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Pulaski County, AR Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing law
Pulaski County Code § 3-19
Coverage
Unincorporated county only
Impound notice
At least 48 hours
Redemption penalty
$25 first and each offense
Fine range
$10 to $100 misdemeanor
Unclaimed strays
Destroyed after 24 hours
Enforcement
Animal Services + sheriff

Summary

Pulaski County requires dogs and cats in the unincorporated area to stay under restraint: fenced, chained, or leashed. Animal control officers impound any animal caught running loose, hold it at the shelter, and give the owner 48 hours' notice before requiring proof of rabies vaccination, board fees, and a $25 redemption penalty under Code of Ordinances § 3-19.

City-specific rules exist: Little Rock has its own dog leash laws rules that differ from Pulaski County's county-level regulations. If you live in Little Rock, check the city-specific page instead.

Any animal not under restraint as defined by section 3-17 hereof, or in the case of dogs, as provided by sections 3-17 and 3-18 hereof, within Pulaski County, except in the aforementioned municipalities will be apprehended and impounded in an animal shelter. ... When animal is impounded, the director or his personnel shall give notice to the owner, if known, of at least forty-eight (48) hours. To redeem the animal, the owner must present proof of current rabies vaccination, if applicable; or pay for the board of the animal during impoundment; a penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first and each succeeding offense; plus any other penalties invoked under this article. Citations will be issued for failure to exercise responsible pet ownership. Any person, firm or corporation, violating any portion of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by assessment of a fine not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00).

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).

Full Breakdown

Under Pulaski County Code § 3-16, this restraint rule covers only the unincorporated county; Little Rock, North Little Rock, Jacksonville, Sherwood and Cammack Village run their own animal control programs and are exempt except when an animal from one of those cities runs at large in the unincorporated county. Section 3-17 defines "restraint" as confinement to the owner's property by building, fence, or chain or leash, or, off the property, control by leash or other recognized method; hunting dogs on an active hunt and stock dogs actively herding livestock are treated as restrained if they wear a collar with a current rabies tag and owner identification.

Section 3-18 layers on additional duties: a collar or harness with a legible owner tag and rabies vaccination tag, restraint for dogs and cats in trailer parks and multi-unit buildings, muzzling for any dog or cat already classified vicious, prompt removal of animal waste from any property including county right-of-way, and a ban on dogs chasing cars, pedestrians or bicyclists. Section 3-19 gives the director and animal control officers full police power to enforce these rules; the sheriff's office and municipal police must assist on request.

Any animal not under restraint is apprehended and impounded, and officers with reasonable cause may enter private property to seize a dangerous or suspected-rabid animal. Owners get at least 48 hours' notice before the county can proceed, and redemption requires proof of current rabies vaccination, payment of boarding costs, and a $25 penalty for the first and each later offense. Animals not redeemed, and strays whose owners cannot be identified within 24 hours, may be placed with a new owner or humanely destroyed at the director's discretion.

Violations & Fines

Failing to keep an animal restrained, refusing to surrender an impounded animal to an officer, or otherwise violating article II of chapter 3 is a misdemeanor under § 3-19, punishable by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $100 on top of the $25 redemption penalty and any board fees owed. Officers who fail to carry out the article face their own fine of $25 to $100 under § 3-25.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this leash rule apply inside Little Rock?
No. Section 3-16 exempts Little Rock, North Little Rock, Jacksonville, Sherwood and Cammack Village because each runs its own animal control department; the county rule only covers the unincorporated area, though a city resident whose animal runs loose in the unincorporated county is still subject to it.
What counts as keeping a dog restrained?
Section 3-17 defines restraint as confining the animal to the owner's property with a building, fence, or a chain or leash attached to something stationary, or, away from home, keeping it under control on a leash or other recognized method. Hunting and herding dogs wearing tags are treated as restrained while working.
How much does it cost to get an impounded dog back?
The owner must show proof of current rabies vaccination, pay the shelter's boarding costs, and pay a $25 penalty under § 3-19 for the first offense and every offense after that, in addition to any other penalty the article allows.
What happens if nobody claims a stray?
Section 3-19 gives the director discretion to place unclaimed or unredeemed animals with a new owner; if placement is not possible within a reasonable time, or if a stray's owner cannot be found within 24 hours, the animal may be humanely destroyed.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Pulaski County

All Pulaski County rules

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