(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to import, offer for sale, keep, maintain, harbor or permit in the city, including but not limited to, any monkey or other nonhuman primate, skunk, raccoon, jaguar, leopard, lynx, tiger, lion, ocelot, bobcat, cheetah, mountain lion, wildcat, panther, bear, wolf, coyote, fox, or any other carnivorous animal, or any poisonous reptiles.
(b) 
A special use permit for the keeping or harboring of wild animals may be obtained from the city council for the following exceptions: animals being kept in a public zoo; wild animals being kept for the purpose of scientific research; public or private primary or secondary schools; performing animal exhibitions, rodeo or circus, of which the animal is an integral part, if the animal is restrained from inflicting injury upon persons, property, or other animals and adequate provisions are made for the care and protection of the animal.
(c) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to exhibit, possess, or harbor a wild animal within the city in the manner referred to herein without first obtaining a permit.
(d) 
A permit, as authorized in this section, shall be issued by the mayor, only after city council approval of such a permit.
(e) 
The fee for a permit as authorized herein shall be $100.00 and the permit shall be valid for a designated period of time as established by the city council. Prior to the renewal of any permit, the city council shall review such application and make a final decision regarding the approval thereof.
(f) 
It shall be unlawful to release or allow to run at large any wild animal.
(1995 Code, art. 2.800)
(a) 
Any vicious animal found running at large and endangering the safety of persons and property may be destroyed by any peace officer or animal control officer in the interest of public safety if such danger is imminent and a real or apparent necessity exists to destroy such vicious animal.
(b) 
Any peace officer or animal control officer may order any owner or person having care, custody, or control of any vicious animal to take such animal permanently from the city. This order may be appealed in writing within ten (10) days of receipt of the order, to the mayor or his representative. The council may uphold, reverse or modify the order, and may stipulate restrictions on the animal as a condition to allow the animal to remain in the city. If the council upholds the order, the owner or person having care, control, or custody shall not bring the animal back inside the city limits.
(c) 
If the owner or person having care, custody or control of a vicious animal fails to remove such animal as provided for in subsections (a) and (b) above, such animal may be impounded and/or humanely euthanized.
(d) 
The owner or person having care, custody or control of a vicious or wild animal must report the disposition and relocation of such animal to any peace officer or animal control officer in writing, within ten (10) days after the expiration date for removal of such animal from the city. Each day thereafter such information is not provided, it shall constitute separate offense.
(e) 
Any peace officer or animal control officer shall be authorized to obtain a search and seizure warrant if there is probable cause to believe that an animal ordered removed from the city for being vicious has not been so removed, or in any other violation in which the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure authorizes the issuance of search warrants.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.701; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) 
Every owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous animal within the city limits immediately preceding March 21, 1989, shall be required, within thirty (30) days to:
(1) 
Register said animal as a “dangerous animal” with the chief of police or his representative;
(2) 
Obtain a specialized registration tag identifying the animal as a dangerous animal; and
(3) 
Provide to the chief of police or his representative the following:
(A) 
The name, address and telephone number of persons keeping or harboring a dangerous animal;
(B) 
Pay a fifty dollar ($50.00) registration fee for each dangerous animal being kept;
(C) 
Proof that each dangerous animal which is four (4) months of age or over has been vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian and supply name, address and phone number of veterinarian;
(D) 
Two (2) identification photographs, color photos at least 3"x5" of each dangerous animal with one (1) photograph showing the frontal view and the other showing a side view of each animal.
Every owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous animal shall be required to maintain the animal behind a fence, wall or other solid structure designed to prevent small children from inadvertently wandering into the enclosure. Such fence, wall or other solid structure shall completely surround the animal and shall be not less than six feet (6') in height, with no openings, holes or gaps large enough to put a human hand through. All doors or gates opening directly into such enclosure shall be equipped with self-closing and self-latching devices designed to keep and capable of keeping such doors or gates securely closed at all times when the animal is in such enclosure. A notice shall be posted by the door or gate to the enclosure stating “BEWARE, DANGEROUS ANIMAL ON PREMISES” or similar wording. The notice shall also be posted on a front window of the residence. The notices will be furnished by the city.
(b) 
A peace officer or animal control officer shall inspect all animals suspected of being dangerous animals. Upon determination by such officer that in his or her judgment an animal is a dangerous animal, the officer shall provide written notice of such determination to the owner, keeper or harborer of such animal by registered mail, return receipt requested.
(c) 
No criminal action or proceeding shall be brought against an owner, keeper or harborer of an animal identified as a dangerous animal by an animal control officer or peace officer as provided in subsection (b) above for any act committed in violation of this section prior to, or less than ten (10) days after, notification has been sent to such person pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(d) 
It shall be unlawful to transport or otherwise relocate the animal to another location for permanent domicile without first notifying the chief of police.
(e) 
It is a rebuttable presumption that identification by the city’s animal control officer or peace officer of an animal as a dangerous animal pursuant to this article establishes that fact as a matter of law. The burden to rebut that presumption lies with the party keeping or harboring the animal.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.1301; Ordinance adopting Code)
Dangerous wild animals, as defined in V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code, section 822.101, shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions of V.T.C.A, Health and Safety Code, chapter 822, subchapter E, section 822.101 et seq.
(Ordinance adopting Code)