Animal Laws

Leash Law: Section 22, Article 2 of the Kauai County Code

Dogs must be under control of their owner by a leash (not more than (8) feet long) when off the owner’s property. Exceptions to this article include seeing-eye dogs trained to assist blind persons, dogs used in an official law enforcement capacity and when dogs are used for hunting or obedience training, tracking or show as long as they are accompanied by their owner.

If dogs are found running loose or if used for hunting or training and no owner is obviously present to control them, they are considered stray and in violation of this law. Fines for this violation range from $50 to $200.

This law helps prevent injuries to both people and dogs. Loose dogs can cause serious traffic accidents, threats to children, loss of young livestock and public health concerns with waste droppings. In addition, they cause neighborhood nuisances when digging up trash or causing other dogs to bark who are properly confined in their yards.

Dogs will live longer healthier lives if kept under control by their owner at all times. They won’t be exposed to unknown poisons such as herbicides and insecticides or even from eating trash. Most importantly, they won’t be injured or killed by cars or even people if causing unwarranted threats or nuisances.

License Law: Section 22, Article 10 of the Kauai County Code

If you own a dog, it must be licensed if over three (3) months of age. Dog licenses are renewed every two years. For sterilized dogs, the license fee is $2 and for unsterilized dogs, the license fee is $6. Licensed hunters are required to pay $6 for the first hunting dog and $2 for each additional hunting dog.

This law was established to identify dogs as property so they could not be stolen. More importantly though, the license provides identification of where the dog lives so he or she can be safely returned home if accidentally lost.

Buy your dog licenses at the Humane Society or the Kaui Department of Motor Vehicles!