(a) 
Pursuant to section 822.002 of the Texas Health and Safety Code:
(1) 
A justice court, county court, or municipal court shall order the animal control authority to seize a dog and shall issue a warrant authorizing the seizure:
(A) 
On the sworn complaint of any person, including the county attorney, the city attorney, or a peace officer, that the dog has caused the death of or serious bodily injury to a person by attacking, biting, or mauling the person; and
(B) 
On a showing of probable cause to believe that the dog caused the death of or serious bodily injury to the person as stated in the complaint.
(2) 
The animal control authority shall seize the dog or order its seizure and shall provide for the impoundment of the dog in secure and humane conditions until the court orders the disposition of the dog.
(b) 
Any hearings, defenses or other provisions relating to dangerous dogs shall hereby be regulated by sections 822.002–822.006 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. The city also incorporates those sections as part of this article.
(Ordinance 822-2021 adopted 9/16/21)
(a) 
In addition to the requirements under state law applicable to an owner of a dangerous dog, the owner of a dangerous dog shall also comply with all of the following requirements of this section, at the owner’s expense, before the animal is released from the animal services facility or other state approved quarantine facility:
(1) 
Obtain liability insurance coverage or showing financial responsibility in an amount of at least two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) to cover damages resulting from an attack by the dangerous animal causing bodily injury to a person or for damages to any person’s property resulting from the keeping of such dangerous animal. A certificate of insurance or other evidence of meeting the above requirements shall be filed with the animal control officer;
(2) 
Register with the city by providing the name and address of the owner; the breed, age, sex, color and any other identifying marks of the animal; the location where the animal is to be kept if it is not at the address of the owner; and two (2) color photographs that clearly identify the dangerous animal;
(3) 
Have the animal sterilized;
(4) 
Construct a cage, pen or enclosure for the dangerous animal that has secure sides; a secure top attached to the sides; and a secure bottom which is either attached to the sides or else the sides of the structure must be embedded in the ground no less than two (2) feet. The pen or enclosure must be completely encircled by a fence constructed in such a manner as to prevent a person or child from being able to reach the animal’s pen or enclosure;
(5) 
Not allow the animal to go outside of its cage, pen or enclosure unless the animal is under physical restraint. No person shall permit a dangerous animal to be kept outside of its cage, pen or enclosure on a chain, rope or other type of leash unless a person is in physical control of the chain, rope or leash and the person is of competent strength to control the animal at all times. Dangerous animals shall not be leashed to inanimate objects, such as trees, posts, buildings, etc. All dangerous animals outside their cage, pen or enclosure must be securely fitted with a muzzle that will not cause injury to the animal nor interfere with its vision or respiration but shall prevent the animal from biting other animals or human beings;
(6) 
Post signs giving notice of a dangerous animal in the area or on the premises in which such animal is confined. Such signs shall be conspicuously posted at both the front and rear property entrances and shall bear letters not less than two (2) inches high, stating “dangerous animal on premises.” Such signs shall also display a symbol, that is understandable by small children, that warns of the presence of a dangerous animal;
(7) 
Provide the animal with a fluorescent yellow collar visible at fifty (50) feet in normal daylight and attaching a fluorescent orange tag provided by the animal services division to the collar that is worn at all times so that the animal can be easily identified;
(8) 
Implant a microchip into the animal and registering it for life with the city’s animal services division and a recognized national registry;
(9) 
Obtain the dangerous animal permit and paying the appropriate fee annually; and
(10) 
Maintain a current rabies vaccination and a current city license.
(b) 
Any animal that is deemed a dangerous animal that was not previously impounded or otherwise in possession of the animal services facility or any other state approved quarantine facility, shall immediately be impounded and boarded at the owner’s expense until such time as the owner complies with all of the required conditions as set forth by the court’s ruling. The animal shall be held at the owner’s expense pending the outcome of any appeals. It shall be a violation of this section for the owner to refuse to turn the animal over as required and for the purposes of enforcement; each day for each animal in question shall be considered a separate offense.
(c) 
The owner shall have fifteen (15) days from the declaration of the animal as dangerous to comply with all of the required conditions as set forth by this section. If the owner fails to meet all of the requirements, the animal may be humanely euthanized on the sixteenth (16th) day by the animal control officer or a licensed veterinarian.
