CA AB793

Raises the standard of proof from "preponderance of evidence" to "clear and convincing evidence" for courts or hearing entities to declare a dog vicious or order a dog to be euthanized for public safety reasons

Requires courts and hearing entities to make factual findings supporting each requirement for classifying a dog as potentially dangerous or vicious, including specific findings on whether the dog was provoked

Defines "provoke" as human or animal behavior that could reasonably harm, torment, agitate, scare, or confuse a dog, leading to a bite or attack

Prohibits declaring a dog potentially dangerous or vicious if the person who was injured was provoking the dog at the time of the incident

Prohibits euthanizing a dog for public safety reasons until all appeals are exhausted or the time for appeals has elapsed, and requires findings that the dog was not provoked, that terms and conditions would not adequately protect public safety, and that release would create a significant threat