(a) 
Generally.
It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having in his/her possession any dog to allow such dog to be at large without the owner or person in charge thereof having direct physical control over such dog. An owner or person having in his/her possession a dog may allow the dog to be at large on property that does not provide the animal with access to a sidewalk or street.
(b) 
Dogs classified as vicious animals.
It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having in his/her possession a dog classified as a vicious animal pursuant to this chapter to allow that dog to be at large. A person who violates this subsection shall, upon conviction, be assessed a fine of not less than $500.00 nor more than $2,000.00. Each day that any violation of this subsection continues shall constitute and be punishable as a separate offense.
(1996 Code, sec. 6-116)
It is unlawful for any person to harbor or keep on his/her premises or in or about his/her premises, [or] under his/her control, any dog which, by loud or unusual barking or howling, shall cause the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or the occupants of adjacent premises to be disturbed or reasonably liable to be disturbed.
(1996 Code, sec. 6-31)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person intentionally to cause, suffer or permit the maintenance of an attractive environment for the assembly of a congregation of unconfined and unlicensed stray cats or dogs by the placement of dog food or cat food. For purposes of this section, a “congregation of unconfined and unlicensed stray cats or dogs” means any three or more dogs or cats which:
(1) 
Are not confined in such a manner that they cannot of their own volition enter or leave the lot, tract, or parcel of land upon which the food is placed; and
(2) 
Are not wearing valid city license tags issued pursuant to division 2 of this article.
(b) 
For purposes of this section, “cat food” or “dog food” means any commercially prepared cat or dog food or any other food item or product which is subject to consumption by dogs or cats. It shall be an affirmative defense that the person placed the food solely for the purpose of apprehending stray cats and dogs and delivering them to the department of animal services facility or a humane organization or to vaccinate them against rabies and license them.
(1996 Code, sec. 6-32)
Dangerous dogs, as defined in V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code, section 822.041, shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions of V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code, chapter 822, subchapter D, section 822.041 et seq.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) 
No person shall own, keep, possess, or have control over any cat or dog within the city unless such person has a current city license for such dog or cat, provided that a city license shall not be required for:
(1) 
Dogs and cats under the age of four months which are confined in a place owned or under the possession of the person having ownership, possession, or control of the dog or cat within an enclosure which is sufficient to prevent escape therefrom;
(2) 
Dogs or cats owned by or in the possession or control of persons who are nonresidents of the city, traveling through the city, or temporarily sojourning therein for a period not exceeding 30 days;
(3) 
Dogs or cats brought into the city exclusively for the purpose of entry in any show or exhibition, and which are actually entered in and kept at such show or exhibition;
(4) 
Dogs or cats kept for teaching or research purposes by a licensed hospital or nonprofit university or college providing a degree program;
(5) 
Dogs or cats kept for the purposes of medical observation or treatment in veterinary hospitals;
(6) 
Dogs or cats kept in the shelter facilities of a humane organization;
(7) 
Dogs or cats originally acquired by the person owning, keeping, or having possession thereof within the preceding 30 days;
(8) 
Dogs or cats owned by or in custody or under control of persons who have been residents of the city for 30 days or less;
(9) 
A dog or cat which is owned by a person who does not reside within the city and:
(A) 
The animal has a current rabies vaccination; and
(B) 
The animal has a current license as issued by the city, county, or other applicable licensing authority governing the licensing of animals in the place where the animal is normally kept by its owner.
In any prosecution under this section, the burden shall be upon the defendant to establish as an affirmative defense that one of the exceptions set out in subsections (a)(1) through (a)(9) above is applicable.
(b) 
No person shall permit any dog or cat on any premises under his/her ownership, possession or control unless there is a current license issued for such dog or cat; provided, however, it shall be an affirmative defense that the animal is not required to have a license pursuant to any applicable exception listed in subsection (a) above.
(c) 
A person may obtain a license for a cat or a dog (either altered or unaltered) by completing the appropriate application and furnishing proof of vaccination against rabies. Additionally, for an altered pet license, proof must be provided that the animal has been altered. Except where the health officer is able to determine by external examination that the animal has been altered, the proof shall be provided by certificate of a veterinarian. The license must be renewed each year by providing proof of vaccination against rabies.
(1996 Code, sec. 6-56)
(a) 
It shall be the duty of each person having ownership of a dog or cat for which a license is required to be issued under this article to ensure that the license tag furnished by the licensing authority in conjunction with the issuance of the animal’s license is worn by the animal at all times. It is a defense to prosecution hereunder that the dog or cat was confined within a building or other totally enclosed structure under the ownership, possession, or control of the person having possession of the animal at the time that the animal was not wearing a license tag.
(b) 
In any prosecution under this article, it shall be presumed that no valid license has been issued for an animal hereunder unless the animal was wearing a valid license tag furnished pursuant to section 2.02.031 at the time of the alleged offense.
(1996 Code, sec. 6-57)
Licenses required under this article shall be issued by the animal services officer or his/her designee.
(1996 Code, sec. 6-58)
No animal license shall be issued unless there is exhibited to the licensing authority a certificate by a veterinarian showing that the animal to be licensed had been inoculated with a rabies vaccine approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Biologics Division in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer, and that such vaccination will not expire prior to the issuance of the license. No animal license shall be issued for an animal as being a spayed or neutered animal unless there is also exhibited to the licensing authority a certificate by a veterinarian or other clear and convincing evidence that the animal has, in fact, been spayed or neutered.
(1996 Code, sec. 6-59)
At the time of issuance of each dog or cat license hereunder, the licensing authority shall furnish a numbered license tag at no charge, which shall be worn by the animal to evidence the issuance of the city license hereunder. The license tag shall be worn by the animal to evidence the issuance of the city license hereunder. The license tag shall be valid for so long as the animal’s license remains valid. The animal services officer shall maintain a record of all licenses issued under this article, which shall show the name and address of each person issued a license, the number of the license tag furnished, a description of the dog or cat for which the license is issued, the date of issuance, the place of issuance, the type of rabies vaccine administered, and the date of inoculation.
(1996 Code, sec. 6-60)
In the event of loss or destruction of a license tag, a replacement tag shall be available from the animal services officer for the payment of a $2.00 fee, upon satisfactory proof that the dog or cat in question was properly licensed.
(1996 Code, sec. 6-61)
The following acts are declared to be unlawful:
(1) 
The counterfeiting of dog or cat licenses or tags.
(2) 
The willful and malicious destruction of dog or cat license tags.
(1996 Code, sec. 6-62)