Animals owned or harbored in violation of this article or law of the State of Texas shall be taken into custody by an animal control officer or other designated official and impounded under the provisions of this article.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 2, Sec. 3-2)
If the owner of an animal is known, immediate notice shall be given to him/her. Any impounded animal may be redeemed upon payment of the impoundment fee, care and feeding charges and such other costs as set by the Panhandle Animal Control or agent. If such animal is not redeemed within seventy-two (72) hours, it shall be deemed abandoned and may be placed for adoption, subject to payment of the impoundment fee, care and feeding charges, veterinary charges, rabies vaccination charges and such other costs as set by the City of Panhandle or its agent, or the animal control officer may humanely euthanize said animal by injection or other means approved by the city council.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 2, Sec. 3-3)
If a complaint has been filed in municipal court for the City of Panhandle against the owner of an impounded animal for a violation of this article, the animal shall not be released except on the order of the court which may also direct the owner to pay any penalties for violation of this article in addition to all impounded fees. Surrender of an animal by the owner thereof to the Panhandle Animal Control or its agent does not relieve or render the owner immune from the decision of the court, nor to the fees and fines which may result from a violation of this section.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 2, Sec. 3-4)
It shall be unlawful for any person to remove from any place of confinement any dog or cat which has been confined as authorized, without the consent of the City of Panhandle or its agent.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 2, Sec. 3-5)
It shall be unlawful for any person to permit or allow an animal, owned or harbored by that person to run at large.
(1) 
An animal will be deemed to be at large while on or off the premises of its owner or harborer under the conditions set forth below:
(A) 
Off-Premises:
(i) 
Any dog which is not restrained by means of a leash or chain of sufficient strength and length to control the action of such animal while off the premises of its owner or harborer is deemed to be at large.
(ii) 
Any cat which is off the premises of its owner or harborer is deemed to be at large.
(B) 
On-Premises:
Any dog located on its owner’s or harborer’s premises, but not:
(i) 
Confined to such premises by a substantial fence of sufficient strength and height to prevent the animal from escaping therefrom; or
(ii) 
Secured on the premises by metal chain or leash sufficient in strength to prevent the animal from escaping from the premises and so arranged that the animal will remain upon the premises when the leash is stretched to full length, is deemed to be at large.
(2) 
Any animal within an automobile or other vehicle owned or occupied by its owner or harborer or by such person’s agent shall not be deemed at large.
(3) 
A person is deemed to “permit or allow” an animal to run at large where he fails to restrain or control the animal as set forth in subsection (1) above.
(4) 
Any officer or citizen of the City of Panhandle is hereby authorized to take up and deliver to the officer of the Panhandle Animal Control Division any animal mentioned in this article that may be found “at large” in the corporate limits of the City of Panhandle, subject to the applicable provisions of the law.
(5) 
The animal control officer or any peace officer is authorized to impound any animal mentioned in this article which is found to be at large. In the event the animal at large is on private property, including but not limited to the property of the animal’s owner or harborer, the animal control officer or peace officer may enter onto the property for the purpose of impoundment of the animal or issuance of a citation, or both, subject to the applicable provisions of the law. This provision shall not be construed so as to allow an officer to enter a private dwelling in pursuit of an animal at large.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 2, Sec. 3-6)
Any unaltered female dog or cat in the state of estrus (heat) shall be confined during such period of time in a house, building, or secure enclosure and said area of enclosure shall be so constructed that no other dog or cat may gain access to the confined animal. Owners who do not comply shall be ordered to remove the animal in heat to a boarding kennel or veterinary clinic. All expenses incurred as a result of this confinement shall be paid by the owner. Failure to comply with the removal order of the Panhandle Animal Control or its agent shall be a violation of this article and the dog or cat will then be impounded as prescribed in this article.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 2, Sec. 3-7)
(a) 
The following fees are established beginning on February 1, 2017.
(1) 
Impoundment of a Neutered Animal.
First impoundment
$30.00
Second impoundment
$50.00
Third impoundment
$100.00
All subsequent impoundments
$100.00
Boarding fees per day
$15.00
Quarantine fee per day
$20.00
(2) 
Impoundment of Unaltered Animal.
First impoundment
$40.00
Second impoundment
$60.00
Third impoundment
$110.00
Boarding fee per day
$15.00
Quarantine fee per day
$20.00
(3) 
Relinquish Fee.
$150.00 plus all other fines and fees. Should you relinquish your animal to the city for no reason you may forfeit your privilege to own another at your residence.
(Ordinance 588, sec. IV, adopted 1/12/17; Ordinance 620 adopted 1/25/2024)
(a) 
All dogs and cats which are adopted through the City of Panhandle Animal Shelter shall be surgically altered to prevent reproduction in that animal. The person adopting the animal shall sign an agreement stating that he/she will have said adult dogs and cats [females over six (6) months of age; males over nine (9) months of age] surgically altered within thirty (30) days of adoption. Immature dogs and cats shall be altered by the date designated in the adoption agreement.
(b) 
It shall be the responsibility of the person adopting to provide proof of altering to the City of Panhandle Animal Shelter.
(c) 
Failure to comply with this section or failure to comply with the terms of either of the above agreements shall give the animal control officer or its agent the right to recover the adopted animal in question and revoke animal license. Such failure shall also constitute a violation of this article.
(d) 
The adoption fee shall be set to render neutral the cost of an unaltered animal, any boarding fees, and the cost of preparing said animal for adoption.
(e) 
All dogs and cats from the City of Panhandle Animal Shelter which are four (4) months of age or older shall be vaccinated for rabies by a veterinarian licensed with the State of Texas within forty-eight (48) hours of adoption.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 2, Sec. 3-9; Ordinance adopting Code)