(a) 
It shall be unlawful for the owner of an animal to fail to provide the animal with adequate amounts of wholesome and nutritious food, water in sufficient quantities, adequate ventilation, adequate space for exercise, shelter that protects the animal from the elements (sun, wind, rain, freezing temperatures, etc.), veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering, and overall humane care and treatment.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for the owner of an animal or for any person to beat, cruelly treat, torture, torment, overload, overwork, or otherwise abuse any animal; or unnecessarily kill; or cause, instigate, or permit any dogfight, cockfight, bullfight, or other combat between animals, whether wild or domestic, or between animals and humans.
(c) 
It shall be unlawful to give away any live animal as a prize or as an inducement to enter any contest, game, or other competition; as an inducement to enter a place of amusement; or, as an incentive to enter into any business agreement whereby the offer was for the purpose of attracting or attempting to attract trade.
(d) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon, desert, or dump any dog, cat (excluding a cat being returned as part of a T-N-R program), or other animal in the city.
(Ordinance 276-08-08-26, art. II, adopted 8/26/08)
(a) 
All owners must keep their pets and companion animals at residential premises permanently occupied and inhabited.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess or keep swine in the city at any time.
(c) 
Livestock (excluding swine), birds, or fowl may be kept in any zoning district. All barns, structures, enclosures, coops, or pens shall be kept in a clean, safe, and sanitary condition, and in such manner and location as not to become offensive to adjacent neighbors or to the public.
(d) 
This section shall not apply to the city’s animal control facility, humane societies, veterinary establishments, animal hospitals operated by a licensed veterinarian, or commercial animal establishments located on property zoned for such purposes. Such establishments, however, must meet sanitation requirements and keep animals securely caged or penned.
(Ordinance 276-08-08-26, art. II, adopted 8/26/08)
(a) 
Animals that are normally and customarily kept as approved FFA or 4-H projects, including rabbits, chickens, turkeys, sheep, goats, cattle, and horses, but excluding swine, will be allowed in any zoning district.
(b) 
Animal projects based on a confined feeding program shall at all times be maintained in a clean, sanitary condition so as not to become a nuisance or health or safety hazard.
(c) 
Project animals shall be restrained and protected by the use of proper pens, fencing, shelters, and structures, and all pens, shelters, and structures shall be designed to protect project animals from the elements. Ample space shall be provided to permit the project animal to live in a healthy and safe environment. All animal projects must have a feeding and care program consistent with best management feeding and care practices, including a quality water source that is available to an animal at all times.
(Ordinance 276-08-08-26, art. II, adopted 8/26/08)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person or entity, except in the operation of a lawful zoo or pursuant to a valid state license, to keep or harbor any wild animal or fowl, poisonous or dangerous reptile, or hybrid animal (e.g., domestic dogs crossbred with wolves, coyotes, or jackals; domestic cats crossbred with ocelots or margays) within the city.
(b) 
The owner of wild animals, fowl or reptiles kept pursuant to a valid United States of America or state license may seek a variance from the city to keep them with such conditions as may be imposed by the city for the granting of a variance.
(Ordinance 276-08-08-26, art. II, adopted 8/26/08)
This article recognizes that within the city there are colonies of unowned, feral cats that are supported and managed by property owners or other persons within the city. The city encourages stabilization of the free-roaming cat population in the city by proper management of such population. Colony caretakers of managed colonies of free-roaming cats shall not be deemed to be owners of such cats. Proper management of a feral cat colony includes a T-N-R program (trap-neuter-return), and it shall be unlawful for a person to regularly feed, water, and provide support to a feral cat colony without either:
(1) 
Including a regular program of T-N-R in order to control colony population; or
(2) 
Reporting the colony to a local feral cat management organization and cooperating with such organization so that the organization can provide the T-N-R services to control colony population.
(Ordinance 276-08-08-26, art. II, adopted 8/26/08)
(a) 
The city does hereby adopt for this article the provisions of V.T.C.A., Health & Safety Code section 822, subchapter D, sections 822.041 et seq. for the purposes of and procedures for identifying, declaring, and regulating dangerous dogs within the city, provided, however, when the provisions of the state law conflict with more restrictive provisions then the following shall control:
(1) 
The owner of a dangerous dog shall pay an annual fee of $100.00 to the city or animal control officer;
(2) 
The owner of a dangerous dog shall be required to have the dog spayed or neutered and provide proof to the city or animal control officer;
(3) 
Only one dangerous dog may be owned per household; and
(4) 
No more than two dangerous dogs may remain at any residence for more than seven days.
