Created by the Texas Association of Counties, this publication discusses the law surrounding animal shelters, animal control officers, rabies vaccinations, and the regulation of dogs generally. (e) Notwithstanding any other law, a county court or a county court at law has jurisdiction to hear an appeal filed under this section. (b) Within 10 days after the death, sale, or other disposition of the animal, the owner of the animal shall notify the animal registration agency in writing of the death, sale, or other disposition. Renumbered from Health & Safety Code Sec. AREA RABIES QUARANTINE. California State law requires that any domestic mammal that has bitten a person, or that has potentially been exposed to rabies through contact with a wild animal, be quarantined and observed for signs of rabies infection. entrepreneurship, were lowering the cost of legal services and 44, Sec. 1. Sept. 1, 1989. Through social (d) The quarantine remains in effect until the 181st day after the date on which the last case of rabies is diagnosed in a dog, cat, or other animal species that caused the department or its designee to declare a quarantine, unless the department or its designee, by declaration, removes the quarantine before that date. In this chapter: (1) "Animal" means a warm-blooded animal. (e) If the ownership of a dog is transferred, the dog's registration certificate shall be transferred to the new owner. Oftentimes, the victim looks to sue for a dog bite. (d) The filing of an appeal of the denial or revocation of a certificate of registration under Subsection (c) stays the denial or revocation until the court rules on the appeal. (2) Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 678, Sec. Sept. 1, 1997. Sept. 1, 2001. 52 (H.B. (b) The information may be disclosed only to a governmental entity or a person that, under a contract with a governmental entity, provides animal control services or animal registration services for the governmental entity for purposes related to the protection of public health and safety. (b) A veterinarian who vaccinates a dog or cat against rabies shall issue to the animal's owner a vaccination certificate in a form that meets the minimum standards approved by the executive commissioner. (g) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under Section 822.005(a) that, at the time of the conduct charged, the person and the dog are participating in an organized dog show or event sponsored by a nationally recognized or state-recognized kennel club. Sept. 1, 2001. Sec. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1, Sec. 678, Sec. The average cost per claim nationally has risen 39 percent from . Sec. Sec. April 2, 2015. 916, Sec. Sec. (a) An owner of a dangerous wild animal shall notify the animal registration agency of any attack of a human by the animal within 48 hours of the attack. 822.0012. 1 (S.B. INSPECTIONS. April 2, 2015. Sept. 1, 1997. (12) in a county west of the Pecos River that has a population of less than 25,000, a cougar, bobcat, or coyote in the possession, custody, or control of a person that has trapped the cougar, bobcat, or coyote as part of a predator or depredation control activity. (b) Notwithstanding the definition in Section 822.001(1), for purposes of this subchapter the police department of a municipality described by Subsection (a) is the animal control authority for the municipality in all areas in which a dog is kept and that are subject to the authority of the police department. 686 (H.B. Sept. 1, 1989. (A) makes an unprovoked attack on a person that causes bodily injury and occurs in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the dog from leaving the enclosure on its own; or. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. Sec. Sec. (10) "Rabies" means an acute viral disease of man and animal affecting the central nervous system and usually transmitted by an animal bite. 822.102. (b) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree unless the attack causes death, in which event the offense is a felony of the second degree. Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. if (document.images) {document.images[id].src=eval(name+".src"); } (h) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under Section 822.005(a) that, at the time of the conduct charged, the person and the dog are engaged in: (2) a farming or ranching activity, including herding livestock, typically performed by a working dog on a farm or ranch. The 81-year-old man and 74-year-old woman who were visiting friends in the area were attacked by two dogs from a neighboring property after exiting their vehicle, according to the San Antonio Police Department. