Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. Vaccines are meant to prevent illness and disease in your dog, but the effects aren't permanent. May 5, 1995. Sec. The ballot for an election under this subchapter shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the proposition: "Registration of and registration fee for dogs.". (2) finds that the care and treatment of each animal by the owner meets or exceeds the standards prescribed under this subchapter. (c) If the owner fails to deliver the dog as required by Subsection (b), the court shall order the animal control authority to seize the dog and shall issue a warrant authorizing the seizure. (12) "Livestock" means an animal raised for human consumption or an equine animal. 1355), Sec. Texas. } (c) The county treasurer shall assign a registration number to each dog registered with the county and shall give the owner or person having control of the dog the identification tag and a registration certificate. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. Dogs often bite when people reach over a fence to pet them, trespass on private property, or enter a place where "Beware of Dog" signs or posted. 826.033. 822.005. 669, Sec. 1 (S.B. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. Sec. Search, Browse Law (b) The court shall give written notice of the time and place of the hearing to: (1) the owner of the dog or the person from whom the dog was seized; and. 678, Sec. (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. 822.021. (b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to effectively administer this chapter. 826.023. (a) The commissioners court of a county may adopt ordinances or rules that establish a local rabies control program in the county and set local standards that are compatible with and equal to or more stringent than the program established by this chapter and the department rules adopted under this chapter. The animal shelter said it spotted a dog showing signs of distemper on Thursday, so they immediately tested the dog and euthanized it at the direction of a BARC veterinarian to prevent the spread of the disease. (b) Municipal ordinances or rules adopted under this section supersede ordinances or rules adopted by the county in which the municipality is located, this chapter, and the department rules adopted under this chapter within that municipality so that multiple enforcement will not occur. 3.1639(121), eff. (a) A person commits an offense if the person fails or refuses to quarantine or present for quarantine or testing an animal that: (1) is required to be placed in quarantine or presented for testing under Section 826.042 and department rules; or. DEFINITIONS. 678, Sec. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. Confinement should be performed in coordination with public health authorities. 3.1611, eff. 822.002. 1, eff. 1, eff. April 2, 2015. (c) Any interested party, including the county attorney or city attorney, is entitled to present evidence at the hearing. Sept. 1, 1989. DEFENSES. (a) The owner or person having control of a dog six months of age or older in a county that has adopted this subchapter must register the dog not later than the 30th day after the date on which the proclamation is published or adopted. Sec. (a) Rabies vaccine for animals may be administered only by or under the direct supervision of a veterinarian. (d) Repealed by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. window.status = msgStr; Sept. 1, 1989. 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. Sec. 96, Sec. 822.0411. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. REQUIREMENTS FOR OWNER OF DANGEROUS DOG. (2) the owner knows or suspects is rabid or has exposed an individual to rabies. 1, eff. 3.1639(121), eff. Sec. 31, eff. The fees may be used only to help defray the cost of administering this chapter or the ordinances or rules of the enforcing agency within its jurisdiction. (2) pays an annual registration fee of $50. (a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally: (1) fails or refuses to register a dog required to be registered under this subchapter; (2) fails or refuses to allow a dog to be killed when ordered by the proper authorities to do so; or. 1 (S.B. SAN ANTONIO, Texas-- Posted Silvia Paola Hernandez, 36, to Facebook on February 24, 2023, with video clips of the fatal mauling of Ramon Najera, 81, and the frantic attempts of firefighters and a neighbor to save him: "This just happened @ 2810 Depla off of Cupples in San Antonio Texas.". 219), Sec. Section 42.092 of the Texas Penal Code. ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES. Sec. The average cost per claim nationally has risen 39 percent from . Sec. Sec. The fees may be used only to help defray the cost of administering this chapter or the ordinances or rules of the enforcing agency within its jurisdiction. 822.116. One occurred in September 2021 when a man in his mid 20s suffered minor dog bites to his hand and lower extremities, Sims said. Costs or fees recovered under this subsection shall be credited to the operating account from which payment for the animal registration agency's expenditures was made. 826.022. 1002, Sec. (2) practicing veterinary medicine on an installation of the armed forces or National Guard. All rights reserved. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1 (S.B. Sept. 1, 1989. ATTACK BY DANGEROUS DOG. 530 (H.B. 99, Sec. (Texas Civ 33.001). If the owner didn't know the dog was dangerous, they may be liable for the percentage they are deemed at fault. An elderly man is dead and his wife is in critical condition after the couple was mauled by dogs in a West Side neighborhood Friday afternoon. (b) Registration is valid for one year from the date of registration. 826.052. 7-4.10 (a) Dog/Cat not spayed/neutered and is over the age of six months. // The java used for navigation in the Public OM page Investigate animal bites on humans and other animals and assure the proper quarantine of these animals . Sept. 1, 1989. 3.1614, eff. (a) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules governing the types of facilities that may be used to quarantine animals. The executive commissioner shall establish a procedure for filing a certificate of registration and by rule shall establish a reasonable fee to be collected by the department in an amount sufficient to recover the cost associated with filing a certificate of registration under this subsection. (8) "Licensed veterinarian" means a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in one or more of the 50 states. The fees collected under this section may be used only to administer and enforce this subchapter. (a) At the request of the commissioner, the attorney general may bring suit in the name of the state to enjoin the operation of a quarantine or impoundment facility that fails to meet the minimum standards established by this chapter and department rules. 