Lillian's Law - Texas State Dangerous Dog Law
Austin, TX - Lillian's Law (
HB 1355) is the new Texas State dangerous dog law. Under the law, the owner of a loose dog that causes injury or death can be prosecuted if the owner is found to be "criminally negligent" in failing to prevent the dog from escaping. The third-degree felony charge can bring a sentence of 2 to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. If the victim dies, a dog owner can be charged with a second-degree felony, which could bring up to 20 years in prison.
Lillian's Law stems from the brutal attack of 76-year old
Lillian Stiles, who was killed by a pack of loose pit bull-rottweiler mixes while mowing her front lawn. Lillian's family was shocked to learn after her death that Texas laws do not, in most cases, hold the dog owner responsible for injuries, even in the case of death, caused by their dogs. Lillan's family formed a group, named
Texas Families Against Dangerous Dogs, and succeeded in helping this new legislation get passed.
Despite misleading press information, Lillan's Law did not abolish the Texas state "one bite" rule. To gain a conviction under Lillian's Law, prosecutors must still prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the dog owner
knew of should have known that his dog was going to cause death or severe bodily injury.
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Dog Attacks, Trends and Dog Law Coverage of Texas
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