Houston, TX — A woman in Houston, Andrea Manuel, was injured after two dogs attacked and bit her this past Thursday (March 5, 2015) in a residential area. Police said that Manuel was walking to work last Thursday morning when she was attacked by two dogs that are apparently well known to the neighborhood.
When officers arrived at the scene, they tranquilized one of the dogs while the other was scared off by a neighbor firing a gun, it appears. Later, it was said that the dogs had jumped a fence on England Street as Andrea Manuel walked by.
In December, the owner of one of the dogs was allegedly contacted by the authorities after the dog had attacked and bitten another neighbor. The dog was quarantined and the owner, who hasn’t been named, is required to buy a $100,000 insurance policy on the dog, according to Houston Channel 2 News.
The owner of the dog is also required to put up a taller fence that locks.
Map of the Area
Commentary:
What the news is informally referring to here is the “One-Bit Rule,” which states that the owners of dogs with a history of attacks can be held liable for the injuries caused to others. Apparently, this person was required to buy insurance for that purpose, though it’s sometimes tied to a Homeowner’s Policy. For those that own aggressive animals, be aware that if you don’t go to lengths to protect others from your pets, you may be on the hook – so to speak – if they hurt someone else.
— Grossman Law Offices
