No owner shall have within the city any dog or cat four months of age or older unless such dog or cat is currently registered with the animal control division. Before a city registration certificate will be issued, the owner of any dog or cat must present a copy of a certificate from a licensed veterinarian showing that such dog or cat is current with their rabies vaccination. An exception to this proof of vaccination may be made if the owner presents written recommendation from a licensed veterinarian stating that such rabies vaccination would be detrimental to the health of the animal. A current metal registration certificate, issued by the animal control division, must be affixed to a collar or harness and must be worn by the dog or cat at all times.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-22; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09)
Application for initial issuance or renewals of each registration must be made by the owner in writing or in person, and be accompanied by an established fee. Animals may be exempted from the sterilization provision upon written recommendation from a veterinarian that such alteration would be harmful or dangerous to the animal.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-23; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09)
If the original current metal registration certificate is lost or destroyed, the owner may obtain a duplicate registration from the animal control division for the fee in accordance with the adopted fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-24; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09; Ordinance 16-08-1015, sec. 2.10, adopted 8/16/16)
A tag shall be valid only for the animal for which it was originally issued. The owner shall obtain a city registration within thirty (30) days following receipt of the rabies vaccination of any dog or cat. The registration and tag shall be renewed by owner on an annual basis.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-25; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09; Ordinance 16-08-1015, sec. 2.11, adopted 8/16/16)
If there is a change in ownership of a registered dog or cat, the new owner shall have the registration transferred to his name. There shall be no charge for such transfer. Application for such transfer shall be made to the animal control Division in person or in writing.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-26; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09)
(a) 
Fee-exempted registrations may be issued for the following:
(1) 
Dogs trained to assist auditory, visually, or other physically impaired persons;
(2) 
Police or sheriff’s department dogs.
(b) 
Eligibility for fee-exempted registration does not relieve the owner of his responsibility under other provisions of this chapter.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-27; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09)
An animal control officer may refuse to register a cat or dog or revoke a permit issued to any person who has been convicted in any duly authorized court of jurisdiction in the state, or resides with any person so convicted, of any of the following:
(1) 
Cruelty to animals as defined in V.T.C.A., Penal Code secs. 42.09 and 42.092, inhumane treatment or negligence to an animal; or
(2) 
Conviction of three or more separate and distinct violations of an animal control ordinance of a municipality in the state within any 12-month period.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-28; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09)
(a) 
Any person denied such registration may appeal the decision of an animal control officer by filing a written notice of appeal within ten days of the decision with the municipal court clerk. If a proper appeal is not filed within ten days, the decision of an animal control officer shall then become final.
(b) 
If the appeal is properly filed and perfected within ten days of the decision of an animal control officer, the municipal court judge shall uphold or overturn an animal control officer’s decision to refuse to issue the registration. At the hearing, all parties shall be given written notice of the hearing and an opportunity to present evidence; the Texas Rules of Evidence shall not apply to the proceeding.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-29; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09)