(a) All
dogs and cats shall be vaccinated by four (4) months of age, then
given a booster vaccination after a twelve-month period.
(b) A
metal certificate of vaccination with the year of vaccination; a certificate
number; and the name, address and phone number of the vaccinating
veterinarian must be securely attached to a collar or harness that
must be worn by the dog or cat at all times. In addition to the metal
certificate, a paper certificate must be issued by the vaccinating
veterinarian and contain the following information:
(1) Owner’s name, address, and telephone number or the address
and phone number of the owner’s nearest relative or friend at
home or work;
(2) Animal identification–species, sex (including neutered if applicable),
approximate age (three months to 12 months, 12 months or older), size
(pounds), predominant breed, colors and name;
(3) Vaccine used–producer, expiration date, and serial number;
(5) Date vaccination expires (revaccination due date);
(7) Veterinarian’s signature or signature stamp and license number.
(c) The
owner of any dog or cat shall display and exhibit a current vaccination
certificate for his or her animal upon request of the city sanitarian
or animal control officer.
(d) Every
dog and cat that received a one-year vaccine shall be vaccinated at
least once within each twelve-month period from the time of its last
vaccination. Every dog and cat that received a three-year vaccine
shall be vaccinated every three (3) years from the time of its last
vaccination.
(e) A
veterinarian who vaccinates a dog or cat against rabies shall, upon
request of the city sanitarian or animal control officer, acknowledge
to such officer whether or not an animal at a particular location,
or owned by a named person, has been vaccinated with an annual or
triennial vaccination and other pertinent information.
(f) A
rabies tag shall be valid only for the dog or cat for which it was
originally issued.
(g) Any
person establishing residence within the city shall comply with the
vaccination requirements of this section within ten (10) days of establishing
such residency.
(1990 Code, sec. 2.201; Ordinance
adopting Code)
It shall be unlawful for any person owning or harboring a dog
to permit such animal to run at large.
(1990 Code, sec. 2.202)
It shall be unlawful for any owner, keeper or harborer of any
cat to let such cat run at large, unless a valid rabies tag is attached
to its collar or harness.
(1990 Code, sec. 2.203)
Any unspayed female dog or cat in the state of estrus shall
be confined during such period of time in an anti-escape house, building
or enclosure, and said area of enclosure shall be so constructed that
no other dog or cat may gain access to the confined animal. Owners
who do not comply shall be ordered by the animal control officer to
remove the animal in estrus to a boarding kennel, veterinary hospital
or animal shelter. All expenses incurred as a result of confinement
shall be paid by the owner. Failure to comply with the removal order
of the animal control officer shall be a violation of this section
and the dog or cat will be impounded.
(1990 Code, sec. 2.204)
It shall be unlawful for any person to skin or to buy or sell
or attempt to buy or sell the skin of any domesticated dog or cat
within the city or cause such animals to be skinned or to cause such
skin to be bought or sold within the city.
(1990 Code, sec. 2.1100)
(a) It
shall be unlawful for an owner or keeper of a dog to restrain the
animal by means of a tether.
(b) A
violation of this section shall not occur when:
(1) The animal is being restrained for veterinarian treatment, grooming,
training or law enforcement activity.
(2) The owner or keeper is in the physical presence of the animal.
(3) The owner or keeper is walking the dog with a handheld leash.
(c) Nothing
in this section authorizes a dog's owner or keeper to allow a dog
to run at large or to fail to provide an appropriate restraint or
enclosure as required by this article.
(Ordinance 08-129 adopted 11/25/08)
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, harbor, or in any way possess a dangerous dog within the city, unless such dangerous dog is properly registered with the city, the registration fee in section A4.03.041 of appendix
A to this code is paid, and said dangerous dog is maintained within the city in accordance with the requirements of this division.
An owner or responsible party, not later than the 30th 15th
day after the date the owner or responsible party is notified that
a dog owned by the owner or responsible party is a dangerous dog,
may appeal the determination of the animal control officer to the
municipal court. An owner may appeal the decision of the municipal
court in the same manner as appeal for other civil cases.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this division shall be subject to the penalties as provided for in section
1.01.009, and each and every day said violation shall continue shall be subject to a fine for each offense.
(a) A
person commits an offense under state law, pursuant to the Texas Health
and Safety Code, if the person is the owner of a dangerous dog and
the dog makes an unprovoked attack on another person outside the dog’s
enclosure and causes bodily injury to the other person.
(b) It
shall be a violation of this chapter for an owner or keeper to intentionally,
knowingly, or recklessly fail to prevent a dangerous dog, from killing
or wounding, or assisting in the killing or wounding of any domestic
animal belonging to or in the possession of another person, or for
an owner or keeper to fail to prevent a dangerous dog from attacking,
assaulting, biting or otherwise injuring any person or assisting in
the attack, assault, biting, or other injury of any person whether
out of or within the enclosure of the owner or keeper, and whether
or not such dangerous dog was on a leash or securely muzzled or whether
or not the dangerous dog escaped without the knowledge or consent
of the owner or keeper. If a person is found guilty of an offense
under this section, the court may order the dangerous dog destroyed
in an expeditious and humane manner.
(Ordinance 22-001 adopted 1/11/22)