Attacks by other dogs are common enough for working teams that guide dog schools have studied them, and they can end a dog's career. No federal law covers them, but some states make it an offense to let your dog injure a service dog and order the owner to pay vet bills and even replacement costs. Whatever your state: keep yourself safe, get the other owner's details, take your dog to a vet even if it looks fine, report it to animal control, and keep every record and receipt.
How common are attacks on service dogs?
Common, according to the people who live with them. The Seeing Eye surveyed 744 US guide dog users in 2011:
- "44% of respondents (324 out of 744) had experienced at least one attack," and 58% of those had been attacked more than once.
- 83% had experienced interference, which the survey defines as "any dog that aggressively obstructs, intimidates, chases, harasses or otherwise jeopardizes the safety and emotional well-being of you or your guide dog."
- 76% of those attacked had been attacked at least once by a loose dog, 47% by a leashed dog its owner was not controlling, and 13% by a tied, unsupervised dog.
- "16% (52) of the guide dogs that were attacked were temporarily unable to work and 3% (10 dogs) were retired from service."
The report cautions that people who had been attacked may have been likelier to answer. A peer-reviewed UK study of 100 attacks on guide dogs found more than three attacks reported each month; 61% of the attacked dogs were in harness and working, 61% of the attacking dogs were off the lead, and the attack affected the guide dog's work or behavior in 45% of cases. Two dogs had to be withdrawn from guiding. We found no comparable US peer-reviewed study.
What to do in the moment
Your safety comes first. In the UK study, a handler or a member of the public was injured in 19% of incidents. These steps help:
- Get distance if you can. Turn away, put something between you and the other dog, and move toward a doorway or a car.
- Use your voice. A loud, clear "stop" or "call your dog" tells the other owner and any bystanders what is happening.
- Ask for help. Ask a bystander to find the owner, hold the other dog back, or call emergency services if anyone is hurt.
- Keep hold of your leash. A frightened dog may bolt. A tag with your phone number, such as an engraved ID tag, helps someone return a dog that gets away.
If you are blind or have low vision, The Seeing Eye's survey report suggests handlers "put emergency numbers in their cell phone directories; and pack a collapsible white cane as an alternative means of mobility," in case the dog cannot work on the way home.
Right after an attack: a checklist
- Get the other owner's name and contact details, and ask whether their dog is vaccinated.
- Write down what the other dog looked like, where it happened, the time, and whether it was loose, tied or on a leash.
- Get witnesses' names and contact details, and photograph the injuries, the place and the other dog.
- See a doctor if you were hurt, and keep those records too.
- Take your dog to a vet the same day, even if it looks fine (more below).
- Report it to your local animal control (and the police if a person was injured).
- Tell your program or trainer, if your dog came from one.
- Start a folder for every bill, receipt, missed shift and message.
Reporting the attack
Most handlers don't. In The Seeing Eye's survey, "64% (207 out of 324 respondents) who experienced an attack did not report their most recent incident to animal control or the police," and of those who did report, "almost two thirds (60%) were dissatisfied" with how it was handled. Report anyway. A report records the date, the dog and the owner, which matters if the same dog attacks again or if you later seek restitution. Ask for a case number. Your city or county website lists how to reach animal control.
Vet care, and when your dog seems fine but isn't
Get a vet check even for a scuffle that left no visible wound, and follow your vet's discharge instructions. In the UK study, veterinary attention was sought after 41% of attacks.
The harder injuries are often to the dog's confidence. The UK study found the dog's working performance or behavior was affected in 45% of incidents, and The Seeing Eye's survey found some dogs had to stop working for a time or retire. Watch for changes: hesitating on a route where it happened, reacting to dogs it used to ignore, or losing focus. If you see them, contact your program or trainer first, or a qualified behavior professional, and don't push the dog back into hard work before it is ready. If the dog cannot return to work, see retiring a service dog.
What the law says: state laws on attacks against service dogs
No federal law makes it a crime for someone's dog to attack yours. The Seeing Eye says "most states now have some type of legislation imposing penalties for harming and interfering with guide dog teams," but the details vary a lot. Some examples, read from the statutes:
- California, Penal Code 600.2: "It is a crime for a person to permit a dog" they own, harbor or control to injure or kill a guide, signal or service dog. If it results from a failure to use ordinary care, it is an infraction with a fine of up to $250. If it results from reckless disregard, it is a misdemeanor: up to one year in county jail, a fine of $2,500 to $5,000, or both. The court must order restitution to the person with a disability for vet bills, replacement costs if the dog is disabled or killed, medical expenses, lost wages and other reasonable costs, paid before any fine. The person may also seek up to $10,000 from the California Victim Compensation Board.