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. Sept. 1, 2003. (a) The fee collected for the registration of a dog shall be deposited to the credit of a special fund of the county and used only to: (1) defray the cost of administering this subchapter in the county, including the costs of registration and the identification tags; and. 3.1639(119), eff. 822.033 and amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 536 (S.B. (a) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules governing the types of facilities that may be used to quarantine animals. (a) Declaration. 1, eff. An offense under this subsection is punishable by a fine of not more than $100. 822.101. 826.043. The authority shall seize the dog or order its seizure and shall provide for the impoundment of the dog in secure and humane conditions until the court orders the disposition of the dog. A county or municipality may place additional requirements or restrictions on dangerous dogs if the requirements or restrictions: (1) are not specific to one breed or several breeds of dogs; and. If there is no English language newspaper of general circulation in the county, the notice shall be posted at the courthouse door for at least one week before the election. 2, eff. 822.028. (b) If the animal registration agency finds, after inspection, that a registered owner provided false information in or in connection with the application or has not complied with this subchapter, the animal registration agency shall revoke the certificate of registration and give the owner written notice of the revocation and the reasons for the revocation. 916, Sec. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1, eff. 5 High Risk Animals Bat Skunk Raccoon Coyote Fox What to Do if Bitten or Scratched The first thing you should do if you have been bitten, scratched, or have had your skin broken is: Wash immediately with soap & water Contact 911 or the Sheriff's Office to report incident Contact Animal Control SHORT TITLE. 870, Sec. Sec. If you've been bitten by a dog, the first thing you should do -- after getting the contact information of the owner (if nearby) -- is seek medical attention. The information contained in the registry may not include the social security number or the driver's license number of the owner of the registered animal. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) A person who knows of an animal bite or scratch to an individual that the person could reasonably foresee as capable of transmitting rabies, or who knows of an animal that the person suspects is rabid, shall report the incident or animal to the local rabies control authority of the county or municipality in which the person lives, in which the animal is located, or in which the exposure occurs. 44, Sec. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1, eff. If a dog bites or in any way attacks a person within Livingston city limits, the owner or person with custody of the dog must immediately secure the animal in quarantine for ten days, during which time inspections will be made periodically to determine whether the dog is infected with rabies. 4, eff. September 1, 2017. 678, Sec. " Dangerous Dog " is a legal designation defined by the State of Texas and applied to dogs who have been determined by a court to be a danger to people. In this subchapter: (1) "Animal control authority" means a municipal or county animal control office with authority over the area in which the dog is kept or the county sheriff in an area that does not have an animal control office. By Cuteness Team. Sec. 1740), Sec. (5) "Owner" means a person who owns or has custody or control of the dog. (a) A person aggrieved by an action of the department in amending, limiting, suspending, or revoking any approval required of the department by this chapter may request a hearing. May 5, 1995. 1 (S.B. Sec. An owner shall submit for quarantine an animal that: (1) is reported to be rabid or to have exposed an individual to rabies; or (2) the owner knows or suspects is rabid or has exposed an individual to rabies. 7-4.2 (a) Fails to microchip cat or dog. A few days later, the shelter reported that they had received positive test results. 826.041. May 17, 1999. According to city ordinance, when a dog or other animal bites a human and breaks the skin, both the bite victim and the animal owner must contact Garland Animal Services. A dog owner could be liable in a civil lawsuit for a bite or another kind of injury caused by the animal if one (or more) of the following is true: A dog-bite statute applies. (e) The court may order the dog destroyed if the court finds that the dog caused serious bodily injury to a person by attacking, biting, or mauling the person. 319), Sec. Sec. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. HEARING. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1, eff. (a) A party to an appeal under Section 822.0421(d) or a hearing under Section 822.0423 may appeal the decision to a county court or county court at law in the county in which the justice or municipal court is located and is entitled to a jury trial on request. Sec. September 1, 2007. and its subsequent amendments and the regulations adopted under that Act relating to: (b) An owner of a dangerous wild animal shall maintain a separate written log for each dangerous wild animal documenting the animal's veterinary care and shall make the log available to the animal registration agency or its agent on request. Sec. