Arizona’s dog bite law doesn’t change from one city to the next, but Tucson has its own local animal control agency, its own reporting number, and its own quarantine process worth knowing if a bite happens here.
The state law: strict liability, no exceptions for a first bite
Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 11-1025, a dog owner is liable for injuries their dog causes by biting someone who is in a public place or lawfully on private property — regardless of whether the dog had ever bitten anyone before or whether the owner had any reason to think it was dangerous. Our full guide to Arizona’s strict liability statute covers the exceptions, including the provocation defense, in more detail. None of that changes because the bite happened in Tucson instead of Phoenix.
Reporting a bite in Pima County
Tucson and the rest of Pima County route animal bite reports through the Pima Animal Care Center, reachable at 520-724-5900, extension 4. Pima County requires that all bites be reported. The dog’s owner has to show proof of a current rabies vaccination, and the animal goes through a mandatory quarantine — typically ten days, either at home if vaccination is current or at the shelter if it isn’t. This is a separate process from Maricopa County’s Animal Care and Control, which handles Phoenix-area bites under its own procedures.
Why the report matters for a claim
A PACC bite report creates an independent, contemporaneous record of what happened — useful evidence regardless of who’s disputing what later. It also triggers the quarantine and rabies-verification process that protects the victim medically, separate from any injury claim entirely.
The bottom line
The strict liability standard under A.R.S. § 11-1025 is the same everywhere in Arizona. In Tucson, reporting the bite means calling Pima Animal Care Center, not Maricopa County’s animal control — a small distinction that’s easy to miss if you’re used to how it works elsewhere in the state.
Frequently asked questions
No, the strict liability standard under A.R.S. § 11-1025 applies the same way statewide.
The Pima Animal Care Center, at 520-724-5900, extension 4 — not Maricopa County’s animal control.
It typically undergoes a mandatory quarantine, at home if vaccinations are current or at the shelter if they aren’t.
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This article is general information about Arizona law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Every bite and every property are different — talk to a licensed Arizona attorney about your specific situation.