Texas Leash Law

The Issue

Many counties and cities within Texas have their own ordinances, or "leash laws," requiring that dogs remain on leashes or otherwise restrained while in public areas, and there are penalties and fines for breaking these laws in these areas. However, this is still not a statewide law here. In order to fully protect and promote the safety of dogs, other pets, and people, it is necessary to establish a statewide leash law in Texas.

This is Rafael and Zola! I chose the issue of a statewide Texas leash law to do this project over because of its importance to me. Zola has become increasingly reactive to other (especially smaller) dogs over the years, and Raf models her behavior. It's become impossible for us to take them on walks, even just down the street, because there are often off-leash dogs wandering around in my neighborhood. There is a leash law in my city, but it's not really enforced. I feel that a statewide leash law would encourage cities and counties to uphold these laws to a stronger degree.

This map shows the states that have leash laws and the ones that do not.

World Population Review. 2025, “Dog Leash Laws by State 2025.” World Population Review, https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/dog-leash-laws-by-state. Accessed 26 March 2025.

Tennessee, Michigan, Pennsylvania

The only three states to have full statewide leash laws are Tennessee, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Specifically, Michigan and Pennsylvania would be good leash laws to model Texas' after. For example, in Michigan, “Certain dogs, including working dogs and guard dogs, don’t have to be leashed while they’re engaged in their designated activity or job. Michigan dog leash laws allow hunting dogs to be off-leash during hunting season while they’re hunting with their owners” (dogster.com).

Additionally, Pennsylvania leash law, as it relates to agricultural liability, states: "It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog to fail to keep at all times such dog either: 1. Confined within the premises of the owner; 2. Firmly secured by means of a collar and chain or other device so that it cannot stray beyond the premises on which it is secured; or 3. Under the reasonable control of some person, or when engaged in lawful hunting, exhibition or field training” (psu.edu).

Especially because of the amount of rural areas in Texas and the amount of licensed hunters and hunting land, looking at Pennsylvania's dog law as it relates to agricultural liability would be particularly helpful.

Kim, Jessica. Dogster. 7 January 2025, “Dog Leash Laws by State: 2025 State-by-State

Requirements.” Pangolia, https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/dog-leash-laws-by-state. Accessed 26 March 2025.

Riley, George R. The Pennsylvania State University. June 2001, “Pennsylvania’s Dog Law as it

Relates to Agricultural Liability.” The Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center, https://pennstatelaw.psu.edu/_file/aglaw/Dog_Law.pdf. Accessed 25 February 2025.

Service Dogs

Service dogs are defined as “a canine that is specially trained or equipped to help a person with a disability and is used by the person (texas.gov). Certified service dogs would of course be exempt from the requirements of the proposed statewide leash law.

Holman, Tayla. "5 reasons why having a service dog can make a difference." Mission Health,

https://www.missionhealth.org/healthy-living/blog/5-reasons-why-having-a-service-dog-can-make-a-difference. Accessed 23 April 2025.

Office of the Texas Governor. “Texas Disability Law – Service Animals.” Office of the Texas

Governor, https://gov.texas.gov/organization/disabilities/assistance_animals#state. Accessed 26 March 2025.

Off Leash Areas

With this proposed statewide leash law, there may also be exceptions to designated off-leash areas, like off-leash parks. Then, it would be up to the owner of the dog to determine “their own dogs sociability; the size, shape, and terrain of their local off-leash areas; the rules in place at their public off-leash dog parks . . .; the general dog ownership culture of fellow park users in their region, and what park attendance is usually like; how much risk they’re willing to take on; what they’ll do if something does go wrong on a public dog park visit — are there emergency vets and trusted trainers nearby in case their dog requires some type of rehabilitation?; what potentially better options are accessible (private spaces, nearby trail systems, obedience or dog sports classes, and similar)” (sniffspot.com).

Young, Haley. Sniffspot. 1 June 2024. “The State of Public Dog Parks Across the United States.”

Sniffspot, https://www.sniffspot.com/blog/sniffspot-community/the-state-of-public-dog-parks-across-the-united-states.%20Accessed%2026%20February%202025. Accessed 26 February 2025.

This image shows an off-leash dog park located in San Diego, California.

"University Heights Off-Leash Dog Park." Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/UHDogPark/. Accessed 23 April 2025.

Fines

Fines for off-leash dogs in non-designated public areas can range from $100 to upwards of $2,000, depending on any damages or potential harm caused by the off-leash dog.

Both the Texas Animal Health Commission and local Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals would oversee the enforcement of this law, respond to reports of off-leash dogs, and enforce fines.

Having a statewide leash law in Texas would encourage and ensure dog owners take more care and consideration into where they take their dogs and when they are off-leash. It also provides more protection for dogs and their owners in public areas.

Works Cited

Holman, Tayla. "5 reasons why having a service dog can make a difference." Mission Health,

https://www.missionhealth.org/healthy-living/blog/5-reasons-why-having-a-service-dog-can-make-a-difference. Accessed 23 April 2025.

Kim, Jessica. Dogster. 7 January 2025, “Dog Leash Laws by State: 2025 State-by-State

Requirements.” Pangolia, https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/dog-leash-laws-by-state. Accessed 26 March 2025.

Office of the Texas Governor. “Texas Disability Law – Service Animals.” Office of the Texas

Governor, https://gov.texas.gov/organization/disabilities/assistance_animals#state. Accessed 26 March 2025.

Riley, George R. The Pennsylvania State University. June 2001, “Pennsylvania’s Dog Law as it

Relates to Agricultural Liability.” The Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center, https://pennstatelaw.psu.edu/_file/aglaw/Dog_Law.pdf. Accessed 25 February 2025.

"University Heights Off-Leash Dog Park." Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/UHDogPark/.

Accessed 23 April 2025.

World Population Review. 2025, “Dog Leash Laws by State 2025.” World Population Review,

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/dog-leash-laws-by-state. Accessed 26 March 2025.

Young, Haley. Sniffspot. 1 June 2024. “The State of Public Dog Parks Across the United States.”

Sniffspot, https://www.sniffspot.com/blog/sniffspot-community/the-state-of-public-dog-parks-across-the-united-states.%20Accessed%2026%20February%202025. Accessed 26 February 2025.

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