1728), Sec. September 1, 2017. (a) A person commits an offense if the person violates Section 822.103(a), Section 822.106, or Section 822.110(a) or (b). Sec. (d) A person is exempt from the requirements of this section if the person is caring for, treating, or transporting an animal for which the person holds a Class "A" or Class "B" dealer's license or a Class "C" exhibitor's license issued by the secretary of agriculture of the United States under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 7-4.1 (a) (1) Fails to vaccinate cat or dog for rabies. (d) A person who is subject to prosecution under this section and under any other law may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both. 678, Sec. April 2, 2015. (a) When a dog, cat, or domestic ferret that has bitten a human has been identified, the custodian will place the animal (regardless of its vaccination status) in quarantine as defined in the Texas Health and Safety Code, 826.002, until the end of the 10-day observation period. This applies to both domestic and wild animals. ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES. 3340), Sec. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION IN DOG AND CAT REGISTRY; CRIMINAL PENALTY. INSPECTION. 822.004 and amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. REGISTRATION. Texas State Law requires that rabies vaccines for animals must be administered by a licensed Kennel Cough. Sec. 1, eff. 3.1620, eff. Sec. Owners of registered dangerous dogs are ordered by court to: Register the dog as dangerous with the City of Austin and pay an annual $50 fee. (d) The court shall order the dog destroyed if the court finds that the dog caused the death of a person by attacking, biting, or mauling the person. Sec. 916, Sec. 1, eff. 3.1619, eff. June 15, 2007. COUNTIES MAY ADOPT ORDINANCES AND RULES. (3) personnel of a governmental agency responsible for animal control who are trained in the humane destruction of animals. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. Contact us. (c) Each time a dog or coyote runs at large in violation of this section constitutes a separate offense. SUITS TO ENJOIN OPERATION OF QUARANTINE OR IMPOUNDMENT FACILITY. September 1, 2005. 219), Sec. Sec. The authority may provide for the impoundment of the dog in secure and humane conditions until the court orders the disposition of the dog. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY. 99, Sec. (b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $100, confinement in the county jail for not more than 30 days, or both. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. (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. (a) If rabies is known to exist in an area, the department or its designee may declare an area rabies quarantine to prevent or contain a rabies epizootic. (e) Notwithstanding any other law, a county court or a county court at law has jurisdiction to hear an appeal filed under this section. 826.014. (a) A person commits an offense if the person is the owner of a dangerous dog and the dog makes an unprovoked attack on another person outside the dog's enclosure and causes bodily injury to the other person. (3) "Dog" means a domesticated animal that is a member of the canine family. EFFECT OF SUBCHAPTER ON OTHER LAW. 822.108. Sept. 1, 1989. 826.011. 822.033 and amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. If that finding is not made, the court shall order the dog released to: (2) the person from whom the dog was seized; or. (d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the veterinarian or local rabies control authority may sell the animal and retain the proceeds or keep, grant, or destroy an animal if the owner or custodian does not take possession of the animal before the fourth day following the final day of the quarantine period. 3.1612, eff. . (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. Sec. (5) "Owner" means a person who owns or has custody or control of the dog. Officials say the dogs killed . (b) The county or municipality in which the violation occurs may sue to collect a civil penalty. If your dog bites someone, whether on your property or not, you are liable.". Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. (c) If a person is found guilty of an offense under this section, the court may order the dog destroyed by a person listed in Section 822.004. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. VIOLATIONS. (a) If the result of an election is against the registration of and registration fee for dogs, another election on that subject may not be held for six months after the date of the election. 1, eff. CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION; FEES. Biting animal to be confined; veterinarian to report. (a) This section applies only to a county with a population of more than 2,800,000, to a county in which the commissioners court has entered an order electing to be governed by this section, and to a municipality in which the governing body has adopted an ordinance electing to be governed by this section. 1 (S.B. 219), 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. (c) The enforcing agency may collect a fee set by ordinance for the registration of each dog or cat and may retain the fees collected. May 5, 1995. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1, eff. This subchapter applies only to a county that adopts this subchapter by a majority vote of the qualified voters of the county voting at an election held under this subchapter. If the owner had reason to know that the dog was dangerous, then the owner is strictly liable for the injury caused. 2, eff. (4-a) "Executive commissioner" means the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. 822.0422. 3.1616, eff. 678, Sec. SUBCHAPTER A. (b) An owner of a dangerous wild animal shall keep and confine the animal in accordance with the caging requirements and standards established by the executive commissioner. (e) The court, after determining that the dog is a dangerous dog, may order the animal control authority to continue to impound the dangerous dog in secure and humane conditions until the court orders disposition of the dog under Section 822.042 and the dog is returned to the owner or destroyed. May 17, 1999. Penal Code 398 (2022).) CIVIL PENALTY. 822.045. NOTICE. (C) the selling, trading, bartering, or auctioning of a dangerous wild animal or a dangerous wild animal's body parts. Defense to prosecution if person is a veterinarian, peace officer, or is employed to deal with animals. 678, Sec. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. Through social (b) As a condition of perfecting an appeal, not later than the 10th calendar day after the date the decision is issued, the appellant must file a notice of appeal and, if applicable, an appeal bond in the amount determined by the court from which the appeal is taken. Civilly, an owner can be held liable if they knew the dog had bitten someone before and did not use "reasonable care" in restraining the dog, said. 822.011 and amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 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. 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. 1, eff. September 1, 2007. //help_ftr_01_05 = new Image(38, 28);help_ftr_01_05.src = '/images/help_nav.gif'; 822.007. 219), Sec. 678, Sec. (b) A person who violates this section commits an offense. 1 (S.B. 678, Sec. The fee charged to an applicant may not exceed $50 for each animal registered and may not exceed $500 for each person registering animals, regardless of the number of animals owned by the person. In addition to the notice required by Section 4.003, Election Code, notice of an election under this subchapter shall be published at least once in an English language newspaper of general circulation in the county.