The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Animal.
Any living creature of the animal kingdom, including mammals, birds and all forms of fowls, amphibians, reptiles, and all animals whose natural habitat is water, such as fish.
At large.
As applied to an animal, means that such animal is not confined inside the owner’s house or on the owner’s premises and inside a suitable and substantial fence of sufficient strength and height to prevent the animal from escaping therefrom, or secured on such premises by a leash of sufficient strength to prevent the animal from escaping from the premises and so arranged that the animal will remain on the premises when the leash is stretched to full length in any direction; provided, however, that an animal shall not be considered at large when held and controlled by some person or by means of a leash or chain of proper strength and length to control the actions of the animal, or while confined within any vehicle.
Dog.
An animal of the canine species, whether of the male or female sex.
Fowl.
Any animal of the class Aves, including chickens, turkeys, pigeons, guineas, ducks, geese, swans, etc.
Livestock.
Grazing animals normally found on a farm or ranch, such as horses, mules, donkeys, burros, cattle, sheep, goats, etc.
Owner.
Any person or persons owning, keeping, harboring, or in charge of any animal or animals.
(1965 Code, sec. 4-1; Ordinance adopted 7/3/01; 1989 Code, sec. 4-1)
It shall be unlawful for any owner to permit an animal or animals to run at large upon the public streets, avenues, alleys, parks or other public property of the city or to permit any animal or animals to run at large or to go upon the premises owned or in possession of or under the control of any other person in the city.
(1965 Code, sec. 4-2; Ordinance adopted 7/3/01; 1989 Code, sec. 4-2)
(a) 
Definition.
A “dangerous animal,” as such term is used in this section, means any animal with a propensity, tendency or disposition to attack human beings or domestic animals, including dangerous dogs within the meaning of section 822.041 of the Health and Safety Code of the state, including future amendments thereto. An animal that makes an unprovoked attack on a person or another animal shall be conclusively presumed to be a dangerous animal within the meaning of this section.
(b) 
Confinement.
The owning, keeping, or maintaining of a dangerous animal within the corporate limits of the city is hereby prohibited and declared unlawful unless such animal is confined at all times within a securely enclosed, locked pen or structure upon the residence premises of the owner or other person responsible therefor. Such structure or pen shall not be deemed securely enclosed unless it has secure sides, top and bottom, with the top and bottom secured to the sides. If such pen or structure has no bottom, the sides must be imbedded in the ground at least two (2) feet. If any such dangerous animal is to be moved to or from such pen or structure, it shall be lawful to do so only if the animal is muzzled and leashed with a secure chain controlled by at least one (1) person for each such animal. This section is inapplicable to state-licensed veterinarians and persons charged with the duty of animal control.
(c) 
Penalty.
This section is declared to be necessary as a public health measure, and each violation shall be punished by a fine in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009 of this code. Each and every day that an owner, keeper or maintainer of a dangerous animal is in violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense punishable hereunder.
(Ordinance adopted 7/3/01; 1989 Code, sec. 4-2.5; Ordinance adopting 2016 Code)
(a) 
No person shall willfully or knowingly keep or harbor on his or her premises any animal that makes or creates loud and obnoxious noises by whatever method created, thereby disturbing the peace of the neighborhood or disturbing the occupant of adjacent premises or people living in the vicinity of such loud and obnoxious noise.
(b) 
A person shall be deemed to have willfully and knowingly violated the terms of this section if such person shall have been notified by his or her neighbors or the chief of police or his/her designee or any police officer of such disturbance and shall have refused for a period of twenty-four (24) hours to correct such disturbance and prevent its recurrence.
(1965 Code, sec. 4-3; 1989 Code, sec. 4-3; Ordinance adopting 2016 Code)
It shall be the duty of every person raising, owning or keeping any animal to keep such creatures and their abodes in a sanitary condition so that such animal, or the place where such creature is kept, shall not emit foul and offensive odors of sufficient strength to be detected on any adjoining property.
(1965 Code, sec. 4-4; 1989 Code, sec. 4-4)
(a) 
Any owner of livestock within the corporate limits of the city shall maintain and keep all buildings and the vicinity around such buildings or all lots, stockyards, or open areas where any livestock are kept in such a manner that any and all of such places are free from the accumulation of rubbish, garbage, manure or other putrefying, decomposing, infectious or bad-smelling substances.
(b) 
When necessary to move livestock from one place within the city to another, special care shall be taken to remove manure from the streets and other public or private property at once, and to thoroughly wash such streets after the passage of such livestock.
(c) 
It is hereby declared to be a nuisance for any person to maintain any of the places mentioned in this section in such a manner that such places are not free from the accumulation of the items mentioned herein or other putrefying, decomposing, infectious or bad-smelling substances, or to not remove manure from the streets and to fail to wash the streets.
(1965 Code, sec. 4-5; 1989 Code, sec. 4-5)
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep bees or beehives within the city.
(1965 Code, sec. 4-8; 1989 Code, sec. 4-8)
It shall be unlawful for any person to cruelly maltreat any dumb animal in the city; or to willfully and wantonly kill, maim, wound, poison or disfigure any horse, ass, mule, cattle, sheep, goat, swine, dog or other domesticated animal, bird or beast of any kind; or to mutilate, cruelly kill, overdrive, override or overload, or unnecessarily confine, or in any manner oppress the same; or to unnecessarily fail to provide the same with proper food, drink or shelter; or to drive, work or use the same when such animal is maimed, wounded, sick, lame or otherwise unfit for labor; or to willfully abandon the same to die; or to carry or to cause the same to be carried, hauled or forced along in a cruel or inhumane manner; or to leave any animal tied up or confined anywhere, day or night, for more than six (6) hours at a time without properly feeding, watering and caring for the same. This section shall not be construed to prevent policemen or other persons from destroying dogs or other animals when lawfully entitled to do so.
(1965 Code, sec. 4-16; 1989 Code, sec. 4-9; Ordinance adopting 2016 Code)