The owner of a dog or cat is required to have the animal vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian against rabies in accordance with state law.
(Ordinance 15-12 adopted 5/23/16; 2006 Code, sec. 2.109)
(a) 
The owner of a dog or cat is responsible for ensuring the animal is vaccinated and wearing a vaccination tag at all times.
(b) 
It is unlawful for any person who owns a vaccinated dog or cat, not wearing a vaccination tag, to fail or refuse to exhibit a copy of the certificates of vaccination upon demand by any person charged with the enforcement of this article.
(c) 
It is unlawful for any person to keep a dog or cat unless it is currently vaccinated against rabies.
(Ordinance 15-12 adopted 5/23/16; 2006 Code, sec. 2.110; Ordinance 21-05 adopted 4/12/2021)
Any person having knowledge of an animal bite to a human shall report the incident to the animal control officer as soon as possible, but not later than twenty-four (24) hours from the time of the incident.
(Ordinance 15-12 adopted 5/23/16; 2006 Code, sec. 2.111)
(a) 
A dog or cat that has bitten a human must be placed in quarantine in a facility approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services for a 10-day isolation period. The animal owner may request permission from the animal control officer for home quarantine as long as the animal's owner has met the secure facility criteria established by the Texas Department of State Health Services, and the animal is not found to be in violation of any law at the time of the bite.
(b) 
In accordance with state law, the animal control officer may humanely euthanize an animal that has bitten a human, but for which an owner cannot be identified.
(c) 
Depending on the nature of the bite, the animal control officer may require an animal to be humanely euthanized and tested for rabies by a laboratory certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
(Ordinance 15-12 adopted 5/23/16; 2006 Code, sec. 2.112; Ordinance 21-05 adopted 4/12/2021)
The body of any animal that dies or is humanely destroyed during a quarantine period shall be submitted for rabies testing according to Texas Department of State Health Services procedure.
(Ordinance 15-12 adopted 5/23/16; 2006 Code, sec. 2.114; Ordinance 21-05 adopted 4/12/2021)
The owner of an animal quarantined shall pay to the town the reasonable costs as outlined in the fee schedule, found in appendix A of this code, for the quarantine and disposition of the animal. Such charges shall include shipment, if required, to the Texas State Department of Health laboratory for testing.
(Ordinance 15-12 adopted 5/23/16; 2006 Code, sec. 2.115; Ordinance 21-05 adopted 4/12/2021)