For the purposes of this article, Chapter 826 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, including any amendments thereto which may from time to time occur, is hereby adopted by reference herein as though set out at length, for the purposes of rabies control.
(Ordinance 97-05-02 adopted 5/6/97)
Pursuant to the authority granted by V.T.C.A. Health and Safety Code, Section 826.017, the city council hereby appoints the animal control officer to serve as the local rabies control authority.
(Ordinance 97-05-02 adopted 5/6/97)
It shall be the duty of every person who owns a dog or cat, or keeps a dog or cat in or on premises under his control within the city, to have the animal properly vaccinated each and every year against hydrophobia, commonly called "rabies," by a competent veterinarian duly licensed to practice such profession in the state.
(Ordinance 97-05-02 adopted 5/6/97)
Every veterinarian who vaccinates a dog or cat against rabies shall furnish the owner of such animal with a certificate thereof, containing the name of such owner and the age, color, sex and general description of such animal sufficient to identify such animal. Upon request, a copy of the certificate shall be tendered to the animal control officer.
(Ordinance 97-05-02 adopted 5/6/97)
Along with the certificate of vaccination for a dog or cat, the veterinarian vaccinating such animal shall furnish the owner thereof with a metal tag for the animal containing lettering indicating the proper vaccination and inoculation of the animal, and the year during which the vaccination was administered, which tag shall be attached to the collar of the animal by the owner.
(Ordinance 97-05-02 adopted 5/6/97)
It shall be the duty of every person who owns a dog or cat, or keeps a dog or cat in or on premises under his control within the city, to have available for inspection proof of current rabies vaccination for the animal and to tender the information to the animal control officer upon request.
(Ordinance 97-05-02 adopted 5/6/97)
A person who knows of an animal bite or scratch to an individual by an animal which could reasonably be capable of transmitting rabies, or who knows of an animal that might be rabid, shall report the incident or animal to the animal control officer. The report shall include:
(1) 
A statement of the location of such diseased animal;
(2) 
The name and address of the owner thereof;
(3) 
The name and address of the victim;
(4) 
All known humans or animals suspected of having been exposed to the rabid animal.
(Ordinance 97-05-02 adopted 5/6/97)
It shall be the duty of every person who owns an animal or keeps an animal in or on his premises, or on premises under his control, when such animal shows symptoms of hydrophobia, or has been exposed to such disease, or has injured some person or animal, to immediately relinquish custody of the animal to the animal control officer. The animal control officer or a veterinarian shall quarantine or test, in accordance with board rules, any animal that the animal control officer has probable cause to believe is rabid, may have been exposed to rabies, or may have exposed a person to rabies.
(Ordinance 97-05-02 adopted 5/6/97)
(a) 
If it is determined that the quarantined animal does not show the clinical signs of rabies, the animal control officer shall release the animal to the owner at the termination of the quarantine period if:
(1) 
the owner has an unexpired rabies vaccination certificate for the animal; or
(2) 
the animal is vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian at the owner's expense.
(b) 
If it is determined that the quarantined animal shows the clinical signs of rabies, the animal control officer shall humanely destroy the animal. If an animal dies or is destroyed while in quarantine, the animal control officer shall have the head or brain of the animal properly prepared and submit it to the nearest department laboratory for testing.
(c) 
The owner of an animal that is quarantined under this article shall pay to the veterinarian or animal control officer the costs of quarantine and disposition/testing of the animal; however, at the discretion of the animal control officer, any such destruction and/or testing expense may be charged to the person requesting such destruction and/or testing.
(d) 
If the owner of an animal fails to take possession of the animal before the fourth day following the final day of the quarantine period, the animal control officer may sell the animal and retain the proceeds or keep, grant or humanely destroy the animal.
(Ordinance 97-05-02 adopted 5/6/97)