What is animal at large charge?

An animal at large means that the owner of the dog has allowed to let his dog run loose. Some cities have ordinances which state the owner must have the dog under his/her control with or without a leash, while others say that the animal has to be on a leash when out of it's own yard. It is a small fine that may vary from city to city. Normally you are only charged with this and issued a citation which you later have to appear before a magistrate to take care of.