Tex. Health & Safety Code § 821.103 · Subchapter E. UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT OF DOG
EXCEPTIONS.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) Section 821.102 does not apply to:
(1) the use of a restraint on a dog in a public camping or recreational area in compliance with the requirements of the public camping or recreational area as defined by a federal, state, or local authority or jurisdiction;
(2) the use of a restraint on a dog while the owner and dog engage in, or actively train for, an activity conducted under a valid license issued by this state provided the activity is associated with the use or presence of a dog;
(3) the use of a restraint on a dog while the owner and dog engage in conduct directly related to the business of shepherding or herding cattle or livestock;
(4) the use of a restraint on a dog while the owner and dog engage in conduct directly related to the business of cultivating agricultural products;
(5) a dog left unattended in an open-air truck bed only for the time reasonably necessary for the owner to complete a temporary task that requires the dog to be left unattended in the truck bed;
(6) a dog taken by the owner, or another person with the owner's permission, from the owner's residence or property and restrained by the owner or the person for not longer than the time necessary for the owner to engage in an activity that requires the dog to be temporarily restrained; or
(7) a dog restrained while the owner and dog are engaged in, or actively training for, hunting or field trialing.
(b) Section 821.102(b)(3) does not apply to a restraint attached to a trolley system that allows a dog to move along a running line for a distance equal to or greater than the lengths specified under that subdivision.
(c) This subchapter does not prohibit a person from walking a dog with a handheld leash.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 3rd C.S., Ch. 6 (S.B. 5), Sec. 1, eff. January 18, 2022.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.821.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 fb4a4983200085413cd0acbfe7279b324bd66299e15149c46e390e681bb12c7d
- Composed by
- compose_tx.py 2026-10-05: the Legislative Council's chapter files read in document order; verify_tx.py's independent reading (lxml DOM walk) agrees character for character
This section cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.