- Pennsylvania, 18 Pa.C.S. 5535: a misdemeanor of the third degree if a person's dog kills, maims or disfigures a guide, hearing or service dog "without provocation," but only if the owner knew or should have known the dog had a propensity to attack people and knowingly or recklessly failed to restrain it. Fine of up to $5,000, plus vet costs and, if needed, replacement; a civil penalty of up to $15,000 is also possible.
- Maine, 7 M.R.S. 3961-A: the owner or keeper of a dog that attacks, injures or kills a service animal while it is doing its job commits a civil violation, with a forfeiture of up to $1,000, and the court must order payment of vet bills and retraining or replacement costs.
- Washington, RCW 49.60.370: a person who "negligently or maliciously" kills or injures a dog guide or service animal is liable for a $1,000 penalty to the user, plus attorneys' fees and costs.
- Delaware, 16 Del. C. 3056F: intentionally injuring or disabling a service dog is a class A misdemeanor, with full restitution.
Some laws need only carelessness, some need proof the owner knew the dog was dangerous, and some are civil penalties. Look up your own state on our service dog laws by state pages (for example, California), and talk to a local attorney about your options.
Who pays: vet bills, retraining and replacement
Where a state orders restitution, the list can be long: vet bills, retraining, a replacement dog, your medical costs and lost wages. Replacement is not small. The Seeing Eye's 2011 report put the cost to breed, raise and train a replacement guide dog, plus instruction for the handler, at an amount that "well exceeds $50,000." Pennsylvania's civil provision also covers lost income. You can only claim what you can show, so keep that folder.
What happens if a service dog attacks another dog?
A service dog is still a dog, and the ADA's protections assume it is under control. A business may ask that a service dog be removed if it is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it (28 CFR 36.302(c)(2)), though it must still offer to serve the person without the dog. If your dog was the aggressor, talk to your program or a qualified behavior professional before you work it in public again. More on what businesses may and may not do in what businesses can ask.
For other dog owners: how not to become the problem
Most attacks in both studies came from dogs that were loose or not under control. The Seeing Eye's report notes that "Most local and state laws prohibit dogs from roaming about unleashed and unsupervised." If you walk a dog, keep it leashed and close when you see a working team, cross the street if your dog is reactive, and never let it "just say hi." The Guide Dog Foundation asks owners to "Make sure not to allow your pets to challenge or intimidate a guide dog." See service dog etiquette, guide dog etiquette, and what to do when an off-leash dog runs at your dog.
Common questions
What should I do if my service dog is attacked by another dog?
Get yourself and your dog to safety, get the other owner's details and witnesses, take photos, see a vet the same day, report it to animal control, and keep every bill.
Is it a crime for a dog to attack a service dog?
In some states. California, Pennsylvania and others penalize owners whose dogs injure service dogs, with different conditions. There is no federal law. Check your state's statute.
Who pays the vet bills if my service dog is attacked?
In states that order restitution, such as California and Maine, the court can order the owner of the attacking dog to pay vet bills and retraining or replacement costs.
Should I report an attack on my service dog?
Yes. Most handlers in The Seeing Eye's survey did not, but a report creates a record of the dog and owner that matters later.
Can my service dog keep working after an attack?
Often, but some need time off or retraining, and a few retire. Talk to your vet and your program or a behavior professional.
What happens if a service dog attacks another dog?
A business may ask that an out-of-control service dog be removed if the handler does not get it under control. Write down what happened and talk to your program or a behavior professional.
Sources
- California Penal Code 600.2
- Pennsylvania 18 Pa.C.S. 5535 (Animal Legal and Historical Center text)
- Maine 7 M.R.S. 3961-A
- Washington RCW 49.60.370
- Delaware 16 Del. C. 3056F
- 28 CFR 36.302(c), removal of a service animal
- The Seeing Eye, 2011 survey on dog attacks and interference
- The Seeing Eye, Interference and Dog Attacks
- Brooks et al., Incidence and impact of dog attacks on guide dogs in the UK, Vet Rec 2010
General information, not legal advice. Policies and laws change; follow the sources. Last checked October 27, 2026.