To leave unattended for more than seventy-two (72) hours or without making reasonable arrangements for assumption of custody by another person.
Any living vertebrate creature, domestic or wild, excluding human beings.
Any individual employed, contracted with, designated or appointed by the city for the purpose of aiding in the enforcement of this chapter or any other law or ordinance relating to the licensure of animals, control of animals, or seizure and impoundment of animals and includes any state or local law enforcement officer or other employee whose duties in whole or in part include assignments that involve the seizure and impoundment of any animal.
A facility operated by the city or with which the city has contracted for the purpose of impounding or caring for animals held under the authority of this chapter or state law.
When an animal is not confined to the premises of its owner by a fence in good repair and of sufficient strength and/or height to prevent the animal from escaping therefrom, inside the house or other enclosure, or secured on such premises by a leash of sufficient strength to prevent the animal from escaping from the premises, and so arranged that the animal will remain upon such premises when the leash is stretched to full length in any direction. An animal shall not be considered “at large” when held and controlled by a person of adequate strength by means of a device, such as a leash, cord, chain, or rope, in good repair and of proper strength and length to control the action of the animal, or while confined within a vehicle. An “invisible fence” will suffice as sufficient restraint so long as the animal is not found outside the premises of the owner and the invisible fence is registered with the animal control department.
Any abrasion, scratch, puncture, tear or piercing of skin caused by an animal.
All domestic species or varieties of Felis catus, male or female, alive or dead.
The city of Coleman.
A dog defined by section 822.041(2), Texas Health and Safety Code, as amended by item (3) below and means a dog that:
Makes an unprovoked attack on a person that causes bodily injury and occurs in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the dog from leaving the enclosure on its own; or
Commits unprovoked acts in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the dog from leaving the enclosure on its own and those acts cause a person to reasonably believe that the dog will attack and cause bodily injury to that person.
Makes an unprovoked attack on a domestic animal that causes serious bodily injury or death and occurs in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the dog from leaving the enclosure on its own.
A lion;
A tiger;
An ocelot;
A cougar;
A leopard;
A cheetah;
A jaguar;
A bobcat;
A lynx;
A serval;
A caracal;
A hyena;
A bear;
A coyote;
A jackal;
A baboon;
A chimpanzee;
An orangutan;
A gorilla; or
Any hybrid of an animal listed in this definition.
A domestic animal that is a member of the canine family.
An animal which is naturally tame and gentle or which by long association with man has become thoroughly domesticated and is now reduced to such a state of subjection to his will that they no longer possess a disposition or inclination to escape.
Those authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter, including but not limited to the local health authority representative, any animal control officer, or any police officer.
A cat which is wild, untamed or unsocialized.
The keeping and caring, including but not limited to feeding and providing water, of an animal.
To cause the death of an animal by a method which:
To seize and hold in the custody of the local health authority or other authority such as a veterinarian.
Any fence which cannot be seen with the human eye but that is designed to keep an animal enclosed in a space by means of laser technology or sound technology. Such invisible fence must not be capable of causing pain or discomfort to any human being who crosses its path.
Those authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter; namely, the local health authority, the local health authority representative, any animal control officer, or any peace officer.
Horses, mules, cattle, poultry, hogs, goats and sheep of any and all kinds and shall include both the male and female species of such animals.
The animal control officer is designated as the local health authority and has authority to appoint representatives to enforce the provisions of this chapter, to receive reports of animal bites, investigate animal bites, ensure quarantine of possibly rabid animals and otherwise carry out provisions of state law pertaining to control and eradication of rabies, dangerous dogs and other state laws and local ordinances pertaining to animals in the city. This term includes animal control officers, law enforcement officers and enforcement officers as defined herein, including their respective designees. This term also includes, and is synonymous with, the term “animal control authority” as defined by section 822.041 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
The ten (10) days following a biting incident during which an animal’s health status must be monitored.
A person who harbors, keeps, possesses, or permits to be harbored, kept, or possessed, an animal in his care, on or about his premises, without regard to title, purchase, or acceptance of an animal as a gift.
Any individual, firm, association, partnership, or corporation or any other legal entity.
Any animal used by a law enforcement agency or its officers in the administration of official duties.
A domesticated form of the species Suidae Sus Scrofa (smaller pigs typically weighing under one hundred (100) pounds) originating in Southeastern Asia, and having a straight tail, potbelly and swayback, and includes any miniature pigs, including teacup or micropigs.
