What to Do if Animal Control Is Not Responding to a Dangerous Dog Complaint

Dangerous dogs are a public safety concern, and local animal control departments are tasked with protecting citizens from the threat posed by aggressive or uncontrolled animals. However, not every call to animal control receives a prompt response. At The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we often hear from concerned residents in Nashville, Davidson County, Brentwood, Murfreesboro, and surrounding areas who have made complaints about dangerous dogs only to feel ignored or unsupported. Whether animal control is slow to respond or fails to take appropriate action, inaction can place entire communities at risk—particularly children, seniors, and pet owners.

If you are facing a situation where animal control is not responding to your complaint, it is critical to understand your rights, your legal options, and the steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones. Below, we explain Tennessee’s legal framework, your recourse if authorities fail to act, and how our law firm can help if you or someone you know is injured by a dangerous dog.

Understanding the Role of Animal Control in Tennessee

Animal control departments in Tennessee are typically operated at the city or county level. Their duties include enforcing local ordinances regarding leash laws, dangerous animals, vaccination requirements, animal cruelty, and stray animals. When a citizen reports a dangerous dog, animal control is supposed to investigate, issue citations, quarantine animals when needed, and make recommendations for further legal action.

The exact definition of a “dangerous” or “vicious dog” may vary by jurisdiction, but many municipalities define it as a dog that has previously attacked a person or another animal without provocation, or a dog that behaves in a way that would cause a reasonable person to believe the animal poses a threat. Some local ordinances also classify dogs as “potentially dangerous” after repeated episodes of aggression.

Despite the important role they play, animal control departments are often underfunded and understaffed. Response times can vary widely. In some cases, reports are overlooked, delayed, or deprioritized, especially if no injury has yet occurred. Unfortunately, this lack of responsiveness can allow a preventable attack to happen.

When Animal Control Fails to Act: Your Safety Comes First

If you have reported a dangerous dog and animal control has not responded—or has responded but taken no action—you may feel powerless. But there are several critical steps you can take to protect yourself, others in your community, and any potential legal claims you may have if an incident occurs.

First, document everything. Keep a record of when you contacted animal control, the name of the person you spoke with, and any follow-up actions you took. If possible, write down descriptions of the dog’s behavior, the dates of any aggressive incidents, and the names of any witnesses. Photographs or video footage of the dog running at large, threatening people, or attacking other animals can serve as important evidence later on.

Second, notify additional authorities. If local animal control is not responding, you may escalate the matter by contacting your local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if the dog poses an imminent threat. Law enforcement officers in Tennessee are authorized to intervene in cases involving aggressive animals, particularly if the dog is loose and threatening people in a public area.

Third, inform local government officials. Contacting your city council representative, county commissioner, or mayor’s office can sometimes prompt action when other avenues have failed. Public officials may be unaware of the issue unless it is brought to their attention by constituents.

Finally, consult with an attorney, especially if the dog has already bitten someone or caused damage. Our team at The Law Offices of John Day, P.C. can assist in determining liability, preserving evidence, and initiating legal action to recover damages or obtain injunctive relief.

Legal Responsibility Under Tennessee Law

Even if animal control fails to act, the legal responsibility for a dangerous dog lies with the owner. Tennessee’s primary dog bite statute, Tennessee Code Annotated § 44-8-413, holds dog owners strictly liable when their dog, while “running at large,” injures someone in a public place or in a private place where the victim has a legal right to be. The statute applies regardless of the dog’s breed or the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s behavior.

However, there are exceptions. If the incident occurs on the dog owner’s private, residential property, the law requires the victim to prove that the owner knew or should have known about the dog’s dangerous propensities. This is where prior complaints to animal control become critical. If you have made a report and animal control failed to act, your documentation of that report can help establish that the dog had a history of aggression and that the owner should have been aware of it.

In some cases, the owner may be liable under common law theories of negligence—such as failing to maintain a secure fence, violating a local leash ordinance, or knowingly harboring a vicious dog. These legal theories can support recovery even when the strict liability statute does not apply.

