Municipal ordinances, state law, and Texas Health and Safety Code, title 10, chapter 822, subchapter A (General Provisions; Dogs that Attack Persons or are a Danger to Persons), and section 6.03 of the Penal Code.
(Ordinance 471, sec. 1, adopted 7/11/13)
The following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them:
Animal control authority
means a municipal animal control officer with authority over the area in which the dog or cat is kept.
Animal control officer
means a police officer of the city police department as designated by the city council to enforce the provisions of this article and state law pertaining to control, [and] eradication of rabid and dangerous animals.
At large
means off the premises of the owner and not under complete control of the owner, either by leash, cord, chain, not secured, or other similar means of control.
Disposed of
means destruction of a dog or cat by the animal control officer utilizing the only means available to humanely destroy an animal.
Owner
means any person owning, keeping, harboring, feeding, in charge of, or in control of a dog or cat.
Quarantined
means to secure an animal in a humane manner where the owner and the animal control officer can observe the animal each day while quarantined, for any signs of illness.
Secure
means to take steps to ensure a dog remains on the owner’s property to prevent the escape of release of the dog.
Vaccination
means injection of vaccine approved and administered by a veterinarian licensed under state law.
(Ordinance 471, sec. 2, adopted 7/11/13; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) 
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon a conviction in a court shall be assessed a fine in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009 of this code, and each and every day that the same [continues] shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
(b) 
However, if the owner of a dog, with criminal negligence, fails to secure the dog and the dog makes an unprovoked attack on another person and causes serious bodily injury it is a felony of the third degree, and if a death occurs it is a second degree felony.
(Ordinance 471, sec. 8, adopted 7/11/13; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) 
Vaccination required.
Every owner of a dog or cat three months of age or older shall have such animal vaccinated against rabies. All dogs or cats vaccinated at three months of age or older shall be revaccinated at one year of age and annually thereafter. Any person moving into the city from a location [outside] of the city shall comply with this section within thirty days after having moved into the city. If the dog or cat has inflicted a bite on any person, or another animal, within the last ten days, the owner of said dog or cat shall report such fact to the animal control officer, and no rabies vaccine shall be administered until after the ten-day quarantine period.
(b) 
Certificate of vaccination.
Upon vaccination, the veterinarian shall execute and furnish to the owner of the dog or cat, as evidence thereof, a certificate upon a form furnished by the veterinarian. The veterinarian shall retain a duplicate copy. Such certificate shall contain the following information: name and address of the owner, date of vaccination, type of rabies vaccine used, rabies tag number, and breed, sex, and color of the animal vaccinated.
(c) 
Rabies tags.
Concurrent with the issuance and delivery of the certificate of vaccination, the owner of the dog or cat shall attach to the collar or harness of the vaccinated dog or cat the metal tag, serial numbered to correspond with the vaccination certificate number, and bearing the year of issuance with the name of the issuing veterinarian. The owner shall attach the tag to the collar or harness, to be worn at all times.
(d) 
Duplicate tags.
In the event of loss or destruction of the original tag the owner of the dog or cat shall obtain a duplicate tag. Vaccination certificates and tags should be valid for the animal for which it was originally issued.
(e) 
Proof of vaccination.
It shall be unlawful for any person who owns or harbors a vaccinated dog or cat to fail or refuse to exhibit a copy of the certificate of vaccination upon demand to any person charged with the enforcement of this article.
(f) 
Harboring unvaccinated animal.
It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor any dog or cat that has not been vaccinated against rabies, as provided herein, or that cannot be identified as having a current vaccination certificate.
(g) 
Animals exposed to rabies.
(1) 
Any person having knowledge of the existence of any animal known to have been or suspected of being exposed to rabies must immediately report such knowledge to the animal control officer, giving all information available. For any animal known to have been or suspected of being exposed to rabies, the following rules must apply: animals having a current vaccination must be revaccinated immediately and secured according to the animal control officer’s orders for a period of not less than ninety days.
(2) 
Animals not having a current vaccination should be disposed of. However, if the owner of such animal elects, he may, at his expense and in a manner ordered by the animal control officer, secure said animal, which must be vaccinated immediately following exposure and quarantined for not less than six months; also revaccination shall be required annually, after release from quarantine.
(Ordinance 471, sec. 3, adopted 7/11/13)
It is hereby unlawful for any person to permit any animal under [his] ownership to run at large within the city limits. It is hereby prohibited and shall be unlawful for any person to willfully abandon any animal, or to withhold food or water from any animal, such that its health is endangered, or it is caused to suffer unduly.
(Ordinance 471, sec. 4, adopted 7/11/13)
The keeping of any animal in such a manner as to endanger the public health, [or] to annoy neighbors by the accumulation of animal feces, which causes foul and offensive odors, is considered to be a hazard, [and] is prohibited. Persistent negligence in the supervision of any animal so that their running at large results in damage to property and/or loud continued barking which creates an annoyance to any person is prohibited.
(Ordinance 471, sec. 5, adopted 7/11/13)
Dangerous dogs, as defined in V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code, section 822.041, shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions of V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code, chapter 822, subchapter D, section 822.041 et seq.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
Any animal that appears to be suffering from extreme injury or illness may be immediately disposed of, as determined by the animal control officer.
(Ordinance 471, sec. 6(d), adopted 7/11/13; Ordinance adopting Code)