SPRING, Texas – Stephanie Pinon, a Memorial Chase resident, says she was walking her dog, Saucony, when a loose dog charged them.
“He just started running right towards us. He just laid down and wouldn’t get back up,” she said.
Pinon took Saucony to the vet, where he was put to sleep because of his injuries.
“I just didn’t want him in pain,” she said.
Pinon says this was her first encounter with this particular dog, but it’s the fifth time in recent years she’s dealt with aggressive, unleashed dogs in her neighborhood. She says a prior incident included a dog breaking through her fence.
A police report was filed.
The numbers from Harris County Pets
Animal control calls:
- 2023: 25,430
- 2024: 28,733
- 2025 (as of Sept. 17): 21,375
Dog bite cases
- 2023: 2,464
- 2024: 2,664
- 2025 (as of Sept. 17): 1,756
Loose dog bite cases
- 2023: 1,288
- 2024: 1,407
- 2025 (as of Sept. 17): 811
Aggressive dog calls
- 2023: 1,872
- 2024: 2,214
- 2025 (as of Sept. 17): 847
Corey Steele, Director of Veterinary Public Health at Harris County Pets, said bite trends have been consistent and haven’t let up. He cites lack of confinement and unaltered pets as drivers.
“Spay, neuter your pets. We know unaltered pets are more aggressive,” Steele said.
Steele said the department increased animal control officers from 15 to 21 and aims to continue improving response.
What Texas law says about “dangerous dogs”
Under Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 822 (and Harris County regulations), a dog may be deemed dangerous if it:
- Makes an unprovoked attack causing injury outside a secure enclosure, or
- Acts aggressively outside a secure enclosure such that a reasonable person would fear an attack
If declared dangerous, owners have 30 days to:
- Build a secure enclosure and post “Dangerous Dog” signs
- Spay/neuter, microchip, and register with local animal control (renew annually)
- Maintain $100,000 liability insurance or proof of financial responsibility
- Keep the dog leashed and muzzled outside its enclosure
Penalties for noncompliance can include court-ordered seizure; in some cases, humane euthanasia. The state sets the baseline; counties and cities may add stricter rules.
What to do after a dog attack
- Get medical care immediately; clean wounds and assess for serious injury
- Document everything: photos of injuries/scene, descriptions, medical or vet records, witness names and statements
- Report the bite to animal control/rabies control authority; Texas requires reporting
Pinon says she now feels uneasy walking in her neighborhood and carries protection.
Harris County Pets says it investigates reported cases and encourages residents to report incidents in real time – when they happen, so trends can be identified and addressed.