SAN ANTONIO – The City of San Antonio’s Animal Care Services gave a dog owner six criminal citations after their dog bit an 11-year-old girl and injured two other people who were trying to help.
After several dog bites over recent months, a San Antonio state senator introduced a bill with hopes of increasing the consequences for irresponsible dog owners.
Among the citations the owner of the dog is facing include:
- the dog was away from the owner’s property
- failure to provide proof of rabies vaccination
- failure to provide proof of microchipping
- three citations for failure to prevent the attack
Consequences could escalate much higher if state Senator Jose Menendez’s legislation on dangerous dogs is passed.
“We’re trying to send a message, you know?” Menendez said. “If you’re going to be a dog owner, be a responsible dog owner.”
Senator Menendez introduced Senate Bill 155 on dangerous dogs in November — alongside 62 other bills — for the upcoming legislative session based on several complaints from the community.
If passed, owners of known dangerous dogs could face more than criminal citations. Owners could be charged with misdemeanors or even felonies.
“There are people who’ve called our office and said, ‘We can’t even walk,‘” Menendez said. “‘We don’t feel that we can walk or ride our bikes safely in our neighborhood. Our children can’t be out playing safely in the neighborhood.‘ You and your dog’s rights end at your property line.”
KSAT has reported several dog attacks over the last few months but the legislation that Menendez introduced specifically points to a deadly dog attack on an elderly man in 2023.
A dangerous dog bill had bipartisan support in 2023 following the incident with Ramon Najera, but Governor Greg Abbott vetoed the legislation.
After KSAT reached out, Gov. Abbott’s office referred us to his 2023 proclamation.
“Texas’s existing criminal laws penalize attacks by dangerous dogs — so much so that felony arrests have already been made of the dog owners responsible for the tragic attack that took the life of a distinguished Air Force veteran in San Antonio, and that was the catalyst for House Bill No. 4759. The justice system should be allowed to work without the overcriminalization found in this bill. I look forward to working with the author to create investigations and procedures that stop dog attacks before they happen.”
Governor Abbott’s office offered no further comment on the bill being introduced again for the upcoming legislative session.
“Even though in San Antonio, we passed an ordinance, (but) we’re not finished,” Menendez said. “Because it’s a city ordinance, it does not apply in places like Leon Valley, Castle Hills or Converse (or) Windcrest. It doesn’t apply in those small towns, and that’s why we need a state law.”
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