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Dog bites in Houston: how to report a bite and what Texas law says

How to report a dog bite in Houston through BARC and 311, and what Texas law says about rabies quarantine and dangerous dogs, with official sources.

7 min readPublished October 22, 2026Last updated October 22, 2026Edited by Joseph Budzinski, CTO, InjuryClaimGuide

The short answer

In Houston, the City's BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions asks people to report an animal bite by calling 311. Texas law separately requires a person who knows of a bite that could reasonably be foreseen as capable of transmitting rabies to report it to the local rabies control authority, and it sets rules for quarantining the animal and for dogs found to be dangerous (Health & Safety Code chs. 822 and 826).

This guide explains those rules in general terms, with the official text linked for each one. It is general informational guidance and is not legal advice; it says nothing about any particular bite or who was responsible for it. For a bite or scratch, BARC's rabies page says to talk to your doctor or health care provider right away (City of Houston BARC, About Rabies).

Key facts (as of October 22, 2026)

  • Reporting in Houston. BARC asks people to call 311 to report an animal bite of any kind (City of Houston BARC, Report an Animal Bite).
  • State reporting rule. A person who knows of an animal bite or scratch that the person could reasonably foresee as capable of transmitting rabies must report it to the local rabies control authority (Health & Safety Code §826.041(a)).
  • Quarantine. An owner must submit for quarantine an animal that is reported to have exposed a person to rabies (§826.042(c)). DSHS says dogs and cats involved in biting incidents should be confined under veterinary supervision for at least 10 days (DSHS, Rabies Facts).
  • Dangerous dogs. Texas law defines a "dangerous dog" by unprovoked attacks or acts outside a secure enclosure (§822.041(2)), and an animal control authority may investigate a reported incident and determine that a dog is dangerous (§822.0421).
  • Owner requirements. Within 30 days of learning that a dog is dangerous, the owner must register it, keep it restrained, obtain liability insurance or show financial responsibility, and follow local rules (§822.042(a)).
  • Two-year period. Texas generally sets a two-year limitations period for personal injury suits (Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003).

How do I report a dog bite in Houston?

BARC, the City of Houston's animal shelter, which also handles animal enforcement in the city, takes bite reports through 311 (Report an Animal Bite). Its page lists the information it asks for:

  • the identity and contact information of the person who was bitten;
  • the date and time of the bite;
  • a clear description of the animal;
  • the address where the bite happened;
  • the owner's contact information, if available.

BARC is the City of Houston's agency. Under state law, a report goes to the local rabies control authority of the county or municipality where the person lives, where the animal is located, or where the exposure happened (§826.041(a)), so a bite outside the city limits may be reported to a different local authority.

What does Texas law say about reporting animal bites?

Texas Health and Safety Code §826.041 says:

  • a person who knows of an animal bite or scratch to an individual that the person could reasonably foresee as capable of transmitting rabies, or who knows of an animal the person suspects is rabid, must report it;
  • the report goes to the local rabies control authority of the county or municipality where the person lives, where the animal is located, or where the exposure happened;
  • the report must include the name and address of the victim and of the animal's owner, if known, and any other information that may help locate the victim or the animal;
  • the local rabies control authority must investigate the report.

What happens to the dog after a bite?

Under §826.042, the local rabies control authority or a veterinarian quarantines or tests, under state health rules, an animal it has probable cause to believe may have exposed a person to rabies. The owner must submit such an animal for quarantine to the local rabies control authority where the exposure happened, and the owner is given written notice of the dates the animal enters and leaves quarantine.

The Texas Department of State Health Services says dogs and cats involved in biting incidents should be confined in isolation under veterinary supervision for at least 10 days, and that a biting wild animal should not be held in quarantine (DSHS, Rabies Facts).

If a veterinarian finds that a quarantined animal shows no clinical signs of rabies, the animal is released to its owner when the quarantine ends, if the owner has an unexpired rabies vaccination certificate or the animal is vaccinated at the owner's expense. The owner pays the reasonable costs of the quarantine (§826.043).

Rabies treatment for a person is a medical question. BARC's rabies page says it is very important to talk to your doctor or health care provider right away if any animal bites you, especially a wild animal (About Rabies).

What is a dangerous dog under Texas law?

Health and Safety Code §822.041 defines a "dangerous dog" as a dog that:

  • makes an unprovoked attack on a person that causes bodily injury and occurs in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the dog from leaving on its own; or
  • commits unprovoked acts in such a place that cause a person to reasonably believe that the dog will attack and cause bodily injury to that person.

