If you live on the Leech Lake Reservation, you have probably heard of the dog ordinance. You must follow it to protect your dogs and yourself. If you violate the dog ordinance, you can be fined up to $10,000 if your dog attacks someone.
The Leech Lake Tribal Council took notice that dogs were a public health and safety risk in parts of the Leech Lake Reservation. To better protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people, livestock, and game on the Reservation, they created the dog ordinance to control the dog population.
To control the dog population, the Tribal Council requires that any dog living on the Reservation must be registered by its owner with the Leech Lake Public Safety Division. There is an annual registration fee of $10.
It is important you understand what is considered a “dangerous” dog. A dog is considered dangerous when it does any of the following without being provoked
- Causes substantial harm to a human
- Kills a domestic animal
- Cases or approaches a person upon the streets, sidewalks, or public grounds in a frightening way
A dog is also dangerous if an enforcement officer finds the dog to be dangerous and the dog bites, attacks, or endangers humans or animals or if it has been used in dog fighting.
If your dog is dangerous, you must prove you have insurance with a $50,000 liability limit to cover any damages that the dog might cause. Rottweilers, pit bulls, Dobermans, shepherds, and or any dog mixed with any of those breeds must also have $50,000 in liability insurance.
Please note that the Leech Lake Housing Authority has recently created a strict one-dog-per-household pet policy. If you live in Leech Lake public housing and have more than one dog, please be aware of this. They will conduct home visits to arrange the collection of a $50 fee. If they find you have more than one dog, they might get you time to give the others away, or they might seize them on the spot.
If this happens to you, Please call Anishinabe Legal Services at 218-335-2223 to complete an intake.
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