The following words and phrases, as used in this chapter, shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Abandon.
To dump, desert, or leave any animal on public or private property with the intent of terminating any further responsibility for said animal; and shall also mean failing to properly redeem any animal impounded or quarantined by the city.
Animal.
Any living creature, domestic or wild, including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, cows, horses, birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, insects, fowls, and livestock but specifically excluding human beings.
Animal control officer.
The person designated by the city manager to enforce this article or an authorized representative.
At large.
Not under the control of the owner or a member of his immediate family either by leash, cord, chain or otherwise, or in a fenced yard or enclosure; the wearing of a muzzle by a dog shall not be regarded as control under this definition.
Cat.
A member of the feline family of animals, including both male and female but does not include a lion, tiger, bobcat, jaguar, panther, leopard, cougar, or other wild animal of this family or hybrids.
Dangerous animal.
Any animal that:
(1) 
Makes an unprovoked attack on a person or animal that causes bodily injury and occurs in a place other than an enclosure in which the animal has being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the animal from leaving the enclosure on its own; or
(2) 
Commits unprovoked acts in a place other than an enclosure in which the animal was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the animal from leaving the enclosure on its own and those acts caused a person to reasonably believe that the animal will attack and cause bodily injury to that person.
Designated veterinarian.
A licensed veterinarian who has been approved by the city to collect fees for and issue license for animals.
Dog.
A domesticated animal that is a member of the canine family but does not include a wolf, jackal, fox, coyote or other wild animal of this family or hybrids.
Domesticated animal.
An animal of a species of vertebrates that has been domesticated by humans so as to live and breed in a tame condition and depends on humankind for survival, such as dogs, cats, and ferrets, but does not include livestock.
Ferret.
A domesticated animal that is a member or the Family Mustelidae but not including weasels, skunks, martens, mink or badgers.
Fowl.
Any chicken, turkey, pheasant, quail, guineas, geese, ducks, peacocks, and other domestic or wild feathered creatures.
Guard dog.
Any dog which has been trained and or used for the purpose of protecting persons or property by a guard dog company or the dog owner.
Harboring.
The furnishing of lodging, shelter, food or water.
Hybrid.
The product of the mating of two different species of animals regardless of the number or generations born since that original mating.
Licensed veterinarian.
A person licensed to practice veterinarian medicine.
Livestock.
A horse, or any member of the domesticated horse family, including but not limited to, mules, donkeys, and ponies; and all types of varieties of cattle, bulls, and all members or the cow family, and all types of domesticated swine, sheep and goats.
Local rabies control authority.
The person designated by the city council in accordance with section 826.017 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
Miniature swine.
Any member of the swine family which has, through selective breeding, been genetically manipulated so as to attain a maximum height or 18 inches at the shoulder and a maximum weight of 60 pounds.
New owner.
A person who is legally competent to enter into a binding contract and who is adopting a dog or cat from are leasing agency.
Owner.
Any person owning, keeping or harboring an animal.
Person.
An individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation or other legal entity.
Prohibited animal.
An animal that poses a potential physical or disease threat to the public or that is protected by international, federal or state regulations, including but not limited to the following:
(1) 
Class Reptilia: Family Helodermatidea (venomous lizards): Family Viperidae (rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, other pit vipers and true vipers); Family Elapidae (coral snakes, cobras, mambas, and other elapids); The following listed species of Family Colubridae-Dispholidus typus (Boomslang), Hyrodynastes gigas (water cobra), Boiga (mangrove snake), and Thelotornis (African twig snake) only; Order Phidia, and Order Crocodilia (crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gavials);
(2) 
Class Aves: Order Falconiforms (such as hawks, eagles, and vultures); Subdivision Ratitae (such as ostriches, rheas, cassowaries, and emus); and Order Strigiforms (such as owls);
(3) 
Class Mamalia: Order Carnivora, Family Felidae (such as ocelots, margays, tigers, jaguars, leopards, and cougars), except commonly accepted domesticated cats: Family Canidae (such as wolves, wolf-dog hybrids, dingos, coyotes, and jackals), except domesticated dogs; Family Mustelida (such as weasels, skunks, martens, mink, and badgers, but does not include ferrets); Family Procyonidae (raccoon) but does not include ferrets; Family Ursidae (such as bears); Order Marsupialia (such as kangaroos and common opossums); Order Edentata (such as sloths, anteaters, and armadillos); Order Proboscidea (elephants) Order Primata (such as monkeys, chimpanzees, and gorillas); Order Rodentia (such as porcupines); and Order Ungulata (such as antelope, deer, bison, and camels); and
(4) 
Animals not listed: The animal services manager or their designee may declare any species of animal not listed in this subsection as “prohibited” if the confinement of the animal within the City can be shown to constitute a threat to public health and safety.
The term prohibited animal does not include the following:
(1) 
A bird kept in a cage or aviary that is not regulated by international, federal, or state law; or
(2) 
A gerbil, hamster, guinea pig, or laboratory mouse or rat.
Releasing agency.
A public or private animal shelter, or humane organization. The term does not include an individual who occasionally renders humane assistance in the individual’s home for a dog or cat.
Running at-large.
