Tustin Dog Bite Laws: How to Report a Bite and Who Pays
In Tustin, dog bites are governed by California’s strict liability statute, Orange County’s animal rules (OC Animal Care handles licensing and bite reports for the city), and the state’s two-year deadline for injury claims. Here’s how to report a bite, what the owner is responsible for, and what to do if a dog keeps biting. If you were hurt by someone else’s dog, you can talk to a dog bite lawyer at no cost.
How to report a dog bite in Tustin
Report the bite to OC Animal Care, not the city. The Tustin Police Department’s animal page says: “To report an animal bite, call Orange County Animal Care at 714-796-6421 or fill out their online form.” For an emergency or an aggressive dog still loose, call 911.
OC Animal Care’s bite reporting page says “you are required by law to report any bite or scratch from a domestic or wild animal.” Its hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; after hours, call (714) 259-1122.
When you report, have ready:
- where and when the bite happened
- the owner’s name, address and phone number, if you know them
- a description of the dog (breed, colour, size, collar or tags)
- the names of any witnesses
- where you got medical treatment
What happens after the report
The dog is quarantined for 10 days. OC Animal Care quarantines a biting dog for 10 days, at home or at the shelter. Tustin’s police page notes that dogs and cats “are routinely subject to quarantine if they have caused a skin break.” The point is rabies: observing the dog is how health officials rule it out. Orange County is a declared rabies area, which is why the reporting and quarantine rules apply.
The report also creates an official record of the bite, which matters if the dog has bitten before or bites again.
California’s dog bite law: strict liability
The owner is responsible even if the dog never bit anyone before. California Civil Code section 3342 makes a dog’s owner liable for damages suffered by anyone bitten “while in a public place or lawfully in a private place,” “regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.”
In practice, that means:
- No “one free bite.” Some states let an owner off the hook for a first bite. California doesn’t.
- You must have been somewhere you were allowed to be. A sidewalk, a park, a store, or a home you were invited into all count. A trespasser generally can’t use the statute.
- It covers bites. If a dog knocked you down or scratched you without biting, the claim is based on ordinary negligence instead: for example, an owner who let a large dog run loose.
- Police and military dogs are a narrow exception, and it only applies when the agency has a written policy on the dog’s use. It doesn’t protect bystanders.
The owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance often pays dog bite claims. Who else may share responsibility, such as a landlord who knew about a dangerous dog, depends on the facts.
Leash, license and vaccination rules
Dogs in Orange County must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. OC Animal Care, which licenses dogs for Tustin, says all dogs in the county over four months old must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. California law requires rabies vaccination for dogs three months or older.
Dogs on public property must be on a leash. Orange County’s pet laws require dogs on public property to be “restrained by a substantial chain, or leash not exceeding six (6) feet in length” and under the control of a competent person.
Tustin’s off-leash spot is the Bark Barracks dog park at Tustin Legacy Park (1625 Flight Way), open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and closed Friday mornings for maintenance. Bites at a dog park are still bites: the statute applies to public places.
When a dog keeps biting
California has a separate law for repeat biters. Under Civil Code section 3342.5, once a dog has bitten someone on at least two separate occasions, any person, the district attorney or the city attorney can bring an action, and the court can make any order it thinks appropriate, including requiring the dog’s removal or, in serious cases, its destruction.
The state’s potentially dangerous and vicious dog law (Food and Agricultural Code section 31601 and following) adds another layer. A dog that bites without provocation, or attacks other animals repeatedly, can be declared “potentially dangerous,” with conditions on how it’s kept. A dog that severely injures or kills a person can be declared “vicious.” Reporting every bite is what makes these protections work.
Deadlines for a dog bite claim
| Situation | Deadline | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Report the bite | Right away | Orange County law; OC Animal Care |
| Lawsuit against the dog’s owner | Generally 2 years from the bite | Code of Civil Procedure 335.1 |
| Claim against a public entity (e.g. a city-owned dog or property) | 6 months | Government Code 911.2 |
What a dog bite claim covers
A successful claim can include medical bills (including future treatment and scar revision), lost wages, and compensation for pain, scarring and emotional distress. Dog bites to children often leave facial scars, so it’s important not to settle before a doctor can say how the scar will heal.
Medical care comes first. My guide on when to see a doctor after a dog bite covers tetanus, infection and rabies, and my tips on preventing dog bites are worth reading if you have children or a dog of your own.
Tustin dog bite law FAQs
Who do I call to report a dog bite in Tustin?
OC Animal Care at 714-796-6421 (weekdays, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or its online bite reporting form; after hours, (714) 259-1122. Call 911 in an emergency.
Does California have a “one-bite rule”?
No. Under Civil Code section 3342, the owner is liable for a bite in a public place or to someone lawfully on private property, even if the dog had never bitten anyone before.
How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in California?
Generally two years from the date of the bite. A claim against a public entity must be presented within six months.
What if the dog jumped on me but didn’t bite?
The strict liability statute covers bites. Injuries from being knocked down or scratched can still be pursued as a negligence claim, for example against an owner who let the dog run loose.
Talk to a Tustin dog bite lawyer
I began my career defending insurance companies, and for more than 20 years I’ve represented injured people, so I know how insurers look at dog bite claims. If you were bitten in Tustin, call me at (714) 461-6003 or request a free consultation. You’ll work directly with me, and under my No Recovery, No Fee Guarantee you pay nothing unless I recover compensation for you. Learn more about my work on Tustin dog bite cases.