(d) 
In the event that a registered dangerous animal escapes its cage, pen or enclosure or attacks a human being or another animal, the owner of the dangerous animal shall immediately notify the animal services division. For the purposes of this section, immediately shall mean within thirty (30) minutes of the owner becoming aware of the escape or attacks.
(e) 
In the event that a registered dangerous animal dies, the owner must notify the animal control officer within seven (7) days.
(f) 
Prior to transferring ownership in any way or moving a registered dangerous animal, either inside or outside the city limits, the owner must obtain, in writing, permission from the animal control officer to transfer ownership or move the animal. If ownership of the animal is being transferred, the new owner will be required to comply with all provisions of this chapter before the animal can be moved from the previous owner’s custody. If the animal is being moved from the city limits, the owner must provide, in writing to the animal control officer, the destination address of where the animal is to be moved to and proof that the owner has alerted the agency responsible for animal services in that area.
(g) 
In the event that any owner of an animal declared to be dangerous violates any order of the public health administrator, the animal may be immediately seized and impounded by the animal control officer. In addition, the animal shall be seized immediately if the animal bites, injures, or attacks a human being or another animal. Any animal already declared to be dangerous which is impounded due to any violation of this chapter or seized for causing injury to a human being or another animal shall immediately become the property of the city and shall not continue to be a registered dangerous animal.
(h) 
If the dangerous animal makes an unprovoked attack on a person or another animal outside the animal’s enclosure and causes bodily injury to the person or other animal, the owner of the dangerous animal will be guilty of a class C misdemeanor, unless the attack causes serious bodily injury or death, in which event the offense is a class A misdemeanor.
(i) 
If an owner of a dangerous animal is found guilty of an offense under this section, the public health administrator or his designee may order the dangerous animal be humanely euthanized by the animal control officer or a licensed veterinarian.
(j) 
No animal shall be declared a dangerous animal if the threat, injury or damage caused by the animal was the result of a willful trespass upon another’s property, or the person injured was tormenting, abusing or assaulting the animal or its owner, or was committing or attempting to commit a crime at the time of injury.
(k) 
Orders of the public health administrator pertaining to dangerous animals may be appealed to the city permit and appeals board by filing a written notice of appeal within five (5) days to the city manager’s office. During the pendency of such appeal, the order of the public health administrator shall be suspended, and the animal shall remain impounded at the owner’s expense at the animal services facility or other state approved quarantine facility for observation. Decisions of the permit and appeals board shall be final.
(l) 
It shall be a violation for any owner of a permitted dangerous animal to refuse, upon request by the department, to make his/her animal(s), premises, facilities, equipment, and any necessary permit(s) available for inspection for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(m) 
The owner of an animal that has been determined to be dangerous by another jurisdiction is prohibited from bringing such animal into the city limits.
(n) 
The animal control officer shall be authorized to obtain a search and seizure warrant if there is reason to believe any requirements of this section are being violated.
(Ordinance 822-2021 adopted 9/16/21)
It shall be unlawful for a person to sell, offer for sale, barter, trade, keep, own, maintain, use or have in the person’s possession or on premises under the person’s control any of the following:
(1) 
Any dangerous animal except as provided in section 2.05.002 pursuant to a final determination that the animal is dangerous; or
(2) 
Any prohibited animal unless that person is a person exempted by section 822.102, subchapter E, dangerous wild animals, of the Texas Health and Safety Code, as amended.
(3) 
It shall be unlawful for a person to sell, offer for sale, barter, trade, keep, own, maintain, use or have in a person’s possession or on premises under such person’s control any of the following:
(A) 
Any dangerous animal except as provided in section 2.05.002 pursuant to a final determination that the animal is dangerous; or
(B) 
Any prohibited animal.
(C) 
A prohibited animal is exempt from this section if:
(i) 
The animal(s) belongs to a bona fide zoological park, animal exhibition, wildlife educational center, museum, licensed laboratory, publicly owned nature center, or animals kept by bona fide members of an educational or scientific association or society approved by the animal control department, or persons holding permits from an agency of the state or the United States for the care and keeping of animals for rehabilitative purposes; or
(ii) 
The animal is an assistance animal as defined in this chapter that has been registered with the city and the animal control manager has been provided with:
a. 
