(a) 
Any animal found in violation of this chapter, any other ordinance of the city, or any law, rule or regulation of the state or the United States may be impounded and taken to the city’s animal control facility.
(b) 
Any animal found being kept under conditions which could endanger the life or health of a person or animal, such as a rabid animal, may be impounded and taken to the city’s animal control facility.
(c) 
Any animal found abandoned within an enclosure in the city may be impounded and taken to the city’s animal control facility 48 hours after posting notice on the enclosure.
(d) 
Any officer enforcing this chapter may enter private property and impound any animal under exigent circumstances if the officer reasonably believes it to be necessary to protect the life of the animal.
(Ordinance 1089 adopted 7/11/17; 2004 Code, art. 2.1200(a))
Upon impoundment of an animal, the animal control officer shall make reasonable efforts to contact the owner of the animal if the owner is known.
(Ordinance 1089 adopted 7/11/17; 2004 Code, art. 2.1200(b))
Unless the animal is authorized to be held under another section of this chapter, the owner of an animal may redeem the animal from the city’s animal control facility upon providing proof of compliance with the registration and vaccination requirements of this chapter and the payment of all impoundment fees, handling fees, and any veterinary expenses incurred.
(Ordinance 1089 adopted 7/11/17; 2004 Code, art. 2.1200(c))
(a) 
If the owner of an impounded animal does not redeem the animal within 72 hours after notification of the owner, or within 72 hours from the time of impoundment if the owner is unknown, the animal is deemed to be abandoned, the owner is divested of ownership of the animal, and the city is deemed to be the owner of the animal.
(b) 
Any animals abandoned under this section shall be given away, put up for adoption, euthanized, or disposed of in another humane manner, at the discretion of the animal control officer.
(c) 
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the animal control officer may immediately transfer any cats believed to be feral cats to the Humane Society of North Texas for treatment or other disposition.
(Ordinance 1089 adopted 7/11/17; 2004 Code, art. 2.1200(d))
(a) 
The animal control authority or the contracted veterinarian shall be the sole judge as to whether a cat or dog is healthy enough for adoption, and its health and age adequate for vaccination. However, such decision by the animal control authority shall not constitute a warranty of the health or age of the animal.
(b) 
All dogs and cats which are adopted through the city animal shelter shall be sterilized/altered to prevent reproduction in that animal provided the animal is eight weeks or older or two pounds or more in body weight.
(c) 
All dogs and cats which are adopted through the city animal shelter and are over four months of age shall be vaccinated for rabies.
(d) 
If an animal is already altered, the animal can be released from the shelter the same day of the adoption.
(e) 
Adopted animals must be surgically altered by the date indicated in the adoption contract, at the expense of the adopter.
(f) 
The animal control authority reserves the right to refuse to adopt any animal if it is believed that the adoption may create a risk to the animal’s health and safety.
(g) 
Failing to comply with the terms of the adoption contract will constitute violation of this section.
(Ordinance 1089 adopted 7/11/17; 2004 Code, art. 2.1200(e))
Any dangerous wild animal may be immediately, humanely disposed of as deemed appropriate by the animal control authority if the dangerous wild animal cannot be safely impounded.
(Ordinance 1089 adopted 7/11/17; 2004 Code, art. 2.1200(f))
Any nursing baby animal impounded without the mother or where the mother cannot or refuses to provide adequate nutrition and the baby animal is suffering may be immediately euthanized or given to a nonprofit humane organization for the purpose of veterinary care, as determined by the animal control authority.
(Ordinance 1089 adopted 7/11/17; 2004 Code, art. 2.1200(g))
An owner who no longer wishes responsibility for an animal may sign a written waiver supplied by the animal control authority allowing the animal to be immediately euthanized in a humane manner, adopted, or sold, or care and custody may be transferred to a nonprofit animal welfare organization approved by the animal control authority.
(Ordinance 1089 adopted 7/11/17; 2004 Code, art. 2.1200(h))
Any impounded animal that appears to be suffering from injury or illness may be transferred to a nonprofit animal welfare organization, approved by the animal control authority, for the purpose of veterinary medical care, as determined by the animal control authority.
(Ordinance 1089 adopted 7/11/17; 2004 Code, art. 2.1200(i))
(a) 
Any person who is taken into the custody of the city’s police department or other law enforcement personnel and having in his/her possession an animal shall be notified that the animal will be transferred to the animal control authority shelter.
(b) 
During confinement of said person, the animal will be taken care of by the animal control authority. The animal must be redeemed from impoundment within five business days from the time of the incarceration of the owner, at no charge to the owner. If the animal has not been redeemed within the five-day period, then the animal becomes the property of the city and may euthanized in a humane manner, adopted, sold, or transferred to a nonprofit animal welfare organization approved by the animal control authority.
(c) 
No person shall be able to redeem an animal taken possession of pursuant to this section except the owner or the owner’s duly authorized designee.
(d) 
An animal may be kept at the animal control authority shelter for a period of time exceeding five business days if, in the discretion of the animal control authority, there is a possibility of reuniting the animal with its owner within a reasonable amount of time.
(Ordinance 1089 adopted 7/11/17; 2004 Code, art. 2.1200(j))