Health & Safety Code · §822.041

Dangerous Dogs

Dangerous Dogs (§822.041): key points and worked practice questions for Texas peace officer exam preparation.

Key points

  • Dangerous dog: makes an unprovoked attack causing bodily injury outside a secure enclosure, or commits unprovoked acts causing a reasonable belief it will attack
  • Secure enclosure: locked, escape-proof, clearly marked
  • Owner duties (registration, restraint on a leash or in a secure enclosure, $100,000 liability insurance or financial responsibility) are in §822.042

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Worked examples

Worked example 1

Dangerous Dog law under HSC §822.041 — when an animal control authority determines a dog is 'dangerous,' the owner must:

  1. Surrender the dog
  2. Register the dog as dangerous, restrain when on property, restrain when off property (muzzle / leash), obtain liability insurance ($100,000 minimum), and comply with other listed requirements Correct
  3. Euthanize the dog
  4. Move the dog out of state
Why: Dangerous dog determinations create specific owner obligations: registration, restraint, liability insurance, and reporting. Failure can result in seizure of the dog and criminal charges.
Statute: Tex. Health & Safety Code §822.041–822.045

Statutory definitions for this topic

Dangerous dog Tex. Health & Safety Code §822.041–822.045
A dog determined to be dangerous by animal control authority — based on unprovoked attack causing bodily injury or unprovoked acts in unsecured area causing reasonable belief of imminent attack. Owners must register, restrain, and carry $100,000 liability insurance.