Records of vaccination appropriate for the species of animal;
b. 
Documentation from a veterinarian that the animal is healthy;
c. 
Proof of proper restraint for the animal; and
d. 
Proof that the animal has been or is being trained to perform tasks of an assistance animal.
(Ordinance 822-2021 adopted 9/16/21)
(a) 
Purpose.
The purpose of this section is to establish certain requirements of sound beekeeping practice that are intended to avoid problems that may otherwise be associated with the keeping of bees in populated areas.
(b) 
Keeping of honeybees.
Honeybees may be kept if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) 
Beekeeping permit.
Any person desiring to keep honeybees on their property must first obtain a permit from the animal control authority.
(A) 
The animal control authority shall have the right to inspect any property with a beekeeping permit at any time for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this section.
(B) 
Beekeeping permits must be renewed annually and each renewal will require inspection and approval by the animal control authority or designee.
(C) 
Beekeeping permits are issued for specific owners of a specific property. Application for a new beekeeping permit shall be required if:
(i) 
The original beekeeping permit holder moves to a new residence within the city limits and wishes to keep honey bees on the new property; or
(ii) 
Ownership of the property for which a beekeeping permit was originally issued changes and the new owners desire to keep honey bees.
(2) 
Standards of care and practice.
(A) 
In each instance in which a colony is situated within ten feet (10') of a private or public property line, including schools, of the tract upon which the apiary is located, as measured from the nearest point on the hive to the property line, the beekeeper shall establish and maintain a flyaway banner at least eight feet (8') in height consisting of a solid wall, fence, dense vegetation, or a combination thereof so that the honeybees will fly over rather than through the material to reach the colony.
(B) 
Each beekeeper shall ensure that a convenient source of water is available to the bees at all times within twenty feet (20') of all hives.
(C) 
All honeybee colonies shall be kept in hives with removable frames or bars, which shall be kept in sound and useful condition.
(D) 
Beekeepers shall diligently “re-queen” hives known to be aggressive.
(E) 
Any hive contaminated with or known to have Africanized bees shall be destroyed by a qualified beekeeper at the owner’s expense.
(F) 
Beekeepers shall mark each hive with name and phone number of the beekeeper.
(G) 
Enclose the apiary sufficient to prevent small children or animals from accessing the hives.
(H) 
Each hive must be “re-queened” at least once every twenty-four (24) months and the owner shall keep receipts and written records of the exact date of the “re-queening” of each hive for at least two (2) years.
(I) 
Each hive shall be maintained in a healthy state and maintain the grounds near each hive in a sanitary manner.
(3) 
Colony densities.
(A) 
No property with an area less than two (2) acres shall be permitted.
(B) 
The maximum number of hives shall be no more than three (3).
(4) 
Inspections.
A person commits an offense if he owns, harbors, or possesses honeybees and refuses, upon request by the animal control authority, to make his honeybees, premises, facilities, or equipment available for inspection during reasonable hours.
(5) 
Penalty.
Any beekeeper violating any of the terms and provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in accordance with section 1.01.009 of the city code.
(Ordinance 822-2021 adopted 9/16/21)
(a) 
No person shall engage in keeping livestock within the corporate limits of the city, except in conformance with and only to the extent so permitted by the zoning ordinances of the city.
(b) 
The keeping of or causing to be kept any livestock or any other such animals in those areas appropriately permitted by the zoning ordinances of the city in pens or enclosed areas in such a manner as to become offensive to other persons living nearby is hereby declared to be a nuisance. The housing of livestock within 25 feet of an adjacent property line is hereby declared to be a nuisance.
(c) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave standing any truck, trailer, or other vehicle that has been used for the hauling of livestock, animals or fowl in a residential area of the city when notified by an enforcement agent that such vehicle is creating a nuisance due to odors, gases or fumes. Upon such notification, the owner, operator, driver or other person responsible for such vehicle shall move such vehicle to a location outside of any residential area of the city.
(d) 
All manure and other excrement shall be disposed of in such a manner as to prevent it from becoming offensive to other persons living nearby. It shall be unlawful for any person to transport slop, garbage or other refuse over any alley, street or highway within the corporate limits of the city for the purpose of feeding hogs or swine within the city.
