Texas Ranks High In Dog Bite Fatalities, Should Lawmakers Change “One Bite” Rule?

According to DogBite.org, which tracks every known U.S. dog bite death, Texas has had 78 dog bite deaths since 2005.

In 2024, Texas had eight deaths from dog attacks. These grim statistics reflect a need for change.

Why Are Texas Dog Bite Deaths So High?

It is always important to remember that when Texas ranks high in a category (good or bad), part of the equation is our massive size. However, that's only part of the picture here.

Read More: Bougie Best Friend: Is Texas An Expensive Place To Have A Dog?

Could part of the reason be that Texas is far too permissive with bad dog owners? Or is it that municipalities simply lack the resources to enforce existing laws to protect people from dangerous dogs?

Texas "One Bite Rule"

Texas, like many other states and countries, has a "one bite" rule. To summarize, it means that if a person is bitten by a dog, and the dog has never bitten anyone before (or otherwise proved itself dangerous), then the owner cannot be held liable because they could not have known the dog would behave that way.

Of course, a person whose dog just bit someone would probably never fess up to a previous bite unless it was on record.
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So, how is a dog determined to be dangerous otherwise?

According to the Texas Bar:

A “dangerous dog” is one that:

(1) makes an unprovoked attack on a person causing bodily injury or death; or
(2) commits unprovoked attacks leading a reasonable person to believe the dog will attack them in a place other than an enclosure reasonably certain to prevent escape by the dog.⁹

An owner should recognize a dog as dangerous if:

(1) the dog has attacked someone;
(2) a justice, county, or municipal court has determined the dog to be a “dangerous dog”; or
(3) animal control has informed you that the dog is a “dangerous dog.”¹⁰

Once a dog is declared dangerous, some municipalities will not allow the dog to live inside city limits. Which, of course, could put rural living folks at more risk.

I absolutely love dogs. However, we must protect the elderly, children, and even perfectly healthy adults from being seriously injured or killed by dangerous dogs. I think the real solution is better funding and training for local municipalities to enforce dangerous dog laws that are already on the books.

I also believe a big part of the problem is our dog overpopulation, which again, could be improved by more funding for local spay/ neuter programs.