Tennessee Dog Control and Dangerous Dog Statutes

44-8-408. Dogs not allowed at large - Exception - Penalties. (a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "owner" means a person who, at the time of the offense, regularly harbors, keeps or exercises control over the dog, but does not include a person who, at the time of the offense, is temporarily harboring, keeping or exercising control over the dog. (b) The owner of a dog commits an offense if that dog goes uncontrolled by the owner upon the premises of another without the consent of the owner of the premises or other person authorized to give consent, or goes uncontrolled by the owner upon a highway, public road, street or any other place open to the public generally. (c) It is an exception to the application of this section that: (1) The dog was on a hunt or chase; (2) The dog was on the way to or from a hunt or chase; (3) The dog was guarding or driving stock or on the way to guard or drive stock; (4) The dog was being moved from one place to another by the owner of the dog; (5) The dog is a police or military dog, the injury occurred during the course of the dog's official duties and the person injured was a party to, a participant in or suspected of being a party to or participant in the act or conduct that prompted the police or military to utilize the services of the dog;