Injuries Caused by Dangerous Dogs

The consequences of inaction are often serious. Dangerous dogs may cause injuries including deep lacerations, crushed bones, nerve damage, disfigurement, and psychological trauma. These injuries often require emergency care, surgery, and long-term therapy. Children are especially vulnerable to facial injuries and emotional harm following an attack.

In the worst cases, dangerous dogs may inflict fatal injuries. These outcomes are tragically preventable when complaints about a dog’s behavior are ignored. Our firm has handled cases involving clients who were seriously harmed because authorities failed to remove or contain a known aggressive animal.

When we take on such a case, we examine whether government records support the conclusion that the dog had a history of aggression. If prior complaints exist, we may be able to use those records to demonstrate that the owner knew the dog posed a risk, even if animal control did not intervene in time. This can be pivotal in proving liability and securing compensation.

Holding Dog Owners Accountable When Officials Won’t

At The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we focus on holding dog owners legally responsible—even when municipal systems fall short. In some rare circumstances, legal action may also be brought against a governmental body if there is proof of gross negligence or willful disregard for public safety, but Tennessee law makes it difficult to sue a government agency directly. Sovereign immunity and limited waivers under the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act (TGTLA) usually protect local governments from liability unless their failure to act was egregious.

This is why it is so important to focus legal attention on the dog owner. Owners who ignore signs that their dog is aggressive—or who fail to properly restrain, train, or socialize their pet—can be sued for damages, even in the absence of an animal control response. We investigate whether the owner received prior warnings, failed to follow local ordinances, or allowed a dangerous dog to remain in contact with the public despite known risks.

Our firm handles the legal process from start to finish. We collect medical records, investigate the dog’s history, obtain witness statements, and build a strong case based on Tennessee’s statutory and common law protections for victims.

Damages Available in Dangerous Dog Cases

Victims of dog attacks may be entitled to significant compensation under Tennessee law. Available damages can include:

• Past and future medical expenses
  
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
  
• Pain and suffering
  
• Emotional distress and psychological harm
  
• Disfigurement or scarring
  
• Punitive damages in extreme cases involving willful disregard for safety
  

In addition to these monetary damages, in some cases, a court may issue injunctive relief, requiring the dog to be removed, confined, or euthanized to prevent future harm. We can advise clients on all available remedies depending on the facts of the case.

How Our Firm Helps Victims When Others Fall Short

When you contact The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we begin by reviewing your full history of interaction with animal control or other agencies. We help you compile the timeline of events, preserve your documentation, and gather any evidence that supports your account. Our legal team includes experienced attorneys, paralegals, and a full-time nurse consultant who together work to build a clear picture of how the dangerous dog caused injury—and how the system may have failed to respond in time.

We understand how frustrating and frightening it can be to live near a known dangerous dog. Our goal is to empower clients to take back control, pursue justice, and make their communities safer.

We accept dog bite and dangerous animal cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay anything unless we recover money for you. We also advance all litigation costs, allowing you to focus on recovery while we handle the legal work.

Steps to Take Today If You’re Facing Inaction

If animal control has failed to respond to a dangerous dog complaint, do not wait for an incident to happen. Start by gathering and preserving all records related to your attempts to report the dog. Keep notes of every interaction, including dates, names, and outcomes. If the dog is loose or behaving aggressively, take photographs or videos if it is safe to do so.

You should also contact your local police or sheriff’s department to document the situation. If a bite or injury has occurred, seek immediate medical care and file a formal report with law enforcement and animal control—even if the latter has previously been unresponsive.

Finally, contact our office at (615) 742-4880 to speak with an attorney. We will review your situation at no charge and advise you on your legal options. If we accept your case, we will take prompt action to protect your rights and pursue accountability.

Contact The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

Dangerous dogs are a serious matter, and when animal control is unresponsive, it falls to victims and legal advocates to pursue justice. At The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we stand with individuals and families who have been harmed or are living in fear because of an aggressive animal. Our offices in Brentwood, Nashville, and Murfreesboro allow us to serve clients across Davidson County and the entire Middle Tennessee region.