Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. TermsPrivacyDisclaimerCookiesDo Not Sell My Information, Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select, Please enter a legal issue and/or a location, Begin typing to search, use arrow //help_ftr_01_05o = new Image(38, 28);help_ftr_01_05o.src = '/images/help_nav_over.gif'; Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 2283), Sec. The Executive Commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) declares a statewide rabies quarantine. 44, Sec. Stock Laws. (b) It is a defense to prosecution under Section 822.044 or Section 822.045 that the person is an employee of the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or a law enforcement agency and trains or uses dogs for law enforcement or corrections purposes. (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. SHORT TITLE. 11, eff. (5) if an applicant holds a Class "A" or Class "B" dealer's license or Class "C" exhibitor's license issued by the secretary of agriculture of the United States under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. BITE #_____ ACTIVITY #_____ Persons or pets are potentially exposed when: EXPOSURE INFO 1. there is known physical contact with saliva or nervous system tissue from a high-risk wildlife species Did anyone touch the wild animal? 916, Sec. (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. (a) A person commits an offense if: (1) the person fails or refuses to restrain a dog or cat owned by the person; and. SUITS TO ENJOIN OPERATION OF QUARANTINE OR IMPOUNDMENT FACILITY. In this subchapter: (1) "Dog or coyote" includes a crossbreed between a dog and a coyote. (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. 219), Sec. Sec. Sept. 1, 1989. (2) the animal is required to be registered under the ordinances or rules adopted under this chapter by a county or municipality within whose jurisdiction the act occurs. 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. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR QUARANTINE AND IMPOUNDMENT FACILITIES. Sec. Sec. (c) If an owner of a registered dangerous dog sells or moves the dog to a new address, the owner, not later than the 14th day after the date of the sale or move, shall notify the animal control authority for the area in which the new address is located. (f) The owner shall pay a cost or fee assessed under Section 822.042(d). The owner shall pay any cost incurred in seizing the dog. 1, eff. (f) 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 search and rescue effort at the request of law enforcement. . Phone: 903-590-2840. window.status = msgStr; 99, Sec. (a) This section applies only to an incorporated municipality that has a population of more than 1,000 and that is the county seat of a county with a population of less than 1,600. and its subsequent amendments or the regulations adopted under that Act. 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. Investigate animal bites on humans and other animals and assure the proper quarantine of these animals . The governing body of the municipality or county may prescribe the amount of the fees. No anti-rabies prophylaxis is needed. In the 15-year period of 2005 through 2019, canines killed 521 Americans. Sept. 1, 1989. 826.055. 76, Sec. 822.103. | More April 2, 2015. (1) the name and address of the victim and of the animal's owner, if known; and. 219), Sec. April 2, 2015. 99, Sec. 1, eff. 219), Sec. (c-1) The court shall determine the estimated costs to house and care for the impounded dog during the appeal process and shall set the amount of bond for an appeal adequate to cover those estimated costs. April 2, 2015. 826.025. April 2, 2015. Sec. (2) the animal is vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's expense. Sec. NOTICE. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. (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. 1, eff. 1, eff. (a) A person who owns or keeps custody or control of a dangerous dog commits an offense if the person fails to comply with Section 822.042 or Section 822.0422(b) or an applicable municipal or county regulation relating to dangerous dogs. 1, eff. Section 2131 et seq.) Please make sure your pets are vaccinated against this terrible disease. INJUNCTION. APPEAL. June 18, 2005. April 2, 2015. Texas State Law requires that owners of dogs, cats, and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies by four months of age and given a second inoculation against rabies one year later, then tri-annually thereafter (VTCA-Sec. (a) A person commits an offense if the person is the owner of a dog and the person: (1) with criminal negligence, as defined by Section 6.03, Penal Code, fails to secure the dog and the dog makes an unprovoked attack on another person that occurs at a location other than the owner's real property or in or on the owner's motor vehicle or boat and that causes serious bodily injury, as defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code, or death to the other person; or. (d) The county treasurer shall record the registration of a dog, including the age, breed, color, sex, and registration date of the dog. This article focuses on civil liability for dog bites, but a discussion of criminal penalties has been provided. A few days later, the shelter reported that they had received positive test results. (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. (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. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 826.016. It is kept quarantined until the clinical signs of rabies have resolved. New findings bolster deputies' belief that 3 Crosby teens died in double murder-suicide. Sec. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. Rule 3701-3-29. } At FindLaw.com, we pride ourselves on being the number one source of free legal information and resources on the web. 1 (S.B. 9, eff. 826.041. 822.030. (3) personnel of a governmental agency responsible for animal control who are trained in the humane destruction of animals. Sept. 1, 2001. Sec. There is a 2-dog limit for homes without a fenced or enclosed back yard, and a 3-dog limit for dogs kept in an enclosed or fenced back yard. (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. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. (1) Statewide quarantine. Sec. 1, eff. (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. DEFINITIONS. The governing body of a municipality and the commissioners court of a county may enter into contracts or agreements with public or private entities to carry out the activities required or authorized under this chapter. 678, Sec. 822.0421. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1 (S.B. (2) the veterinarian knows or suspects is rabid or has exposed an individual to rabies. 1, eff. 822.0424. 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. 678, Sec. Rabies and Animal Control Order #171. Sec. (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. (c) To the extent of any conflict between this section and any other law or rule relating to the administration of rabies vaccine, this section controls. Sept. 1, 1997. 219), Sec. May 5, 1995. The hearing must be held not later than the 10th day after the date on which the warrant is issued. Also, the dog's owner can sometimes choose not to have their dog put down. 1, eff. If the domestic animal is showing clinical signs consistent with rabies . 4, eff. Sec. (c) An owner of a dangerous wild animal that escapes is liable for all costs incurred in apprehending and confining the animal. } (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. (b) A person who violates this section commits an offense. (a) The department may provide vaccine and hyperimmune serum in accordance with department policies or procedures for the use and benefit of a person exposed, or suspected of having been exposed, to rabies. 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