Bill Targets Owners of Killer Dogs

AUSTIN — Dog owners whose pets kill a child or senior citizen could spend some time in prison. For Jacksonville Republican State Representative Chuck Hopson, the issue is personal. He�s had two kids lost in his district to vicious dog attacks. Hopson says it would be a first-degree felony when a child under the age of fifteen or an adult over the age of 65 is killed by a dog. Hopson says someone would face that charge only if the person had been notified that he or she had a vicious dog, or if it was the dog owner’s negligence that led to the fatal attack. The bill is being considered by a House committee.