Dogs may be man’s best friend, but that doesn’t mean they always get along with other pets.

In Texas, you can file a negligence or strict liability claim against a dog owner if their dog bites you. These claims can also be filed if the person wasn’t bitten but suffered another injury to their head, neck or back because of a fall from a dog attack.

But what if a dog attacks your pet?

Despite 97% of United States pet owners claiming their pets are part of their family, in the eyes of Texas law they are seen as property.

Because pets are seen as property, there is no legal compensation for emotional distress or mental trauma due to injury or loss of a pet from a dog attack.

However, if a pet owner’s animal was killed by a pet dog, they will get compensated for the reasonable cost of the pet unless the animal has special characteristics that give it more value like a show dog, according to Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., Houston-based injury and accident lawyers.