Which law enables citizens to report animal cruelty in Texas?

The Texas Penal Code, Section 42.09 specifically addresses animal cruelty and outlines the actions that constitute such offenses. This law empowers citizens by establishing clear definitions of what acts are considered harmful to animals and provides the legal framework for reporting and prosecuting those actions.

Under this legislation, individuals can report observed cases of neglect, abuse, and cruelty towards animals to law enforcement or animal control officers, who are authorized to investigate these claims. The law also stipulates penalties for those found guilty of animal cruelty, reinforcing the importance of citizen involvement in protecting animals.

The other options refer to different statutes or legislative acts that do not specifically focus on citizen reporting or the explicit definition of animal cruelty, which may lead to confusion about their applicability to animal protection and reporting mechanisms.