Dog attacks in Texas do not only affect humans; there are many cases reported each year of dogs attacking other dogs, as well. If your beloved pet was attacked by a dog and sustained serious injuries, you can take steps to pursue financial compensation for losses caused by the incident, including veterinary bills and emotional distress, with the help of a Kyle dog bite lawyer.
Do Texas’s Dog Bite Laws Apply to an Injured Pet?
Yes, the state’s dog bite laws apply to injured “livestock, domestic animals and fowls” under Texas Health and Safety Code section 822.012. If a dog with known tendencies to harm other animals is permitted to run at large by its owner or keeper, that person can be held liable (legally and financially responsible) for damages caused by the dog.
Under state law, you could file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the owner of a dog that attacks and injures or kills your dog. The courts will hold a pet owner liable for a serious or fatal dog attack if the owner knew or reasonably should have known that the dog could be violent toward other animals but did nothing to prevent a foreseeable attack.
Grounds for Filing a Claim Against Another Pet Owner in Texas
In Texas, you must have legal grounds and proof to support your claim if you wish to recover financial compensation from another pet owner for an attack on your dog. You will have to show that the pet owner is responsible for the incident in some manner, or that the attack likely would not have happened were it not for the pet owner.
Reasons you could file a claim after an attack involving your dog include:
- Negligence: the owner acted in a way that a reasonably prudent pet owner would not have in the same circumstances, such as allowing a dog to run at large outside of the state’s leash laws.
- Broken laws: the pet owner broke a state or local dog ownership law, such as harboring a known “dangerous dog”without taking the required precautions to prevent an incident.
- One-bite rule: the owner should have known of the dog’s vicious propensities due to a previous attack but failed to take steps to prevent a subsequent incident.
A successful claim or lawsuit against a pet owner for an attack involving your dog could result in a settlement or a jury verdict that requires the owner to pay for all of your pet’s related veterinary bills, as well as your emotional distress for harm done to your beloved pet.
What to Do if Your Dog Gets Attacked By Another Dog in Texas
The first thing to do if your dog gets attacked by another dog in Texas is to safely separate the animals. Then, write down the names and contact information of other people who were involved. This can include the owner or walker of the dog that attacked, as well as any eyewitnesses.
Check yourself for signs of harm done by the dog, such as ripped clothing or bite injuries. If you notice that you were bitten, get medical care immediately. If your dog was injured, bring it to your regular veterinary clinic or an emergency animal hospital, if necessary. Keep copies of all of your vet bills.
Report the incident to your local animal control authority so that it gets put on the record. If you believe that the owner of the other dog was in violation of one or more laws pertaining to the control of a dog, call the police to report the individual. Finally, contact the other pet owner’s property insurance company to file a claim. Property insurance often covers damage caused by its policyholder’s dogs. Contact a lawyer today for legal guidance.