(e) 
Honeybees.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2.05.004, a beekeeper shall not keep honeybees in such a manner as to deny any person the reasonable use and enjoyment of adjacent property or endanger the personal health and welfare of the inhabitants of the city. Removal for noncompliance:
(1) 
Complaint.
Upon receipt of a sworn complaint by any person, including the city attorney, a peace officer or animal control authority to the municipal court that honeybees are being kept in a manner that denies the reasonable use and enjoyment of adjacent property or endangers the personal health and welfare of the inhabitants of the city. The municipal court shall set a time for a hearing to determine whether the honeybees are being kept in violation of this section. The hearing shall not be later than the fifteenth (15th) day after the judge of the municipal court receives and reviews the complaint.
(2) 
Notice.
The municipal court shall give written notice of the time and place of the hearing to the beekeeper and the person who made the sworn complaint.
(3) 
Presentation of evidence. Any interested party, including the city attorney, may present evidence at the hearing.
(4) 
Order for removal.
If the municipal court determines that the honeybees deny to any person the reasonable use and enjoyment of adjacent property or endanger the personal health and welfare of the inhabitants of the city, the municipal court shall order the honeybees removed from the property. Upon receipt of such order, the beekeeper shall remove the bees within ten (10) calendar days of the order. Failure to comply with the municipal court order shall constitute a separate violation of this code for each day of noncompliance, and in addition, the city may contract for the removal of the bees and charge the beekeeper for such removal.
(Ordinance 822-2021 adopted 9/16/21)
(a) 
The keeping of livestock shall be permitted in "A" agriculture zoning districts and in areas primarily used for agriculture purposes, with the exception of the following limitations.
(b) 
Goats.
b) Goats. The keeping of goats shall be permitted in " R -1L" single- family residential - large lots zoning districts and in " A" agriculture zoning districts subject to the following requirements:
(1) 
1) In the " R -1L" zoning district, lots must be a minimum of one ( 1) acre, and only two ( 2) goats are permitted per acre.
(2) 
2) In "A" zoning districts, lots must be a minimum of two ( 2) acres, and only four ( 4) goats are permitted per acre.
(c) 
Fowl.
(1) 
For the purpose of this subsection (c), fowl shall be limited to female chickens (hens).
(2) 
This subsection does not apply if the land upon which the animals are maintained is zoned "A - agricultural."
(3) 
A person commits an offense if the person knowingly:
(A) 
Keeps or maintains a rooster;
(B) 
Keeps or maintains more than six fowl;
(C) 
Keeps or maintains fowl in an inadequate fowl shelter, including the fenced run, at a distance closer than 25 feet of an occupied building of a person other than the owner;
(D) 
Fails to provide an adequate fowl shelter as defined in section 2.05.005;
(E) 
Keeps or maintains fowl in the front yard area;
(F) 
Fails to provide fowl with fresh, clean water and food;
(G) 
Fails to store fowl feed in secure containers protected from rodents, insects, and other animals;
(H) 
Slaughters fowl within the city limits;
(I) 
Fails to keep or maintain fowl within a fowl shelter, pen, coop, or hutch as defined in section 2.05.005. A fenced yard shall not qualify as a pen, coop, or hutch;
(J) 
Sells eggs for profit. Any eggs produced by fowl permitted under this section shall be for personal use only;
(K) 
Fails to allow an animal control officer to inspect the fowl shelter, pen, coop, or hutch and related premises.
(d) 
The owner or person in possession of animals shall keep yards, pens, coops, and enclosures in which these animals are confined in such a manner so as not to give off odors offensive to persons of ordinary sensibilities residing in the vicinity, or to breed or attract flies, mosquitoes, or other noxious insects, or in any manner to endanger the public health or safety, or create a public nuisance. All persons keeping these animals shall comply with the following sanitary regulations: manure and droppings shall be removed from pens, yards, cages, and other enclosures daily, and handled or disposed of in such manner as to keep the premises free of any nuisance.
(e) 
The slaughter of livestock shall be prohibited within the city limits unless performed by a licensed professional at a rendering or meat processing facility.
