(a) 
For purposes of this article, “at large” shall mean not under the control of the owner or other persons authorized by the owner to care for the animal by leash, cord, chain or otherwise.
(b) 
The owner, keeper, or person in control of any dog shall not allow such dog to run unrestrained or stray within the City of Teague.
(c) 
Each unrestrained dog shall be detained or impounded by the animal control officer.
(d) 
Each stray dog shall be impounded for a period of 72 hours. If the dog is properly tagged or its owner otherwise identifiable, the animal control officer shall notify the owner that the dog has been impounded.
(e) 
If the dog is not tagged as required by Article 2.700(e) and its owner is not otherwise identifiable, and if the owner does not claim the dog within 72 hours after the dog was impounded, the animal control officer shall make a humane disposition of such unclaimed stray dog.
(f) 
If the owner of the dog has been notified of the impoundment of the dog under this article but does not claim the dog within 5 days after receiving such notice, the animal control officer shall make a humane disposition of such unclaimed dog.
(g) 
If the owner of the dog, though identifiable, cannot be located, written notice of such impoundment shall be mailed to the last known address of the owner. If the owner does not claim the dog within 10 days after such notice is mailed, the animal control officer shall make a humane disposition of such unclaimed stray dog.
(h) 
Before an animal impounded under this article may be released, the owner must pay the fee for the impoundment and board of such dog. The fee shall be set by the board of aldermen, from time to time by ordinance, in an amount necessary to defray the cost of administering this article. The animal control officer shall deposit the fees collected in the treasury of the City of Teague. The fees collected may be used to pay the contractor who has boarded the impounded dog for the city if the city uses a contractor.
(i) 
A person commits an offense if the person fails or refuses to restrain a dog owned by the person and the animal is required to be restrained under this article.
(j) 
An offense under subsection (i) shall be punishable as provided by Section 826.034 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
(Ordinance 98-9-10 adopted 9/10/98; Ordinance 98-9-10A adopted 12/16/99; Ordinance adopting Code)