Leashing dogs is mandatory: failure to do so means strict liability for any harm caused (you must pay compensation regardless of fault), and the obligation extends fully. The dog also needs its rabies vaccinations on schedule and a dog registration

If a dog injures someone, the owner generally has to pay no matter who was at fault; only proof that the other person acted intentionally or with gross negligence can reduce it. Without a leash, “the other person's intent” is the only reduction left, and in serious cases you can also be detained. A dog without its rabies shots on schedule brings an order to correct it and possibly a fine. For prohibited aggressive breeds there is no ground for exemption at all.

Cost

A leash costs just a few dollars. Rabies shots and registration cost money too, and fees vary by place. The hard part is remembering the leash every time you go out and bringing the dog in for its shot when it falls due.

Benefit

When a pet causes injury to another person, its owner or the person supervising it at the time bears legal liability for compensation. Only if it can be demonstrated that the injured individual deliberately provoked the animal or displayed gross negligence may the compensation obligation be lessened or voided. Yet, if safety measures mandated by law were ignored — such as neglecting to use a leash — the sole remaining mitigating factor, “intentional conduct by the injured party,” no longer applies. Not using a leash thus eliminates this sole chance to reduce liability. In the case of prohibited aggressive breeds, there is absolutely no legal basis for exemption from compensation. Under Article 89 of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, failing to take safety measures so that an animal injures someone brings a fine of up to 1,000 yuan, and in more serious cases detention of 5 to 10 days. Article 30 of the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law requires dog owners to have the dog vaccinated against rabies at the set intervals, then take the immunization certificate issued by an animal clinic (a pet hospital, for example) to the local office to register the dog. When taking the dog out, it must wear its license tag and be leashed as the rules require. Under Article 92 of the same law, an owner who fails to vaccinate the dog against rabies as required is ordered by the agriculture authority to correct it within a time limit and may be fined up to 1,000 yuan. If it is still not corrected, the fine is 1,000 to 5,000 yuan, and the dog is handled by an animal clinic or similar body on the authority's behalf, at the owner's expense

Notes

Compensation for dog bites typically covers medical costs, lost wages, rabies vaccinations, and immunoglobulin treatments; amounts exceeding $10000 are common. Higher figures apply when injuries are severe or involve children. Failure to intervene does not absolve liability: owners remain responsible even if their dog runs away or is abandoned during an attack. The Animal Epidemic Prevention Law leaves the detailed rules for dog epidemic control to each province, autonomous region and municipality. Where to register, what it costs and how often to vaccinate depend on your local dog-keeping regulations. What to do after a bite: Section 13, Item 13 (bites from dogs and cats).

Sources · 1

1. 全国人大 (2020). 民法典. 最高人民检察院转载全文. spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml 第一千二百四十五条：「饲养的动物造成他人损害的，动物饲养人或者管理人应当承担侵权责任；但是，能够证明损害是因被侵权人故意或者重大过失造成的，可以不承担或者减轻责任。」第一千二百四十六条：「违反管理规定，未对动物采取安全措施造成他人损害的，动物饲养人或者管理人应当承担侵权责任；但是，能够证明损害是因被侵权人故意造成的，可以减轻责任。」第一千二百四十七条：「禁止饲养的烈性犬等危险动物造成他人损害的，动物饲养人或者管理人应当承担侵权责任。」第一千二百四十九条：遗弃、逃逸的动物在此期间造成损害，由原饲养人或者管理人承担责任；全国人大常委会 (2025). 治安管理处罚法（2025 年修订，2026-01-01 施行）. 国家法律法规数据库. flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff80818197af9ccc0197… 第八十九条第三款：「未对动物采取安全措施，致使动物伤害他人的，处一千元以下罚款；情节较重的，处五日以上十日以下拘留。」；全国人大常委会 (2021). 动物防疫法（2021 年修订，2021-05-01 施行）. 国家法律法规数据库. flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080817703add20177… 第三十条第一款：「单位和个人饲养犬只，应当按照规定定期免疫接种狂犬病疫苗，凭动物诊疗机构出具的免疫证明向所在地养犬登记机关申请登记。」第二款：「携带犬只出户的，应当按照规定佩戴犬牌并采取系犬绳等措施，防止犬只伤人、疫病传播。」第五款：「饲养犬只防疫管理的具体办法，由省、自治区、直辖市制定。」第九十二条：「由县级以上地方人民政府农业农村主管部门责令限期改正，可以处一千元以下罚款；逾期不改正的，处一千元以上五千元以下罚款，由县级以上地方人民政府农业农村主管部门委托动物诊疗机构、无害化处理场所等代为处理，所需费用由违法行为人承担」，适用情形第（三）项：「对饲养的犬只未按照规定定期进行狂犬病免疫接种的」