Wyoming Dog Laws — Bite Liability, Leash & Dangerous-Dog Rules

The state-level rules every owner and walker in Wyoming should know. Local leash lengths, licensing and off-leash rules are set by each city — find those on the city pages below.

Wyoming has no dog-bite statute — under Gannon v. Voss there are three routes (scienter, negligence, negligence per se), and scienter needs no prior bite once a dog has shown a vicious disposition.

Dog bites: no statute — three theories (Gannon v. Voss)

Wyoming has no state dog-bite statute — it is a one-bite / negligence state (though local ordinances may create strict liability). The Wyoming Supreme Court (Gannon v. Voss, 2003) set out three routes: scienter (an owner or harborer who keeps a dog knowing of its dangerous propensities is liable — and a prior bite is not required; it is enough that the dog has shown a vicious disposition), negligence (which does not require a vicious dog — just a failure to use reasonable care), and negligence per se (violating a leash or at-large ordinance). The framework names owner or harborer, so a walker who harbors or controls the dog is within it.

Fault, open range & time limit

Wyoming applies modified comparative fault with a 51% bar (§ 1-1-109), with trespass and provocation defenses. Wyoming is a prominent open-range state (relevant to rural livestock cases, less to dog-walking), and dangerous-dog rules are local. The personal-injury limit is four years.

This is general information about Wyoming law, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the official state and municipal sources.

Dog walkers by city in Wyoming