What Is Texas’ Leash Law?

Dog attacks can be violent and disastrous for victims. Serious dog bite injuries include puncture wounds, lacerations, and permanent scarring or disfigurement. In an effort to reduce the number of dog bite incidents, many cities and municipalities in Texas have leash laws requiring pet owners to properly restrain their dogs. If an owner breaks a leash law, that person may be liable for a subsequent attack.

State and Municipal Leash Laws

No state law in Texas makes using a leash universally mandatory. Instead, the state leaves it to each municipality to implement its own leash laws, if desired. A pet owner may not need to put his or her dog on a leash at all times if the city or county does not have a leash law. Most municipalities in Texas, however, do require leashes on dogs in public areas.

• According to the Houston Code of Ordinances, all dogs must be on leashes and within direct physical control of their owners at all times in public spaces. The only exceptions are in fenced areas without access to public streets or sidewalks, dog parks, and other authorized no-leash zones.
• Under Austin’s Animal Protection Ordinances, all unrestrained (unleashed) dogs are prohibited except in off-leash dog parks or other places where restraint is not required. It is also against the law in Austin to leave a dog tethered to a chain by itself.
• In Dallas, under Dallas City Code Vol. 1 Chapter 7, all pet owners must restrain their dogs in fenced yards, enclosed structures or pens, by a tether, or on a leash at all times.

These are just a few examples of many different municipalities in Texas that require leashes and prohibit dogs from running at large. Many cities also enforce more stringent control requirements for dangerous dogs. Dogs earn the title of dangerous if they cause serious bodily injuries to other pets or people. Dangerous dogs may require muzzles and other restraints in certain cities. It is important for every pet owner in Texas to obey his or her city’s leash laws. Otherwise, preventable dog attacks can occur.

Who Is Liable If a Dog Bites?

Every year, dogs bite dozens of victims throughout Texas. Some of these attacks occur due to their owners breaking the law, such as ignoring a city’s mandatory leash requirement. If a pet owner in Houston walked a dog without a leash, for example, that dog could attack and bite someone. The owner would be unable to prevent the attack since the dog was not within his or her control.

A dog bite victim in Texas should consider whether the pet owner could be liable for damages, such as medical bills and pain and suffering, after an attack involving a breach of Texas’ leash law. Texas is a one-bite state, meaning the victim of a dog attack must prove the pet owner knew or reasonably should have known of the dog’s vicious propensities through a previous attack yet failed to prevent a second attack. A victim also has the right to base a claim on negligence, however. It may be possible to bring a negligence claim against a pet owner on the basis of a broken leash law, in certain scenarios.

Walking a dog without a leash in Texas could result in a fine and citation if the city’s municipal code requires leashes at all times. If the unrestrained dog injures a person or damages property, the owner could also face civil liability for a victim’s losses. This means the pet owner would be responsible for paying for property repairs and medical bills to make the victim whole again. Texas’ leash laws could play a part in a liability claim if a pet owner negligently or intentionally violated them.

If a dog running at large in Texas recently injured you, contact a Houston dog bite attorney for legal advice. The pet owner may owe you financial compensation.