Texas Laws Protecting Police Service Animals

§ 38.151. INTERFERENCE WITH POLICE SERVICE ANIMALS.  (a)
In this section:
(1)  "Area of control" includes a vehicle, trailer,
kennel, pen, or yard.  
(2)  "Handler or rider" means a peace officer,
corrections officer, or jailer who is specially trained to use a
police service animal for law enforcement, corrections, prison or
jail security, or investigative purposes.
(3)  "Police service animal" means a dog, horse, or
other domesticated animal that is specially trained for use by a
handler or rider.
(b)  A person commits an offense if the person recklessly:                    
(1)  taunts, torments, or strikes a police service
animal;                 
(2)  throws an object or substance at a police service
animal;             
(3)  interferes with or obstructs a police service
animal or interferes with or obstructs the handler or rider of a
police service animal in a manner that:
(A)  inhibits or restricts the handler's or
rider's control of the animal;  or
(B)  deprives the handler or rider of control of
the animal;              
(4)  releases a police service animal from its area of
control;            
(5)  enters the area of control of a police service
animal without the effective consent of the handler or rider,
including placing food or any other object or substance into that
area;
(6)  injures or kills a police service animal;  or                           
(7)  engages in conduct likely to injure or kill a
police service animal, including administering or setting a poison,
trap, or any other object or substance.
(c)  An offense under this section is:                                        
(1)  a Class C misdemeanor if the person commits an
offense under Subsection (b)(1);
(2)  a Class B misdemeanor if the person commits an
offense under Subsection (b)(2);
(3)  a Class A misdemeanor if the person commits an
offense under Subsection (b)(3), (4), or (5);
(4)  a state jail felony if the person commits an
offense under Subsection (b)(6) or (7) by injuring a police service
animal or by engaging in conduct likely to injure the animal;  or
(5)  a felony of the third degree if the person commits
an offense under Subsection (b)(6) or (7) by killing a police
service animal or by engaging in conduct likely to kill the animal.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 979, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.