Dog Biting Bill
By: KLST Staff
Updated: July 26, 2007
When, dogs get mad, their most natural reaction is to bite...and those bites may cost the pet owner. The 80th Texas Legislature passed a bill that states that pet owner's are responsible for their dog's actions. You have to protect the public from your animal. And if you don't, and you failed protect to the public. And you have that vicious animal, and that dog or pet hurts someone else, there will be criminal sanctions. Says Drew Darby the 72nd District Represenative.
If a dog seriously injures or kills a person the offense can be as high as a second degree felony.
You can serve penatentury time from 10-to-20 years. Darby says.
If your dog is respectively confined in your yard and someone jumps the fence and your dog bite's the person...this bill does not pertain to those situations. The dog biting crime must be unprovoked.
Darby says however if you fail to restrain that animal on your property and that animal leaves your property and commits this violation, that's when the bill goes into effect. It was designed to protect the public. Representative Drew Darby says the 80th Texas Legislature felt it was important for people take responsibility for their pet's action. The dog biting bill goes into effect September first. JJKLST news.

