PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Dog owners not only have a responsibility to protect their pets, but also a responsibility to keep other people safe.
Recently, there have been several reported dog attacks in the Hampton Roads area within the past year.
Back in April, a woman died in Portsmouth after being mauled by three dogs , who were later humanely euthanized. In late October, another woman in Norfolk was attacked by two Rottweilers in her neighborhood while out on a walk.
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“I didn’t know if it was coming up to smell me,” she said, remembering the attack. “I knew he wasn’t smelling me out by the time he got close ’cause they were growling.”
Both of those incidents, as well as other attacks like them, could have been prevented by responsible pet ownership.
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That’s where leash laws come into play.
The laws can differ depending on what city or area you’re in, but in Hampton Roads — if you’re not on your own property and in a public space, your animal must be kept on a leash.