If a person reports an incident like that, the animal control authority may investigate. If, after receiving the sworn statements of any witnesses, it determines the dog is dangerous, it notifies the owner in writing, and the owner may appeal to a justice, county or municipal court not later than the 15th day after being notified (§822.0421). In a county with a population of more than 2,800,000, and in counties and cities that opt in, a person may also report the incident to a municipal, justice or county court, which decides after a hearing whether the dog is dangerous (§822.0422).

Not later than the 30th day after learning that a dog is dangerous, the owner must register the dog with the animal control authority, keep it restrained at all times on a leash or in a secure enclosure, obtain liability insurance coverage or show financial responsibility in the amount the statute sets, and follow any local rules on dangerous dogs (§822.042(a)).

How does the City of Houston handle a dangerous dog report?

BARC's Declaring a Dog as Dangerous page describes the city's process under Chapter 6 of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances:

  • the process starts with a complaint to BARC, in the form of a sworn statement (affidavit), that a dog living within the city limits is dangerous;
  • BARC reviews the statement and, if the dog's actions meet the state definition, opens an investigation;
  • BARC asks the person making the complaint for as much information as possible, such as an accurate description of the dog, witness testimony, photographs of injuries and related medical reports;
  • if BARC finds sufficient grounds, it issues a written order to the dog's owner, and the owner may appeal within 15 calendar days;
  • if the dog is believed to have caused serious bodily injury, a hearing is scheduled in Municipal Court.

BARC's page says questions about the process go to BARC through 311.

Is a dog attack a crime in Texas?

It can be. Under Health and Safety Code §822.005, a dog owner commits a felony offense if, with criminal negligence, the owner fails to secure the dog and it makes an unprovoked attack away from the owner's property, vehicle or boat that causes serious bodily injury or death, or if the owner knows the dog is dangerous and it makes such an attack outside its secure enclosure. Separately, the owner of a dangerous dog commits a Class C misdemeanor if the dog makes an unprovoked attack outside its enclosure and causes bodily injury (§822.044). On a sworn complaint and a showing of probable cause that a dog caused death or serious bodily injury, a court orders the animal control authority to seize the dog (§822.002).

A criminal case is brought by prosecutors and is separate from any civil claim.

Is there a deadline for an injury claim in Texas?

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003 generally sets a two-year period for a personal injury suit, counted from the day the cause of action accrues, with exceptions in the Code. Our guide How Long You Have To File an Injury Claim in Texas explains the rule and its exceptions. An attorney can tell you how the rules apply to a specific situation.

Related Houston information

About InjuryClaimGuide

InjuryClaimGuide is a legal advertising service. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. We do not recommend or endorse any attorney, and we do not analyze the merits of any potential claim. Routing to participating firms is based on geography, practice area, language, and firm capacity.

Frequently asked questions

How do I report a dog bite in Houston?
The City of Houston's BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions asks people to call 311 to report an animal bite of any kind. BARC's page lists the information it needs, including the date and time of the bite, a clear description of the animal and the address where the bite happened.
Does Texas law require animal bites to be reported?
Texas Health and Safety Code §826.041 requires a person who knows of an animal bite or scratch to an individual that the person could reasonably foresee as capable of transmitting rabies to report it to the local rabies control authority of the county or municipality where the person lives, where the animal is located, or where the exposure happened. The local rabies control authority must investigate the report.
What happens to a dog after it bites someone in Texas?
Under Health and Safety Code §826.042, the local rabies control authority or a veterinarian quarantines or tests, under state health rules, an animal that may have exposed a person to rabies, and an owner must submit such an animal for quarantine. The Texas Department of State Health Services says dogs and cats involved in biting incidents should be confined under veterinary supervision for at least 10 days.
What is a dangerous dog under Texas law?
Health and Safety Code §822.041 defines a dangerous dog as one that makes an unprovoked attack on a person that causes bodily injury, or commits unprovoked acts that cause a person to reasonably believe the dog will attack and cause bodily injury, in either case outside an enclosure reasonably certain to keep the dog in.
How long does Texas law generally allow to file a personal injury lawsuit?
Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003 generally sets a two-year period for a personal injury suit, counted from the day the cause of action accrues, with exceptions in the Code. An attorney can tell you how the rules apply to a specific situation.

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