The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Abandon or abandoned.
The dumping, deserting or leaving any animal on public or private property negligently or with the intent to terminate any further responsibility for the animal, or the failure to properly redeem an animal impounded or quarantined by the city or its animal control contractor.
Animal control officer.
An employee of the city or a designated contractor responsible for enforcement of this chapter.
At large.
Not under the immediate physical control of a person by means of a leash, rope, or fenced enclosure.
Cat.
A domestic feline.
Chief of police.
The chief of police of the city, and includes representatives, agents, or city employees designated by the chief of police to enforce or administer this chapter.
City manager.
The city manager of the city, and includes representatives, agents, or city employees designated by the city manager to enforce or administer this chapter.
Dog.
A domestic canine.
Owner.
A person owning, keeping, or exercising control over an animal, or harboring an animal for more than three (3) days.
(1996 Code, sec. 2.101; Ordinance 18/011, sec. 1, adopted 3/6/18)
There is hereby created the office of animal control officer for the city. The animal control officer shall be employed by and under the direction and control of the chief of police or shall be a responsible professional agency performing the functions of animal control in accordance with this chapter by contract with the city. In either case, the animal control officer or contracting entity, or their agents or employees, shall have those duties and responsibilities as provided herein.
(1996 Code, sec. 2.102)
A person commits an offense if he possesses, keeps, or harbors a cow, calf, hog, pig, goat, horse, colt, bear, lion, fox, wildcat, jaguar, cheetah, bobcat, wolf, jackal, leopard, hyena, raccoon, skunk, ocelot, monkey, or any other wild animal in the city.
(1996 Code, art. 2.200)
A person commits an offense if he possesses, keeps, harbors, gives shelter to, or feeds, gives food to, or places or furnishes food for, in a public or private place, a chicken, rooster, chick, turkey, duck, duckling, or pigeon within the city.
(1996 Code, sec. 2.301; Ordinance 26-013 adopted 2/3/2026)
(a) 
Generally.
A person commits an offense if he possesses, keeps, or harbors a venomous reptile within the city. A school, university or YMCA may possess a venomous reptile pursuant to a permit issued by the city council according to the terms in subsection (b) of this section.
(b) 
Issuance of permit.
(1) 
A school, university or YMCA desiring to keep a reptile or reptiles as provided in subsection (a) of this section shall first make application to the city manager, giving the following information:
(A) 
The name and address of the applicant;
(B) 
A description of the facilities designed for keeping the reptile or reptiles;
(C) 
The number and kind of reptiles; and
(D) 
The purpose for which the reptile or reptiles are being kept.
(2) 
The city manager shall present the application to the city council at a regular meeting. If the city council approves the application, the city manager shall issue a permit for the keeping of such reptiles in accordance with the approval of the city council.
(c) 
Revocation of permit.
The permit may be revoked by the city council upon a showing that the keeping of the reptile or reptiles is adversely affecting neighboring property because of unreasonable odor, or is creating an unreasonable danger to persons occupying or using the neighboring property.
(1996 Code, art. 2.000)
A person commits an offense if he possesses, keeps or harbors bees in a beehive when such beehive is located within one hundred feet (100') of a lot used for residential purposes other than the lot of the possessor of such hive.
(1996 Code, art. 2.500)
The owner of a dog, cat or other animal commits an offense if he allows such animal by unreasonable barking, howling or other noise to cause unreasonable discomfort to a person of ordinary sensibility.
(1996 Code, sec. 2.603)