(b) 
In addition to all other provisions adopted by this section, it shall be unlawful for a dog that has been identified and declared under this section to be a dangerous dog, to be outside of its kennel, pen, yard, or other enclosure without a muzzle and under restraint by its owner on a leash or lead.
(Ordinance 276-08-08-26, art. II, adopted 8/26/08)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to leave an animal in any standing or parked vehicle or trailer for any period of time under such condition as to endanger the health or well-being of such animal due to heat, lack of food or water, or such other circumstances as may reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to transport or carry on any public roadway any animal in a motor vehicle unless the animal is safely enclosed within the vehicle; if traveling in an open vehicle or open area of a vehicle (including but not limited to convertibles, pickup trucks, jeeps, and flatbed trucks), the animal shall be confined by a secured, vented container or cage, or by chain, rope, or other device cross-tied to prevent the animal from falling off or jumping from the motor vehicle or from strangling on a single leash.
(c) 
Upon finding an animal in a motor vehicle or trailer in violation of this section, the animal control officer is authorized to obtain a locksmith at the animal owner’s expense or break and enter the vehicle or trailer if necessary to remove the animal. Removed animals may be impounded, and the animal control officer shall leave a written notice bearing the officer’s name and the address where the animal may be reclaimed.
(Ordinance 276-08-08-26, art. II, adopted 8/26/08)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to tie or stake an animal with a leash, chain, or any type of tether. This section does not apply during a lawful animal event, veterinary treatment, grooming, training, or law enforcement activity.
(b) 
Exceptions.
This section does not apply to:
(1) 
A dog restrained for a reasonable period, not to exceed three hours in a 24-hour period, and no longer than is necessary for the owner to complete a temporary task that requires the dog to be restrained;
(2) 
A dog restrained while the owner is engaged in, or actively training for, an activity that is conducted pursuant to a valid license issued by this state if the activity for which the license is issued is associated with the use or presence of a dog; or
(3) 
A dog restrained while the owner is engaged in conduct directly related to the business of shepherding or herding cattle or livestock.
(Ordinance 276-08-08-26, art. II, adopted 8/26/08)
An outdoor enclosure for a dog must be large enough to allow adequate space for exercise.
(Ordinance 276-08-08-26, art. II, adopted 8/26/08)
It shall be unlawful to intentionally expose any known poisonous substance, whether mixed with food or not, in a manner that the substance is likely to be eaten by an animal. It shall be lawful for a person to expose on the person’s own property common rat poison for the sole purpose of rat or mice control.
(Ordinance 276-08-08-26, art. II, adopted 8/26/08)
(a) 
The animal control officer is authorized to trap wild or domestic animals at large by means of live cage traps or by any other means recommended by state authorities.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to remove, alter, damage, or tamper with a trap or equipment set out by the animal control officer or to remove or release an animal in a trap set out by the animal control officer.
(c) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to set any form of trap, including leg hold traps, body traps, or any trap, other than humane live cage traps, that has not been approved by the animal control officer.
(d) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to expose an open trap or metal jaw-type trap within the city.
(e) 
It shall be unlawful to intentionally trap a cat that has a collar or an ear-tip designating that cat as being owned or part of a managed feral cat colony. Domestic free-roaming, sterilized cats and feral cats that are part of a managed feral colony shall be returned and released if trapped.
(f) 
This section shall not prevent the trapping of rodents considered common household pests, such as rats and mice, by common rat-traps.
(Ordinance 276-08-08-26, art. II, adopted 8/26/08)
The owner of every animal shall be responsible for the removal of any excreta deposited by the owner’s animal on public walks, recreation areas, or private property, including the property of the owner. All property owners shall be responsible for keeping the owner’s property in a clean and sanitary condition such that the property does not become a nuisance due to an accumulation of animal waste.
(Ordinance 276-08-08-26, art. II, adopted 8/26/08)
Upon reasonable suspicion of animal abuse, mistreatment, neglect, or the existence of a harmful or nuisance condition, animals and premises where animals are kept or maintained shall be subject to inspection by the animal control officer, at any reasonable hour, or, in cases of emergency, at any hour.
(Ordinance 276-08-08-26, art. II, adopted 8/26/08)
(a) 
The keeping of any animal in accordance with the provisions of this article shall not be construed to authorize the keeping of such animal in violation of any zoning or other city ordinance, or state law.
(b) 
This article shall not be construed to authorize the keeping of an animal where such animal is prohibited by a valid subdivision rule or regulation or deed restriction.
(Ordinance 276-08-08-26, art. II, adopted 8/26/08)