(f) 
It is an exception to this section that:
(1) 
The animal or structure was at a veterinary clinic or hospital, pet store, feed store, farm store, school building, or any similar establishment properly zoned for keeping these animals;
(2) 
The structure, pen, corral, or other enclosure was in existence at the time the premises on which it is located were annexed by the city. However, if the ownership or primary use of the premises changes, this exception shall not apply;
(3) 
The structure, pen, corral, or other enclosure was in existence prior to the time a habitation was erected on another's property; or
(4) 
The livestock was purchased and housed prior to January 1, 2005.
(g) 
Hogs and swine. It shall be unlawful for any person other than a veterinarian to keep any live hogs or swine within the city limits, except in the hereinafter - named location(s), for a period longer than twenty-four (24) hours:
(1) 
The campus and grounds of Joshua Independent School District.
(h) 
All hog pens, barns, stables, and other facilities housing livestock shall meet the requirements of the city building code, zoning ordinance, and the general design standards, specifications, and operating procedures for animal establishments.
(i) 
Unless specifically provided for herein, only one (1) head of livestock is permitted per one (1) acre of land.
(j) 
It shall be a defense to prosecution regarding the number of livestock being kept, that the same livestock in question was being kept on the same premises, by the owner of the livestock, prior to the adoption of this section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at such time as the livestock on the property dies or is otherwise disposed of by the owner, it may not be replaced until such time as the livestock meets the requirements set forth herein and then only may be replaced to the extent such number and kind is in conformance with this section.
(k) 
It shall be a defense to prosecution that the person keeping the livestock is a student, is a member of the local FFA Club, and has been issued a temporary permit by the animal control officer supervisor, who shall have the discretion to issue said permit upon proper documentation provided by the student and/or teacher.
(Ordinance 822-2021 adopted 9/16/21; Ordinance 848-2022 adopted 10/20/2022)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to allow an estray(s) to be unattended upon any public street, alley, thoroughfare or upon the property of another in the corporate city limits. The person, firm, or corporation having ownership or right to immediate control of such estray(s) shall have the burden to keep such estray(s) off the public streets, alleys, and thoroughfares or the property of another in the city.
(Ordinance 822-2021 adopted 9/16/21)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to place or place and bait or to permit the placing or placing and baiting of any trap designed for trapping animals in any highway, street, alley or other public place within the corporate limits of the city unless specific permission by animal services division has been granted. However, nothing in this chapter shall prohibit an animal control officer from placing such traps on public or private property as may be necessary to capture animals running at-large.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to remove, alter, damage, or otherwise tamper with a trap or equipment belonging to or set out by the animal control officer.
(c) 
Residents of the city wishing to trap unwanted animals on personal private property may do so with the use of humane cage traps. Traps may be obtained from animal services. Any trapping program must have prior written approval of the land manager or owner, and written notification of activities to the animal services division.
(d) 
Any traps mentioned in this article found upon public property are hereby declared to be abandoned traps and any enforcement agent is hereby authorized and directed to impound any such trap and process the same as abandoned property in accordance with the applicable provisions of this code.
(e) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to place or place and bait or to permit the placing or placing and baiting of any steel jawed trap (commonly known as a “bear trap,” “wolf trap,” “leg hold trap,” or “coyote trap”) within the corporate limits of the city.
(f) 
No person shall place any substance or article that has in any manner been treated with any poisonous substance in any place accessible to human beings, birds, dogs, cats or other animals with the intent to kill or harm animals. This shall include anti-freeze purposely left exposed to poison animals. This section, however, does not preclude the use of commercially sold poisons when applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions for such use, in that person’s residence, accessory structure or commercial establishment, provided that such use does not violate any other section of this article.
(Ordinance 822-2021 adopted 9/16/21)
Every person having care, control, or custody of any dog which has received guard dog training must register such dog with the animal control officer. Any dog which has received guard dog training may be destroyed when such dog is found running at-large. The owners or keepers of guard dogs shall be subject to the other provisions of this article. An ID collar identifying the dog as a guard dog must be worn at all times, and affixed to the collar there shall be: guard dog tag, current rabies tag, and a city license at all times. The dog must wear a muzzle when out of confinement.
(Ordinance 822-2021 adopted 9/16/21)