While Chicago’s municipal code requires owners to restrain dogs who are off their own property, the law does not require owners to restrain dogs that are on their own property. A dog in the house or yard belonging to its owner may roam freely within that space.
A person injured by a dog that is on its home territory, however, still has certain legal rights. In this instance, the injured person may need to demonstrate that the dog’s owner failed to warn about the dog.
The results of the claim can also depend on whether the dog was provoked and by whom. If the owner provoked the dog to bite a neighbor or visitor, for instance, the owner is more likely to face liability for any injuries resulting from the dog’s aggressive response to the provocation.