HOUSTON – KPRC 2 wants to hear from Houston area residents who may be dealing with a stray dog problem in their community.
TIMELINE: Uptick in dog attacks in Greater Houston area,
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There appears to be a concerning rise in reported dog attacks across the Greater Houston area and nearby counties since 2024, with a significant concentration of cases coming from Liberty County, many involving stray dogs.
We have been tracking dog attacks we’ve covered since the beginning of 2024 in Pasadena, north Houston, Liberty County, northeast Houston, Spring, Humble, Baytown, and other Houston area cities.
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While the problem of stray dogs is a big one across the Houston-area, it is quite possible that many of these dogs were dumped and abandoned by their owners.
Abandoning a dog or any animal is a crime in Texas and can carry stiff legal ramifications.
Abandoning an animal is covered under the Texas animal cruelty law. Abandonment is defined in the Texas Penal Code as abandoning an animal in the person’s custody without making reasonable arrangements for assumption of custody by another person.
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It is considered a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $4,000 and up to a year in jail.
The charge could become a state jail felony if the person faces their third conviction. Under Texas law, a state jail felony may include jail time ranging from 180 days to 2 years and a fine up to $10,000.