Houston has a dangerous dog list with five local dogs on it: three are pit bull terriers, one is a Chihuahua mix and another is a Mastiff mix. Other dogs that might have been on the list were put down by their owners after vicious attacks.
There are special regulations for dangerous dogs. Their houses must have signs that state a dangerous dog lives there, the owner must have a special license and the dog must wear a Dangerous Dog license tag.
In Houston, from 2006 to 2011 there were 12,000 animal bites and attacks, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of data from city animal control records.
Dog attacks happen all over the Houston region and 70% are unprovoked. A 4-year-old boy in Victoria died from a canine mauling recently. In Friendswood, two dogs escaped and attacked a 10-year-old girl before a neighbor chased the dog away. Most of the victims are young since they don’t know how to behave with animals and they are small and easy to harm.
Cats also can cause harm. Domesticated short-hair and medium-hair felines are on the list of the top 10 animal breeds that attack. Since cats have bacteria in their mouths, untreated cat bites can be infectious.
In the last two years, nearly 2,500 pet owners were fined for not keeping their pets leashed or confined to their yard or home. If you or your loved one has been attacked by an animal due to the negligence of another, contact W.T. Johnson today.
