New Mexico Leash Laws

New Mexico has no general statewide leash law, but several state statutes restrict dogs running at large in specific situations, and local governments fill in the rest.

New Mexico leash law at a glance

What New Mexico state law says

• NMSA 77-1-12 requires every municipality and county to provide for seizing dogs and cats running at large.
• Peace officers may impound unattended dogs at large (77-1-9).
• Municipalities may restrict running at large (3-18-3).

Local leash ordinances

City and county codes do most of the work here. They typically say when a dog must be leashed, how long the leash can be, which parks allow off-leash dogs, and what fines apply when a dog is found running loose.

Staying on the right side of the law

• Keep your dog leashed in public unless you are in a posted off-leash area.
• Make sure your dog wears a current license and rabies tag, since a loose dog without tags is the one most likely to be impounded.
• If your dog has been declared dangerous, stricter leash, muzzle and enclosure rules apply; see the dangerous dog section of New Mexico dog bite laws.
• A dog that runs loose and injures someone can create liability for the owner, so a leash is also your best protection.
• Leash training makes compliance easy; a local dog trainer can help with pulling and recall.

Sources

1. Michigan State University Animal Legal & Historical Center: New Mexico dog laws
2. Michigan State University Animal Legal & Historical Center: State dog leash laws