Not completely confined by a building, wall or fence of sufficient strength or construction to restrain the animal. Except when such animal is either on a leash, or held in the hands of the owner or keeper, or under direct supervision of the owner within the limits of the owner’s private property. Any animal confined within an automobile or other vehicle shall not be deemed running at-large.
Secure enclosure.
A fenced area or structure that is:
(1) 
Locked;
(2) 
Capable of preventing the entry of the general public, including children;
(3) 
Capable of preventing the escape or release of the animal to be secured;
(4) 
Clearly marked as containing a dangerous dog or animal; and
(5) 
Meets the requirements for secure enclosures listed and the approval of the animal services officer.
Serious bodily injury.
Any physical injury that involves a substantial risk of death, disfigurement, or impairment of any part of the body, including but not limited to a broken bone or a laceration requiring either multiple stitches or cosmetic surgery.
Spaying, neutering, or sterilization.
The surgical removal of the reproductive organs of a dog or cat or render the animal unable to reproduce.
Unprovoked.
Action by an animal that is not:
(1) 
In response to being tormented, abused, or assaulted by any person;
(2) 
In response to pain or injury; or
(3) 
In protection of itself or its food, kennel, immediate territory, or nursing offspring.
Veterinarian.
A person licensed to practice veterinarian medicine by the state board of veterinarian medical examiners.
Wild animal.
Any animal other than domesticated animals or livestock.
(Ordinance 22-3729, sec. 2, adopted 5/19/22)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with or hinder the animal control officer, or the designee thereof, in the performance of his official duty.
(b) 
Enforcement of this article and any state laws regulating animal control within the city shall be the responsibility of the animal control officer.
(c) 
The animal control officer is authorized to:
(1) 
Impound any animal in violation of this article;
(2) 
Issue citations for any violation of this article or applicable state law.
(Ordinance 22-3729, sec. 2, adopted 5/19/22)
Any animal impounded under the provisions of this chapter may be reclaimed by the owner in person taking custody of such animal upon complying with section 2.04.098 of this chapter and payment of the fees set forth in the master fee schedule based upon owner impoundment records within a two-year period. All fees due are assessed for each animal impounded.
(Ordinance 22-3729, sec. 2, adopted 5/19/22; Ordinance 23-3746 adopted 5/23/2023)
It shall be unlawful for any person owning or controlling any horse, mule, mare, jack, jennet, cow, sheep, goat or other animal to permit same to run at large, day or night, within the corporate limits of the city.
(2000 Code, sec. 5-2)
It shall be unlawful for any person raising or keeping any type of chickens, turkeys, ducks or guineas, or any other type or kind of fowl as defined in this article (excluding pigeons), to allow or permit the same to be at-large or run at-large within the city.
(Ordinance 22-3729, sec. 3, adopted 5/19/22)
No person shall dye, color or artificially color any rabbit, baby chick, duckling, or other animal, or offer for sale any such dyed, colored, or artificially colored animal.
(2000 Code, sec. 5-5)
No person shall use or expose an open trap or metal jaw trap likely to injure any domesticated animal or person. Traps used or provided by animal control services for the humane trapping of small animals or cats is expressly exempt from this provision.
(Ordinance 22-3729, secs. 4–6, adopted 5/19/22)
Any person who, as the operator of a motor vehicle, strikes a domesticated animal or livestock shall immediately report such injury or death to the animal’s owner. In the event the owner is unavailable or unknown, then such report shall be made to the animal control officer or call the after-hours nonemergency line for the police department.
(Ordinance 22-3729, secs. 4–6, adopted 5/19/22)
(a) 
There is hereby created the animal advisory and appeals board appointed by the city council comprised of one (1) licensed veterinarian, one (1) municipal official, one (1) person whose duties include the daily operation of an animal shelter, one (1) resident of the city who shall not be an employee of the city and one (1) member of an animal welfare organization. Except as provided for in subsection (e)(2), the board is advisory only.
(b) 
Members of the board shall hold office for staggered terms of two (2) years and until their successors are appointed. There shall be no limit on the number of terms a member may serve, provided the member is reappointed by the city council. At the first meeting of the animal advisory and appeals board the members shall select the initial length of the terms of the members by the drawing of lots with three members of the committee serving initial terms of two (2) years and two members having an initial term of one (1) year.
(c) 
Members serve at the will and pleasure of the city council and must reside within the municipal limits of the city. Should any member of the board move out of the city limits and cease to be a legal resident of the city, his/her office shall automatically become vacant and shall be filled in the manner provided above.
(d) 
If a board member is absent without excuse for three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings, or if a board member is absent for 25 percent of the regularly scheduled meetings within a 12-month period, the position shall be declared vacant and the vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by the city council within 30 days after the vacancy occurs.
(e) 
Duties include the following:
(1) 
Making recommendations on animal services.
(2) 
Hear appeals of denial or revocation of registration of an animal or the revocation of or refusal to issue a multi-pet permit. All decisions by the board regarding the aforementioned items are final. The board may establish rules of procedure regarding all such appeals.
(f) 
The appeals board provided herein shall also act as the animal advisory committee which shall meet as prescribed by state law in order to ensure compliance with chapter 823 (animal shelters), of the Texas Health and Safety Code, as amended.
(Ordinance 22-3729, secs. 4–6, adopted 5/19/22)