Harris County Texas Dog Bite Laws
Definition of the leash law in harris county.
Harris county texas dog bite laws. Rabies prevention treatment can be discussed when the bite is reported. Harris county public health hcph through its veterinary public health division hcph vph is the entity designated as the local rabies control authority for harris county pursuant to section 826 017 of the health safety code. They include negligence causing a dog bite by violating an animal control law failing to stop a dog attack which is in progress and keeping a dog that is known to be vicious. The texas supreme court articulated the law and standards that texas follows for animal attacks in a case called marshall v.
Texas doesn t have a civil liability law specifically for dog bites but that doesn t mean you won t be liable if your dog bites someone. It is important to understand that animal bites may need immediate medical care but rabies prevention treatment is rarely an emergency. Application to register a dangerous wild animal. Overview of texas dog bite law there are a number of causes of action available to the victim of a dog attack in texas.
Texas or the united states. Criminal dog bite laws in texas in texas being grossly negligent of your dog can be a crime. Reports of animal bites should be done within 24 hours. Harris county leash laws harris county animal regulations require custodians meaning owners or handlers to keep the dog under restraint while in an unincorporated area within the county in other words outside of city limits.
Report animals in violation of the leash law to our shelter by calling 281 999 3191. Texas lack of dog bite statute is at odds with the majority of states because the one bite rule shields a dog owner from liability each time one of his dogs bites a person for the first time unless it can be proved that the owner knew that the dog had the propensity to bite people without justification. All cats and dogs over the age of three months and residing in unincorporated harris county are required to have a harris county license. Rabies is spread by a bite or scratch from an infected mammal.