Harris County Texas Dog Bite Laws

Instead in 1974 the texas supreme court ruled in marshall v.

Harris county texas dog bite laws. Harris county animal regulations. Texas permits a dog owner to mount a defense based on the comparative negligence of the dog bite victim. In addition these regulations aim to protect the health safety and general welfare of animals in harris county by promoting lifesaving efforts for harris. If not you can report all animal bites by calling 713 229 7300 if you live within the city limits of houston or 281 999 3191 if you live in harris county.

If you have a complaint about a barking dog or a dangerous dog or have any questions about lost pets stray cats pet adoptions leash laws etc give the county a call. Texas family code 85 022 requirements of order applying to person who committed. There s no reason you should suffer unconditionally. Ranne that the state would follow the rule stated in section 509 of the restatement of torts.

The defense of comparative or contributory negligence. 42 091 attack on assistance animal. This means that texas is a negligence or one bite rule state for purposes of personal injury cases stemming from dog bites. Section 16 003 two year statute of limitations dog bite liability.

42 092 cruelty to non livestock. The county will not take care of the raccoon in your yard the squirrels in your attic your rat infestation or anything like that. Unlike most states texas does not have a dog bite statute instead texas courts adhere to the common law one bite rule. It is a free county service for domestic animal issues.

Texas is known to be one of the leading states in dog bites. Find your local harris county animal control agency here. If you ve recently been bitten by a dog it s recommended that you contact matthew horak at horak law. The animal should be confined for a veterinary exam or testing if possible.

In a comparative negligence state the damages awarded by the jury are reduced by the degree of the plaintiff s negligence. It is important to understand that animal bites may need immediate medical care but rabies prevention treatment is rarely an emergency. If the dog has never bitten anyone before and the owner had no reason to believe that the dog was dangerous then it will be up to the victim to prove negligence in order to recover. Section 13 unlawful restraint.

42 09 cruelty to livestock. Harris county animal services does not handle wildlife issues. The one bite rule. An attack can lead to expensive medical bills missed days of work psychological effects and more.

Rabies prevention treatment can be discussed when the bite is reported. Reasonable and uniform regulations for animal control in harris county texas. They handle problems with domestic animals namely dogs and cats. Commits unprovoked acts 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 and those acts cause a person to reasonably believe that the dog will attack and cause bodily injury to that person.

Reports of animal bites should be done within 24 hours. Therefore if the victim s own conduct was 10 responsible for the incident for example the victim s compensation will be reduced by 10. Dog bite lawyer in harris county texas. The victim s negligence must be only 50 or less.