Cruelty Laws

(A) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly:
       (1) tortures or seriously overworks an animal;
       (2) fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, SHELTER or care;
       (3) abandons unreasonably an animal in his custody;
       (4) transports or confines an animal in a cruel manner;
       (5) kills, injures, or administers poison to an animal belonging to
              another without legal authority or the owner's effective consent;
       (6) causes one animal to fight another;
       (7) uses a live animal as a lure in dog race training or in dog coursing;
       (8) horse tripping

AN OFFENSE UNDER THIS SECTION IS A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR
SEC. 12.21 CLASS A MISDEMEANOR

(A) Any individual adjudged guilty of a Class A misdemeanor shall be punished by:
       (1) a fine not to exceed $4,000.00;
       (2) confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year;
       (3) BOTH such fine and imprisonment.

Animal Cruelty Statute - Third Offense
An amendment to the Penal Code, provides a felony penalty for individuals convicted of animal abuse on a third offense.
As of September 1, 2001, people who are convicted of committing acts of cruelty or torture to animals can receive harsher punishment via the new bill: HB 653. Heinous crimes of cruelty towards animals can now be tried as a FELONY punishable by up to $10,000 in fines or 2 years in jail or BOTH. Under this new law, minors (under the age of 18) can be forced to undergo psychological counseling.

PENAL CODE TITLE 9. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCY CHAPTER 42. DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND RELATED OFFENSES
Sec. 42.10. DOG FIGHTING.
(a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly:
(1) causes a dog to fight with another dog;
(2) participates in the earnings of or operates a facility used for dog fighting;
(3) uses or permits another to use any real estate, building, room, tent, arena, or other property for dog fighting;
(4) owns or trains a dog with the intent that the dog be used in an exhibition of dog fighting; or
(5) attends as a spectator an exhibition of dog fighting.
(b) In this section, "dog fighting" means any situation in which one dog attacks or fights with another dog.
(c) A conviction under Subsection (a)(2) or (3) may be had upon the uncorroborated testimony of a party to the offense.
(d) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(1) that the actor caused a dog to fight with another dog to protect livestock, other property, or a person from the other dog, and for no other purpose.
(e) An offense under Subsection (a)(4) or (5) is a Class A misdemeanor. An offense under Subsection (a)(1), (2), or (3) is a state jail felony.

As of 2007:
HB 916 - Increases the penalty for dog fighting from a Class A misdemeanor to a
state jail felony AND increases the punishment for attending a dog fighting exhibition
from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor.

Studies have shown links between animal abuse and domestic violence.
Furthermore, those who torture animals are at much higher risk
for committing violent and deadly crimes against humans later in life.

REPORT CRUELTY TO ANIMALS!
In Harris County(Houston) AND surrounding counties, contact:
Houston SPCA - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at:
(713)-869-7722
Make certain to have details including exact location and a description of the animal.
Take PHOTOS if you can!
How to 'REPORT' Cruelty to HSPCA: 'HowTo' Report Cruelty-SPCA
Additional contact: SPCA at (713)-869-8227 or (214)-651-9611, ext.120
For More Information: HSPCA/CrueltyWebPage

ALSO You may contact:
Houston Humane Society: HHS
To REPORT Cruelty PHONE (713) 433-6421 ext. 396 or E-Mail
and leave the following information:
Name Telephone numbers nature of complaint Street address where the abuse is occurring.
Take PHOTOS if you can! HHS-Cruelty Form

DALLAS Area AND Surrounding
Counties including: Dallas, Collin, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall
SPCAofTexas-(Dallas area) - Rescue and Investigations:: 214-742-7722
Also, (214)-651-9611 Ext. 121 OR (972)-562-7297 Ext. 128 Ask for Cruelty Investigations Department.
NOTE: SPCA now has an ONLINE FORM to 'report' cruelty. Instructions-DallasArea
Take PHOTOS if you can!

OTHER SIGNS TO LOOK FOR:

Tick or flea infestations. Such a condition, if left untreated by a veterinarian, can lead to an animal's death.
Wounds on the body.
Patches of missing hair.
Extremely thin, starving animals.
Limping.
Animals who cower in fear or act aggressively when approached by their owners.
An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal.
Dogs who are repeatedly left alone with NO food, water or proper shelter, often chained up in a yard.
Dogs who have been hit by cars--or are showing any of the signs listed above--and have not been taken to a veterinarian.
Dogs who are kept outside without adequate shelter in very cold or very hot or wet weather conditions.

TV Series
'ANIMAL PRECINCT' and 'ANIMAL COPS'

Cameras follow animal cruelty agents.
Show Title - Animal Precinct and Animal Cops (Houston)
Channel - Animal Planet
Check your local listings.