Did you know
All five of these were true on the day Pancho died. HB 285 fixed the most damaging one — but the rest still need attention.
In Texas, there is little to no regulation or oversight for dog boarders, dog walkers, dog groomers, or dog trainers. Owners and employees are not required to be educated, trained, or licensed. The state has no oversight for these businesses.
There is no way to verify whether the person caring for your dog has the skills to do so. There is also no way to verify whether they have been reported for prior violations. Anyone can wake up one morning and decide to start a dog care business.
The person caring for your dog while you're away could have a criminal background — including prior charges of assault or animal cruelty. They are not required to tell you, and you likely have no way of finding out.
Dog walking and daycare jobs are often lower-paying. Despite what a business may tell you, not every employee is a "dog lover" — some simply took whatever job they could get, and they're now responsible for watching, feeding, and sometimes medicating your dog.
Before Pancho's Law took effect on September 1, 2025, the cruelty statute didn't reach criminally negligent conduct. Businesses could harm or kill dogs and keep operating, sometimes just changing the company name. HB 285 changed that. Negligent kennels, daycares, walkers, trainers, and groomers can now be charged with cruelty to a nonlivestock animal — a Class A misdemeanor under Texas law.
Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation