When used in this article, the following words and terms, unless the context indicates a different meaning, shall be interpreted as follows:
Owner.
Any person who has right of property in an animal, or who harbors any animal, or allows an animal to remain about his premises for a period of ten (10) days.
Harboring.
The act of keeping and caring for an animal, or of providing a premise to which the animal returns for food, shelter, or care for a period of ten (10) days.
Domestic Animal.
Shall include all species of animals commonly and universally accepted as being domesticated.
Wild Animal.
Shall include all species of animals which exist in a natural unconfined state and are not usually domesticated.
Pet Animal.
Shall include dogs, cats, and any other species of animal which are sold or retained as a house pet, but shall not include skunks, non-human primates; and any other species of wild, exotic or carnivorous animal that may be further restricted in this law.
Dog.
A domestic canine of either sex, including one neutered or sterilized.
Cat.
A domestic feline of either sex, neutered or sterilized.
Vicious Animal.
Any animal that commits an unprovoked attack upon a person on public or private property, or that attacks, threatens to attack or terrorizes a person on public property or in a public place.
Stray Animal.
Any animal for which there is no identifiable owner or harborer.
Running at Large.
Shall pertain to an animal not under the physical control of the owner or his authorized representative. An animal within an automobile or other vehicle of its owner shall not be deemed “running at large.”
Rabies Vaccination.
Shall mean the vaccination of a dog, cat, or other domestic animal with an anti-rabies vaccine approved by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by a veterinarian licensed by the State of Texas.
(1996 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article 2.00, Section 2.01; Ordinance O1068 adopted 4/13/04)
(a) 
Dangerous dogs, as defined in Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 822.041, shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions of Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 822, Subchapter D.
(b) 
Dogs and coyotes that are a danger to animals, as defined in Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 822.041, shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions of Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 822, Subchapter B.
(Ordinance 1367 adopted 5/2/16)
The owner or harborer of any dog shall keep it under restraint at all times and the dog shall not be permitted to run at large within the city. By “restraint” it is meant that the owner or harborer shall keep the dog in a secure enclosure or tied to prevent it from running loose.
(Ordinance O1068 adopted 4/13/04)
No person shall willfully or knowingly keep or permit any dog on his premises or in or about his premises that barks or howls repeatedly in such a manner as to disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or the occupants of adjacent premises. A person shall be deemed to have willfully and knowingly violated the terms of this section if such person shall have been notified by the animal control officer or any police officer of any such disturbance and shall have refused, for a period of twenty-four (24) hours, to correct such disturbance and prevent its reoccurrence.
(1996 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article 2.00, Section 2.04)
If any person shall make an affidavit before the city secretary or judge of the municipal court that any dog has bitten any person within the limits of the City of Pottsboro, it shall be the duty of the animal warden or his or her deputies or a city police officer on duty to direct the owner or keeper of said dog to keep him or her securely confined for not less than ten (10) days and to release said dog only upon written permission of a duly licensed veterinarian, and the failure of such owner or keeper to comply with such directions shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
(1996 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article 2.00, Section 2.05)
No person or keeper shall keep upon his public or private property any vicious animal, whether wild or domestic, that may attack, threaten to attack, or that may terrorize any person on public property or at any public place.
(1996 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article 2.00, Section 2.06)
The chief of police or any policeman of this city shall have the right to shoot or kill any rabid or vicious dog or cat in the streets or any public place, or any dog or cat in the streets or any others public place that shall manifest a disposition to attack or bite.
(1996 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article 2.00, Section 2.07)
The impounding and disposition of all animals will be handled in compliance with the rules promulgated and granted to the city's contracted animal control provider.
(1996 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article 2.00, Section 2.08; Ordinance 1470 adopted 2/7/2022)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person in the City of Pottsboro, Texas, to keep on his premises more than three (3) dogs and three (3) cats. Kennels, breeders, new litters, and groomers are exempted from this provision.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to feed wild animals, stray animals or feral/community cats, regardless of age, sex or temperament. It shall also be unlawful for any person to place food of any kind with the intent to feed wild animals, stray animals or feral/community cats or to leave, store or maintain food of any kind in a manner or area accessible to wild animals, stray animals or feral/community cats, including:
(1) 
On any vacant or undeveloped property or tract of land in any zoning area.
(2) 
On property not owned or occupied by the person feeding or attempting to feed said wild animals, stray animals or feral/community cats.
(3) 
On any fenced or unfenced property, even if owned or occupied by the person feeding or attempting to feed said wild animals, stray animals, or feral/community cats.
(4) 
This section shall not apply to: animal services officers or police officers for the city during the course of their official duties or a person caring for an infant or injured wild animal that is not capable of surviving on its own and said person possesses a valid state parks and wildlife rehabilitation permit and said wild animal is kept in a secure manner and in accordance with all other city ordinances and state laws.
(5) 
This section shall not apply to: approved zoological parks, performing animal exhibitions or licensed circuses, primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities or zoological parks owned or operated by a governmental entity, provided that any such wildlife is kept in a secure manner and in accordance with all other city ordinances and state laws.
(6) 
This section shall not apply to birdfeeders used for the sole purpose of feeding wild birds within the boundaries of a person's owned or occupied property.
(c) 
This section shall not apply to any person who is using food as an attractant to live trap a wild animal, a stray animal or a feral/community cat with an authorized letter from city hall signed and dated by the city manager.
(d) 
If upon investigation, an animal services officer, code enforcement officer, or police officer for the city determines that a person is in violation of this section, the animal services officer, code enforcement officer, or police officer at their discretion, may issue a warning or citation and time frame for compliance to said person. Each day that a violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate offense. Penalty, see § 2.210.
(Ordinance adopting Code; Ordinance 1484 adopted 5/1/2023)
(a) 
Any person who violates any part of the hereto Ordinance shall be subject to a fine in accordance with the general penalty provision found in Section 1.109 of this code for violating any of the provisions hereof.
(b) 
It is the intention of the city council of Pottsboro, that each separate provision in this ordinance shall be deemed independent of all other provisions herein and it is further the intention of the city council that, if any provisions of this article are declared invalid or unconstitutional, all other provisions thereof shall remain valid, enforceable and constitutional.
(1996 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article 2.00, Section 2.09)
Any person who violates any provisions of these rules or does not comply with the requirements of these regulations shall be guilty of a Class C Misdemeanor and shall be fined in accordance with the general penalty provision in Section 1.109 of this code per violation; each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.
(1996 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article 2.00, Section 2.10)
All existing ordinances of the City of Pottsboro, Texas are hereby repealed insofar as they may be inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance.
(1996 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article 2.00, Section 2.11)