An animal not normally considered domesticated including, but not limited to, venomous lizard, poisonous snake, boa, python, raccoon, skunk, fox, bear, elephant, kangaroo, monkey, chimpanzee, antelope, deer; any protected, threatened, or endangered species as defined by the state parks and wildlife commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; or any other wild animal capable of, or inclined to, serious bodily harm to humans or other animals or fowl.
While on the owner’s property, a dangerous dog is securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure, suitable to prevent the entry of young children nine (9) years of age or younger, and designed to prevent the animal from escaping. Such pen or structure shall have secure sides and, where appropriate, a secure top to prevent the dog from escaping over, under, or through the structure and shall also provide protection from the elements.
Any animal that unreasonably annoys humans, endangers the life or health of other animals or humans, or substantially interferes with the rights of citizens, other than its owner, to the enjoyment of life or property. The term “public nuisance animal” shall mean and include, but is not limited to, any animal that:
Is documented by the local health authority or a member of the public to have been at large, as defined in section 2.01.001 of this chapter, three (3) or more times in a twelve (12) month period;
Damages the property of anyone other than its owner;
Chases vehicles;
Excessively makes disturbing noises, including, but not limited to, continued and repeated howling, barking, whining, or other utterances causing unreasonable annoyance, disturbance or discomfort to neighbors or others in close proximity to the premises where the animal is kept or harbored;
Causes fouling of the air by odor and thereby creates unreasonable annoyance or discomfort to neighbors or others in close proximity to the premises where the animal is kept or harbored;
Causes unsanitary conditions in enclosures or surroundings where the dog is kept or harbored; or
Commits an unprovoked attack on a person or other domestic animal while at large as defined in this chapter.
Any property owned by the city, including streets, alleys, rights-of-way, easements, public parks or any other real property owned by the city for the benefit of the citizens.
Strict confinement under restraint by closed cage or padlock or in any other manner approved in this chapter or state law on the private premises of the owner or at a facility approved by the state board of health or its designee, or at a veterinarian’s office agreed upon by the local rabies control authority.
A fence or structure of at least six (6) feet in height, forming or causing an enclosure suitable to prevent the entry of young children, and suitable to confine a dangerous animal in conjunction with other measures which may be taken by the owner. Such enclosure shall be securely enclosed and locked and designed with secure sides, top and bottom and shall be designed to prevent the dog(s) from escaping from the enclosure. The enclosure shall be posted with signs on all sides in at least four-inch letters stating, “beware of dog,” warning of the presence of a dangerous dog and shall include a symbol of a dangerous dog understandable by young children.
Regarding an attack on a domestic animal, an injury characterized by severe bite wounds or severe ripping and tearing of muscle that would cause a reasonably prudent person who owns and/or is caring for the injured animal to seek treatment from a veterinarian without regard to whether the person actually sought treatment for the injured animal.
Any physical injury that results in broken bones, multiple bites, or disfiguring lacerations requiring sutures or reconstructive surgery.
Any animal for which there is no identifiable owner or harborer.
An action by an animal that is not in response to being tormented, abused, teased or assaulted by any person; in response to pain or injury; or in protection of itself or its food, kennel, immediate territory, or nursing offspring.
Properly injected with a rabies vaccine licensed for use in that species by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by a veterinarian licensed to practice in the state in an amount sufficient to provide an immunity.
Vaccinated and satisfying the following criteria:
A veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine.
An animal: (1) that has committed unprovoked attacks on two previous occasions on a person or other animal while at large as defined in this chapter; (2) which the local health authority or their representative has reason to believe has a dangerous disposition likely to be harmful to humans other animals; or (3) that has committed an unprovoked attack on a person or other animal after being declared by the local health authority, or judicially determined by the city's municipal court, to be a dangerous dog as provided by Texas Health and Safety Code chapter 822 and this chapter.
All species of animals that commonly exist in a natural unconfined state and are usually not domesticated. This shall apply regardless of state or duration of captivity. The term shall include but is not limited to foxes, panthers, wolves, alligators, crocodiles, apes, elephants, rhinoceroses, and all forms of poisonous or constricting reptiles, and other like animals.
(Ordinance 1142, sec. II, adopted 11/7/13; Ordinance 1142, sec. IV, adopted 11/7/13; Ordinance 1160 adopted 8/16/15; Ordinance adopting Code; Ordinance 1231 adopted 1/19/2023)