Vicious and Dangerous Dogs Complaints/Investigations
The SFPD's Vicious and Dangerous Dogs Unit (VDDU) investigates incidents involving dogs that exhibit menacing and/or aggressive behavior. The VDDU encourages the public to immediately notify the police whenever a dog bites, attempts to bite, lunges at, or chases a person or any domestic animal so that the police may secure the scene, render aid, and document the incident in a police report.
To report an incident to the SFPD, if it is an emergency or there is an immediate threat to public safety, contact 9-1-1. If you need to file a new police report, visit your local police station or contact the SFPD non-emergency dispatch line at 1-415-553-0123.
These police reports will be forwarded to the VDDU, which will then evaluate each incident to determine the best means to ensure public safety.
Responding police officers have the authority to impound any dog that threatens the health, safety, and welfare of the community. Impounded dogs are usually held in custody pending a Vicious and Dangerous Dog Hearing.
Vicious and Dangerous Dog Hearings
A neutral, independent Hearing Officer is appointed to decide whether or not a dog is vicious and dangerous under the law and what remedy, if any, should be imposed to protect the safety of the public.
The purpose of a Vicious and Dangerous Dog Hearing is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public by determining which remedies would prevent the dog in question from posing future risks to the public. Such remedies may include obedience training, muzzling, property inspection (containment of the dog), or, more often than not, educating the dog owner to make a specific change in how the dog is controlled.
If you believe that a dog is vicious and dangerous, you can file a Vicious and Dangerous Dog Request for Hearing Form.
Or mail to:
Vicious and Dangerous Dog Unit (VDDU)
Investigations Bureau/General Works
1245 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94158
You may contact them directly at 1-415-696-0415.
When does the complainant have to file a request?
All requests for hearings should be filed as soon as possible.
When and where will the hearing be held?
In accordance with San Francisco Health Code Section 42.3(c), the hearing date shall be no less than 15 days from the date of the incident if the dog and dog owner/guardian are known. If the dog and dog owner/guardian are not known, the hearing shall be held no later than 90 days from the date the dog or the dog owner/guardian is located or identified.
The owner/guardian of the dog must be given at least 10 days notice prior to the hearing. (Waivers are granted when the dog in question is in custody and it is in the best interests of all parties that the hearing be held prior to the 15-day limit.)
Vicious and Dangerous Dog Hearings are held every Tuesday from 12:30 PM until 3:30 PM at:
San Francisco City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 408
San Francisco, CA 94102
How are these hearings conducted?
The hearings are informal and open to the general public. Cases are heard under the auspices of an administrative hearing. A Hearing Officer shall be appointed to hear the cases. The hearings are audio-recorded.
The hearings are coordinated by the Vicious and Dangerous Dogs Hearing Clerk. Any information and/or documentation to be included in materials/case files for the hearing should be forwarded to:
Vicious and Dangerous Dogs Hearing Clerk
1245 3rd Street, 6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94158
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-415-714-0634
Fax: 1-415-837-7021
Who conducts the hearings?
Hearings will be presided over by a designated independent Hearing Officer. Staff from the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco Department of Animal Care and Control will be in attendance.
What is the outcome of these hearings?
In the event the Hearing Officer concludes that there is sufficient evidence that the dog in question is vicious and dangerous and that the health, safety, and welfare of the community is at risk, the Hearing Officer may order that the dog in question be registered as vicious and dangerous and, as such, comply with a number of restrictions as designated in Article 1, Section 42.2 of the San Francisco Health Code.
If the Hearing Officer determines that restrictions imposed by Article 1, Section 42.2 of the San Francisco Health Code are not sufficient to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the community, the dog may be ordered humanely euthanized.
The Hearing Officer's decision is final but may be appealed by filing a petition seeking review with the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, in accordance with California Code of Civil Procedures, Section 1094.5.