It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, or harbor
any dog or cat over the age of four (4) months within the city unless
such dog or cat has been issued a valid, current license by the city.
The city will utilize the county tag and licensing process as a regional
solution to the licensing of animals. Through the Williamson County
Regional Animal Shelter (WCRAS) and its software program, the citizens
of Hutto will be provided with a more proactive system to reclaim
lost pets. For the convenience of its citizens, the county license
may be purchased at the WCRAS, 1855 S.E. Inner Loop, Georgetown, Texas,
or at city hall, 401 West Front Street, Hutto, Texas, during regular
business hours.
(Ordinance 10-003-00 adopted 3/4/10)
Registration for license shall be made by the owner to the city
within ten (10) days after acquiring any dog or cat over four (4)
months of age or within ten (10) days after a dog or cat becomes four
(4) months of age; provided that any owner moving to the city for
the purpose of establishing residence or becoming a resident as a
result of any annexation, and otherwise required to obtain a license,
shall have until thirty (30) days after moving or annexation to obtain
such a license.
(Ordinance 10-003-00 adopted 3/4/10)
(a)
All
owners applying for a license must present a written certificate of
anti-rabies vaccination by a registered veterinarian duly licensed
to practice by the state board of veterinary medical examiners, or
must otherwise show to the satisfaction of the licensing authority
of the city that the animal for which the license is being obtained
has been inoculated against rabies in compliance with section 169.29
[of title 25] of the Texas Administrative Code. Said certificate must
show the name and address of the owner of said dog or cat containing
a description of the color, breed, sex and weight of said dog or cat
together with the kind and amount of vaccine used and the date of
administration, and certifying that said dog or cat was so vaccinated
and immunized against rabies.
(b)
It shall be unlawful for a dog or cat to be present in the city and not be vaccinated against rabies. Every owner of a dog or cat shall furnish proof of rabies vaccination upon request by an animal control officer. Failure to furnish proof upon request shall create a presumption that the animal has not been vaccinated for rabies. Additionally, an animal found in violation of section 4.08.009 shall create a presumption that the animal has not been vaccinated against rabies. The owner of the animal shall be responsible for the offense, and no culpable mental state is required.
(Ordinance 10-003-00 adopted 3/4/10)
Any owner claiming that his dog or cat has been spayed or neutered
must show to the satisfaction of the licensing authority of the city
that such operation has been performed.
(Ordinance 10-003-00 adopted 3/4/10)
A license fee shall be paid at the time of making registration as required by the licensing authority of the city. The fee applies per animal licensed as adopted by the governing board of the shelter, for the regional animal shelter, as amended, and as provided in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(Ordinance O-18-03-15-11A adopted 3/15/18)
A dog or cat license shall be valid for one year after the date
it was issued and shall be renewed no later than the date of its expiration.
(Ordinance 10-003-00 adopted 3/4/10)
License fees shall not be required for Seeing Eye dogs, government
police dogs or dogs belonging to a nonresident of the city and kept
within the boundaries of the city for not longer than ten (10) days;
provided that all dogs of nonresidents shall at the time of entry
into the city be properly vaccinated against rabies and, while kept
within the city, meet all other requirements of this chapter. Service
dog means a dog that is professionally and specifically trained to
aid or assist physically disabled persons by an organization recognized
as reputable and competent in training such animals when the dog is
owned and used for that purpose by a physically disabled person who
has satisfactorily completed a specific course of training in the
use of the dog. Any owner claiming any of these exemptions has the
burden of proving to the satisfaction of the licensing authority that
the dog or cat in question is entitled to such exemption.
(Ordinance 10-003-00 adopted 3/4/10)
Upon payment and acceptance of the license fee and proof of
rabies vaccination, the licensing authority of the city shall issue
a durable license tag, stamped with the year of issuance and an identification
number for the animal for which the license has been obtained.
(Ordinance 10-003-00 adopted 3/4/10)
It shall be unlawful for any dog for which the owner is required
to obtain a license to not wear a valid license tag at all times,
securely attached to a collar around the neck of the dog. Cats are
not required to wear a license tag.
(Ordinance 10-003-00 adopted 3/4/10)
It shall be unlawful for any person to use a license for any
animal other than the animal for which the license was issued. It
shall also be unlawful for any person to remove from the neck of any
dog or cat the license tag issued pursuant to this article, or alter
such tag in any manner.
(Ordinance 10-003-00 adopted 3/4/10)
If there is a change in ownership of a licensed dog or cat, the new owner shall have the license transferred to his/her name. Application for such transfer shall be made to the licensing authority of the city, and be accompanied by the required fee as adopted by the county commissioner’s court for the regional animal shelter, as amended, and as provided in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(Ordinance 10-003-00 adopted 3/4/10)
If such tag is lost or destroyed, the owner shall apply to the licensing authority of the county for a new tag by presentation of the applicable vaccination-registration certificate accompanied by the required fee. The fee applies per animal licensed as adopted by the county commissioner’s court for the regional animal shelter, as amended, and as provided in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(Ordinance 10-003-00 adopted 3/4/10)
It is required that all dogs and cats impounded by the city be microchipped upon release from the city animal shelter or the county regional animal shelter. The fee applies per animal licensed as adopted by the governing board for the regional animal shelter, as amended, and as provided in schedule in appendix A of this code.
(Ordinance O-18-03-15-11A adopted 3/15/18)
