Legal Obligations

Good Fences Tend to Make Dogs Much Better Neighbors

Law Helps Neighbors Muzzle Nuisance of Barking Dogs