(a)
Time of vaccination.
Every person owning or harboring
a dog or cat in the city shall cause such dog or cat to be vaccinated
for rabies with an approved rabies vaccine:
(1)
Immediately upon its procurement if it is over four (4) months old
and has not been so vaccinated within a period of one (1) year prior
to the procurement of said animal; or
(2)
As soon as possible after the dog or cat has attained the age of
three (3) months; provided, however, that such vaccination has been
accomplished by the time it attains the age of four (4) months.
(b)
Revaccination.
Every person owning or harboring dog
or cat within the city which has been vaccinated with an approved
vaccine shall cause the dog or cat to be revaccinated within a period
not to exceed one (1) year.
(c)
Vaccination certificate.
Every person keeping, harboring
or having in the city any dog or cat required by this chapter to be
vaccinated shall, at all times while such dog or cat is thus kept,
harbored or had, have in his possession a certificate issued by a
person licensed by the State of Texas or any other state or nation
to practice veterinary medicine, which certificate shall specify that
such dog or cat has been vaccinated in accordance with provisions
of this chapter, stamped with the year of vaccination.
(d)
Proof of vaccination.
It is the pet owner’s responsibility
to keep in his/her possession the certificate issued to them at the
time of the animal’s vaccination and to produce said certificate
if requested by the animal control officers or any other law enforcement
officer having jurisdiction in the city.
(1990 Code, sec. 4-54(d); Ordinance 002-10-1-2018 adopted 1/10/18)
(a)
Required; fee.
All dogs and cats must have a rabies
vaccination tag. Tags may be issued for a period of one or three years
depending on the type of vaccination delivered. A dog or cat that
has been spayed or neutered shall be charged a fee as established
by city council for every year the tag is valid. A dog or cat that
has not been spayed or neutered shall be charged a fee as established
by city council for every year the tag is valid. No person shall fail
or refuse to show the animal control officers, or any other law enforcement
officer having jurisdiction in the city, the rabies vaccination tag
for any duly vaccinated dog or cat kept or remaining within any home
or upon any enclosed premises under his immediate control. Said vaccination
tag shall be attached to a neck collar and be worn by the animal at
all times. If a tag is lost it shall be the responsibility of the
owner to replace the tag as soon as possible in order to return to
compliance with this article.
(b)
Unauthorized removal of tag.
No unauthorized person
shall remove from any dog or cat any collar, harness, or other device
to which is attached a vaccination tag for the current year, or remove
such tag therefrom.
(c)
Counterfeiting tags.
No person shall imitate or counterfeit
the tags in this chapter provided for, or shall use any imitation
or counterfeit of such tag.
(1990 Code, sec. 4-51; Ordinance
2010-542 adopted 2/16/10; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a)
Prohibited; penalties.
(1)
No person owning, harboring, or caring for a dog shall allow said
animal to be off the premises of its owner unless securely confined
by a strong leash not to exceed six (6) feet in length continuously
held by a person capable of controlling the dog, or confined to an
automobile. A violation of this section shall be considered a class
C misdemeanor punishable by:
(2)
The deputy sheriffs or animal control officers may issue a summons
to a person in violation of this section. Said summons shall contain
a written promise by the owner to appear in justice court within ten
(10) days of the date of issuance to answer the charge made in the
summons.
(b)
Authority to destroy certain animals.
If any animal
is found running at large in violation of this section, and after
having received at least two (2) complaints on the animal, and the
animal cannot be safely caught and impounded, then the animal may
be put down on the street by the animal control officers or any law
enforcement officer using that force deemed necessary and taking into
consideration the public health and safety.
(1990 Code, sec. 4-52)
It shall be the duty of the animal control officers to take
up all dogs found in violation hereof. All such dogs shall be impounded
in the city’s animal control shelter.
(1990 Code, sec. 4-53)
(a)
No
person shall own or harbor any combination of dogs and cats which
exceeds six (6) in the corporate limits of the city.
(b)
No
boarding kennel shall be allowed within the city except exempted animal
hospitals.
(c)
It
shall be considered a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of
up to one hundred thirty-five dollars ($135.00) upon conviction. The
animal control officers or any law enforcement officer may issue a
summons to a person in violation of this section. Said summons shall
contain a written promise by the owner to appear in justice court
within ten (10) days of the date of issuance to answer the charge
made in the summons.
(1990 Code, sec. 4-59)
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)
