The city hereby adopts by reference the Texas State Rabies Control Act, as amended, and the standards established by the appropriate state agency or rule-making board as minimum standards for rabies control and quarantine provisions within the city.
(Ordinance O-19-008, sec. 3, adopted 2/21/19)
(a) 
Every dog, cat or domestic ferret over four (4) months of age must be vaccinated once every twelve (12) months against rabies by a state licensed veterinarian and wear evidence of said vaccination.
(b) 
A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly owns or possesses a dog, cat or ferret older than four (4) months, that has not been vaccinated for rabies.
(c) 
It shall be a defense to any prosecution under this section if the person accused of the offense presents a certificate of vaccination, issued by a state licensed veterinarian, with a date of not more than twelve (12) months prior to date of the offense.
(d) 
It shall be an affirmative defense to any prosecution under this section if:
(1) 
The animal was less than four (4) months old on the date of the offense; or
(2) 
The animal is of a species not susceptible to rabies.
(Ordinance O-19-008, sec. 3, adopted 2/21/19)
It shall be the duty of every person, physician or other practitioner to report to the local rabies control authority the names and addresses of any persons treated for bites or scratches inflicted by animals. Any other information that may help in locating the victim or the animal shall also be reported.
(Ordinance O-19-008, sec. 3, adopted 2/21/19)
It shall be the duty of every licensed veterinarian to report to the local rabies control authority his diagnosis of rabies or of any animal observed by him as a rabies suspect.
(Ordinance O-19-008, sec. 3, adopted 2/21/19)
Any animal believed or reported to be rabid, may have been exposed to rabies or has bitten, clawed or scratched a person shall be quarantined for two hundred forty (240) hours at a state licensed animal hospital or veterinarian office for medical evaluation and rabies testing. The owner of such animal shall immediately notify the city’s animal control authority and fully cooperate with all required precautionary procedures.
A person commits an offense if the person fails or refuses to present for quarantine or testing, an animal that is suspected of rabies as defined in this article. A person may be issued a citation for noncompliance for violating this provision. The animal control authority shall be authorized to obtain a search and seizure warrant if there is reason to believe any requirements of this article are violated.
(Ordinance O-19-008, sec. 3, adopted 2/21/19)
Any animal, after the required two hundred forty (240) hour quarantine period, deemed free of rabies by a state licensed veterinarian may be reclaimed by the owner upon payment of all applicable fees related to the period of the quarantine and the appropriate animal licensing requirements have been met. If the owner does not reclaim the animal within four (4) days of notification, the veterinarian or local rabies control authority may sell the animal and retain the proceeds.
When an animal under quarantine is diagnosed by a state licensed veterinarian as being rabid, the veterinarian or the local rabies control authority shall humanely destroy the animal, at the owner’s expense.
If an animal dies while under quarantine, the animal control authority shall send the head of such animal to the nearest state health department laboratory for testing. Any costs associated with such testing shall be at the owner’s expense.
(Ordinance O-19-008, sec. 3, adopted 2/21/19)