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 2, eff. 1355), Sec. 2283), Sec. Sept. 1, 1989. Sec. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 6, eff. 822.012. (c) It is a defense to prosecution under Section 822.044 or Section 822.045 that the person is a dog trainer or an employee of a guard dog company under Chapter 1702, Occupations Code. DEFINITIONS. Sept. 1, 1989. 219), Sec. An owner of a dangerous wild animal, at all reasonable times, shall allow the animal registration agency, its staff, its agents, or a designated licensed veterinarian to enter the premises where the animal is kept and to inspect the animal, the primary enclosure for the animal, and the owner's records relating to the animal to ensure compliance with this subchapter. 7-4.10 (a) Dog/Cat not spayed/neutered and is over the age of six months. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having in his possession any dog to allow such dog to be at large without the owner or person in charge thereof having direct physical control over such dog. 2, eff. (c) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. Lawyers know that many Texas dog bites occur when an animal is threatened. INSPECTION. 3, eff. UNREGISTERED DOGS PROHIBITED FROM RUNNING AT LARGE. 5, eff. } (a) The court shall set a time for a hearing to determine whether the dog caused the death of or serious bodily injury to a person by attacking, biting, or mauling the person. (b) This subchapter does not prevent a municipality or county from prohibiting or regulating by ordinance or order the ownership, possession, confinement, or care of a dangerous wild animal. 826.016. (e) Subject to Subsection (e-1), the court shall order the animal control authority to humanely destroy the dog if the owner has not complied with Subsection (a) before the 11th day after the date on which the dog is seized or delivered to the authority. RELOCATION OR DISPOSITION OF ANIMAL. If that finding is not made, the court shall order the dog released to: (2) the person from whom the dog was seized; or. May 17, 1999. (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a facility for quarantined or impounded animals that fails to meet standards for approval established by: (2) ordinances or rules adopted under this chapter by a county or municipality. Sec. 2, eff. 99, Sec. for non-profit, educational, and government users. (A) an activity involving a dangerous wild animal conducted for profit that is not inherent to the animal's nature; (B) an activity for which a fee is charged and that is entertainment using or an exhibition of the animal; or. Animal Control Handbook. (c) The county or municipality in which the violation occurs may also recover the reasonable costs of investigation, reasonable attorney's fees, and reasonable expert witness fees incurred by the animal registration agency in the civil action. INTERVAL BETWEEN ELECTIONS. 822.041. September 1, 2007. Sept. 1, 1995. Original Source: (c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has previously been convicted under this section. Sept. 1, 1989. 826.051. 822.006. The dog must remain quarantined for at least ten days, often at the owner's home or the pound. April 2, 2015. When the San Antonio Fire Department arrived, they saw an 80-year old man being dragged down the sidewalk by one of the pit bulls involved in the multi-victim attack. Sec. 678, Sec. (5) any other information the animal registration agency may require. Rabies and Animal Control Order #171. This means the owner can be held strictly liable for any damages caused by an animal known to be dangerous (or which could be dangerous). 822.031. Firms, Animal Attack and Dog Bite Claim Resources. (3) "Dog" means a domesticated animal that is a member of the canine family. 822.003 by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION APPLICATION. Should the animal involved in a biting incident have rabies or be suspected of having rabies, the animal must be euthanized and the brain sent to a lab for testing. 1, eff. REGISTRATION. Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. Sept. 1, 1989. (c) The owner of an animal that is quarantined under this chapter shall pay to the veterinarian or local rabies control authority the reasonable costs of the quarantine and disposition of the animal. The owner of the dogs now faces felony charges, police said. VIOLATIONS. April 2, 2015. Typically, you must make your dog, cat, or ferret available for quarantine and observation for 10 days after the bite, even if it has been vaccinated. (2) on a showing of probable cause to believe that the dog caused the death of or serious bodily injury to the person as stated in the complaint.