Is a dog walker liable if the dog they were handling bit me in Georgia?

· 2 min read

A dog walker can be liable in Georgia, because the person physically handling and controlling a dog at the time of a bite may qualify as its “keeper,” and even when they do not, ordinary negligence can apply. Whether the walker, the owner, or both must answer turns on who had control and what each knew about the animal.

Walker as a “keeper” under the animal statute

Georgia’s dog-injury law, O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, reaches not only the owner but also the keeper of an animal. Someone walking a dog has custody and control of it at that moment, which can place them within the statute’s reach. To recover against the walker under the statute, the injured person generally must show the dog had a dangerous propensity that the walker knew or should have known about, or that a leash or at-large ordinance was violated, and that the victim did not provoke the dog.

When ordinary negligence fits better

Even apart from the animal statute, a walker owes a duty to handle the dog with reasonable care. A claim can rest on careless handling, such as:

  • Using a leash too long or too weak for a strong or excitable dog.
  • Letting the dog off-leash in a place where a local ordinance required restraint.
  • Failing to keep the dog away from people after seeing it lunge or growl.
  • Losing control of multiple dogs at once.

These failures can amount to negligence regardless of whether the walker knew the dog’s full history.

Owner and walker together

The owner often remains liable too, since ownership does not transfer with the leash. A professional walker or a commercial dog-walking service may also carry liability insurance, which can matter for recovery. Fault can be divided among the owner, the walker, and the injured person under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, with recovery barred if the injured person is 50% or more responsible, and any suit is subject to the two-year deadline in O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33.

The bottom line

The person walking the dog can share or bear liability in Georgia when they had control of the animal and either knew of its danger or handled it carelessly. Because both the handler and the owner may be responsible, identifying who controlled the dog and what each knew is central to the claim.

This article is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship, and Georgia law may change. For advice about a specific situation, consult a licensed Georgia personal injury attorney.

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