San Antonio residents hold out hope for dangerous dog laws as legislative session wanes
SAN ANTONIO - Lawmakers only have a few weeks left in Austin, and there still hasn't been definitive action on several dangerous dog bills.
These bills were proposed after a deadly dog attack in San Antonio a few months ago.
The News 4 I-Team is looking into where things stand on this legislation as the clock winds down.
Two of the bills proposed after the dog attack are stuck. At this point in the session, there likely isn't time for them to pass the committee, their chamber, and do it all again in the other chamber.
But a bill from Rep. Liz Campos is slated for discussion Wednesday, and it could bring the change San Antonio leaders--and residents--are calling for.
We spoke with a San Antonio woman whose life was forever changed in November when she says her neighbor's dog attacked and killed her Yorkie.
"We couldn't even get up out of bed, we were crying for a whole week... the woman, who asked that we protect her identity pending a court case about the situation, said. "We just said, we can't go on like this."
She says she and her husband were on a walk through the neighborhood when a neighbor opened their door, allowing their pitbull to get out and attack one of two small dogs on leashes.
"I couldn't believe it was happening," the woman told us.
For her family, the loss was devastating.
"I can't have children, and so he was considered as my little boy," she said.
The dog involved in this attack had a history of being aggressive, according to police reports.
But because neighbors were worried about retaliation, nothing was done.
It's a situation like this that inspired Sen. Jose Menendez to introduce anonymous affidavits in his legislation.
"We can no longer allow for our city to be a city where people are afraid to live in their neighborhoods, to walk in their neighborhoods, because of someone's dangerous dogs, or because of stray, dangerous dogs," Menendez said.
But his bill, which would allow people to file dangerous dog affidavits anonymously, is stuck in committee. He says he thinks there was a misunderstanding about the impacts of this measure.
And as the legislative clock winds down, he says the bill from Rep. Campos may be a beacon of hope.
Dallas and Houston originally opposed the bill, but after new changes, the City of Houston sent a letter pledging their support.
In the new version, parts of the bill will only apply to San Antonio, aiming to solve some of the city's specific issues while quelling some of Dallas and Houston's concerns.
It also defines what would constitute bodily injury and allows animal care departments to start dangerous dog investigations on their own instead of waiting for an affidavit.
If someone does file an affidavit anonymously, they must testify if the case goes to court.
This family tells us they know ACS can only do so much, so they're praying for action at the statehouse to help the department.
"It's very important because this could have been prevented if there were [stricter] laws involving the vicious dogs," the San Antonio woman told us.
Campos's bill is set to be heard Wednesday in the House.