(a) 
Requirements for owner.
Not later than the 30th day after a person learns that he is the owner of a dangerous dog, the person shall:
(1) 
Register the dangerous dog with animal control;
(2) 
Restrain the dangerous dog at all times on a leash in the immediate control of a person or in an enclosure where the dog is kept;
(3) 
Muzzle the dog, except a police dog, when it is outside the enclosure where the dog is kept;
(4) 
Obtain liability insurance coverage or show financial responsibility in an amount of at least $100,000.00 to cover damages resulting from an attack by the dangerous dog causing bodily injury to a person; and
(5) 
Have the dangerous dog spayed or neutered.
(b) 
Notice of determination.
For the purposes of this section, a person learns that he is the owner of a dangerous dog when the animal control authority issues a letter to the owner that their dog has been determined to be a dangerous dog.
(c) 
Investigation.
If a person reports an incident described in the definition of “dangerous dog” in section 2.03.001, the animal control officer and/or the police department may investigate the incident. The results of the investigation will be reviewed by the animal control authority, who will make a determination as to whether or not the dog is a dangerous dog. If the dog has been determined to be a dangerous dog, the animal control authority will issue a letter to the owner stating that the dog is a dangerous dog.
(d) 
Appeals.
An owner, not later than the 15th day after the date the owner is notified that a dog owned by the owner is a dangerous dog, may appeal the determination of the animal control authority to the municipal court and request a hearing.
(Ordinance 1011, sec. 8, adopted 11/21/05; 2008 Code, sec. 18-101)
(a) 
Animal control shall annually register a dangerous dog if the owner:
(1) 
Presents proof of liability insurance or financial responsibility, as required by section 2.03.031(a)(4);
(2) 
Presents proof of current rabies vaccination;
(3) 
Presents proof of sterilization of the dangerous dog;
(4) 
Has an enclosure in which the dangerous dog will be kept that has been inspected and approved by the animal control officer; and
(5) 
Pays an annual registration fee in the amount set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(b) 
The animal control officer shall provide to the owner registering a dangerous dog a registration receipt.
(c) 
If an owner of a registered dangerous dog sells the dog, the new owner, if residing in the city, will not later than the 14th day after the date of the sale notify the animal control officer of the sale. On presentation by the current owner of the dangerous dog’s prior registration, the animal control officer will update the registration.
(d) 
An owner of a registered dangerous dog shall immediately notify the animal control officer of any attacks the dangerous dog makes on people.
(Ordinance 1011, sec. 9, adopted 11/21/05; 2008 Code, sec. 18-102; Ordinance adopting 2020 Code)
(a) 
A person commits an offense if the person is the owner of a dangerous dog and the dog makes an unprovoked attack on another person within the city limits and causes bodily injury to the other person.
(b) 
An offense under this section is a class C misdemeanor.
(c) 
If a person is found guilty of an offense under this section, the court may order the dangerous dog destroyed by the animal control officer or a licensed veterinarian.
(Ordinance 1011, sec. 10, adopted 11/21/05; 2008 Code, sec. 18-103; Ordinance adopting 2020 Code)
(a) 
A person who owns or keeps custody or control of a dangerous dog commits an offense if the person fails to comply with section 2.03.031.
(b) 
An offense under this section is a class C misdemeanor, and any person who violates any provisions of this division shall, upon conviction, be fined in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009 of this code.
(c) 
An offense under this section is a class B misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has previously been convicted under this section, as specified in V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code section 822.045.
(Ordinance 1011, sec. 11, adopted 11/21/05; 2008 Code, sec. 18-104; Ordinance adopting 2020 Code)
(a) 
It is a defense to prosecution under section 2.03.033 or 2.03.034 that the person is a veterinarian, a peace officer, a person employed by a recognized animal shelter, or a person employed by the state or a political subdivision of the state to deal with stray animals and has temporary ownership, custody, or control of the dog in connection with that position.
(b) 
It is an exception to prosecution under section 2.03.033 or 2.03.034 that the person is an employee of the institutional division of the state department of criminal justice or a law enforcement agency and trains or uses dogs for law enforcement or corrections purposes as so defined by V.T.C.A., Penal Code section 38.151.
(c) 
It is also an exception to prosecution under section 2.03.033 or 2.03.034 that the person is a dog trainer or an employee of a guard dog company under the Private Security Act, V.T.C.A., Occupations Code, chapter 1702.
(Ordinance 1011, sec. 12, 11/21/05; 2008 Code, sec. 18-105; Ordinance adopting 2020 Code)