Demand Texas Lawmakers Protect Children From Devastating Dog Attacks
The Issue
A 3-year-old child should not have to suffer over 150 stitches before our laws take a dangerous dog attack seriously.
Recently, my 3-year-old daughter was mauled by a family dog while we were visiting my parents at their Texas home. She suffered devastating injuries to her forehead, eye area, and scalp and required more than 150 stitches.
She survived. But the physical and emotional consequences of that attack will stay with her for the rest of her life.
What happened to our family exposed a gap in Texas law that I believe lawmakers need to address.
Shockingly, Texas does not have a general dog-bite statute that automatically holds an owner liable whenever their dog seriously injures someone. Instead, civil liability can depend on circumstances such as whether the owner knew or should have known the dog had dangerous tendencies or whether the owner was negligent. In short: as long as the dog is at their own home and doesn’t have a history of biting, the owners and dog face no consequences, aside from a 10-day quarantine to monitor for rabies symptoms. After those 10 days, the dog is returned to the owner.
Texas law does treat certain dangerous-dog attacks differently depending on where they occur. Under one provision of the Health and Safety Code, criminal liability for negligently failing to secure a dog applies to an unprovoked attack causing serious bodily injury or death when the attack occurs somewhere other than the owner's real property, motor vehicle, or boat.
A child's protection should not depend on whether a devastating attack happens on a sidewalk or inside the dog owner's home. A 10-day quarantine for rabies symptoms is not sufficient.
I am asking Texas lawmakers to strengthen state law so all victims of serious, unprovoked dog attacks have clear protections and dog owners can be held accountable regardless of whether the attack occurs on or off the owner's property. Lawmakers should also review whether current dangerous-dog procedures adequately protect the public after a dog has caused serious bodily injury.
My daughter cannot get back the childhood moment that was taken from her. She will have scars on her face for the rest of her life, and trauma alongside them. But Texas can act before another child suffers the same kind of attack.
Please sign this petition and demand stronger protections for victims of serious dog attacks in Texas.
Paid partnership. Rachel Gibbs is a Change Ambassador who receives compensation in connection with this petition.
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The Issue
A 3-year-old child should not have to suffer over 150 stitches before our laws take a dangerous dog attack seriously.
Recently, my 3-year-old daughter was mauled by a family dog while we were visiting my parents at their Texas home. She suffered devastating injuries to her forehead, eye area, and scalp and required more than 150 stitches.
She survived. But the physical and emotional consequences of that attack will stay with her for the rest of her life.
What happened to our family exposed a gap in Texas law that I believe lawmakers need to address.
Shockingly, Texas does not have a general dog-bite statute that automatically holds an owner liable whenever their dog seriously injures someone. Instead, civil liability can depend on circumstances such as whether the owner knew or should have known the dog had dangerous tendencies or whether the owner was negligent. In short: as long as the dog is at their own home and doesn’t have a history of biting, the owners and dog face no consequences, aside from a 10-day quarantine to monitor for rabies symptoms. After those 10 days, the dog is returned to the owner.
Texas law does treat certain dangerous-dog attacks differently depending on where they occur. Under one provision of the Health and Safety Code, criminal liability for negligently failing to secure a dog applies to an unprovoked attack causing serious bodily injury or death when the attack occurs somewhere other than the owner's real property, motor vehicle, or boat.
A child's protection should not depend on whether a devastating attack happens on a sidewalk or inside the dog owner's home. A 10-day quarantine for rabies symptoms is not sufficient.
I am asking Texas lawmakers to strengthen state law so all victims of serious, unprovoked dog attacks have clear protections and dog owners can be held accountable regardless of whether the attack occurs on or off the owner's property. Lawmakers should also review whether current dangerous-dog procedures adequately protect the public after a dog has caused serious bodily injury.
My daughter cannot get back the childhood moment that was taken from her. She will have scars on her face for the rest of her life, and trauma alongside them. But Texas can act before another child suffers the same kind of attack.
Please sign this petition and demand stronger protections for victims of serious dog attacks in Texas.
Paid partnership. Rachel Gibbs is a Change Ambassador who receives compensation in connection with this petition.
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Petition created on September 9, 2026