Sec. 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)  except as provided by Subdivision (5), 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 second degree if the person commits an offense under Subsection (b)(6) or (7) by:
(A)  killing a police service animal or engaging in conduct likely to kill the animal;
(B)  injuring a police service animal in a manner that materially and permanently affects the ability of the animal to perform as a police service animal; or
(C)  engaging in conduct likely to injure a police service animal in a manner that would materially and permanently affect the ability of the animal to perform as a police service animal.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 979, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Amended by: 
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1331 (S.B. 1562), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2007.