§ 92.002.Limitation of Liability

The protection, and both conditions must be satisfied.

A person who in good faith and without compensation renders or obtains medical care or treatment for a nonlivestock animal that is injured or in distress because of an emergency, abandoned, running at large, or stray is not liable for civil damages for an injury to the animal resulting from an act or omission — if two conditions are met.

"Emergency" is defined broadly, covering a natural disaster, a hazardous chemical or substance incident, and a vehicular collision with an animal or other transportation accident in which an animal is injured or needs assistance.

The first condition is finding the owner. The person must take reasonable steps by attempting to contact the owner using the contact information on the animal's identification tag, collar, or chip, or otherwise; or by notifying an animal control agency with authority over the relevant area.

Either route suffices, and the chip reference reflects how a found animal is now usually identified.

The second condition is professional. A veterinarian must determine that the animal needs immediate medical treatment to alleviate pain or save its life, or exhibits visible signs of recent abuse as the Penal Code cruelty provision describes.

That keeps the protection to genuine emergencies. A person who takes a stray to a vet for elective treatment without the owner's consent is outside it.