Texas § 785.004 RESPONSIBILITIES OF HANDLERS; CIVIL LIABILITY.

Texas Statutes

§ 785.004 — RESPONSIBILITIES OF HANDLERS; CIVIL LIABILITY.

Texas § 785.004

Code HSHealth and Safety Code

This text of Texas § 785.004 (RESPONSIBILITIES OF HANDLERS; CIVIL LIABILITY.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Tex. Health and Safety Code Code Ann. § 785.004 (2026).

Text

Sec. 785.004. RESPONSIBILITIES OF HANDLERS; CIVIL LIABILITY.

(a)A handler who accompanies a search and rescue dog shall keep the dog properly harnessed or leashed. A person may maintain a cause of action against a dog's handler for personal injury, property damage, or death resulting from the failure of the dog's handler to properly harness or leash the dog under the same law applicable to other causes brought for the redress of injuries caused by animals.

(b)The handler of a search and rescue dog is liable for any property damage caused by the search and rescue dog to a public facility or to housing accommodations.

(c)A governmental unit, as defined by Section 101.001 , Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is subject to liability under this section only as provided by Chapter 101 , Civil

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Sec. 785.004. RESPONSIBILITIES OF HANDLERS; CIVIL LIABILITY. (a) A handler who accompanies a search and rescue dog shall keep the dog properly harnessed or leashed. A person may maintain a cause of action against a dog's handler for personal injury, property damage, or death resulting from the failure of the dog's handler to properly harness or leash the dog under the same law applicable to other causes brought for the redress of injuries caused by animals.
(b) The handler of a search and rescue dog is liable for any property damage caused by the search and rescue dog to a public facility or to housing accommodations.
(c) A governmental unit, as defined by Section 101.001 , Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is subject to liability under this section only as provided by Chapter 101 , Civil Practice and Remedies Code. A public servant, as defined by Section 108.001 , Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is subject to liability under this section only as provided by Chapter 108 , Civil Practice and Remedies Code.