As used in this article, the following shall mean:
At-large.
(1) 
Not under the control of the owner either by leash, chain, cord, or other suitable material attached to a collar or harness on the dog.
(2) 
Not restrained securely within an enclosure or fenced premises.
Cat.
The male and female of the feline species of animals.
Dog.
The male and female of the canine species of animals.
Owner.
Any person owning, keeping, harboring, or having control or custody of a dog.
(Ordinance 1106, sec. 1, adopted 11/18/86; Ordinance adopting 1996 Code; 1996 Code, sec. 2.201; Ordinance adopting 2022 Code)
It shall be unlawful for any person owning dogs or cats within the city limits to violate any of the clauses set forth in this article, and if any person does violate any of the clauses set forth in this article, that person shall be cited by the animal control officer or the police department for the violation thereof. It is further stated that any person found guilty of violating any of the clauses set forth in this article shall be convicted in the municipal court of the city and shall be fined as provided for in the general penalty provision found in section 1.01.009 of this code.
(Ordinance 1106, sec. 15, adopted 11/18/86; 1996 Code, sec. 2.215)
No dogs shall be permitted to run at large within the city limits. All dogs must be securely contained within a fence providing a minimum of one hundred (100) square feet per dog. Dogs on a leash will be firmly grasped at all times within the control of a person physically able to maintain control of such dog.
(Ordinance 1106, sec. 2, adopted 11/18/86; 1996 Code, sec. 2.202; Ordinance adopted 8/14/03)
No dog or cat shall be permitted within the city limits, either at large or confined, without a current rabies vaccination.
(Ordinance 1106, sec. 3, adopted 11/18/86; Ordinance adopting 1996 Code; 1996 Code, sec. 2.203)
(a) 
Vaccination required.
It shall be unlawful for any owner of any dog or cat over the age of four (4) months to harbor or permit said dog to remain within the city without having obtained a certificate of vaccination for such dog and having paid to the city, in advance, an annual license fee as provided for in the fee schedule found in the appendix of this code.
(b) 
Term of license.
The license fee required by this section shall be due and payable on or before January 1 of each calendar year and, when paid, shall be good for the year ending on the last day of December following the payment of such tax. If the license is issued for a period of time less than one year, only a proportionate part of the annual fee shall be exacted and collected.
(Ordinance 1106, sec. 4, adopted 11/18/86; Ordinance adopting 1996 Code; 1996 Code, sec. 2.204)
(a) 
Issuance.
Upon payment of the license fee required in section 3.02.005 of this article, it shall be the duty of the assessor and collector of such taxes to furnish the owner of such animal a durable, numbered tag of distinctive design stamped with the year for which the same is issued and a serial number; which tag shall at all times be securely attached to a collar around the neck of the animal, or to a harness around the neck and body of the dog or cat upon which said fee has been paid.
(b) 
Transfer.
License tags shall not be transferable from one dog or cat to another, and it shall be unlawful for the owner or person having control over or custody of any dog or cat to transfer such license tag from the dog or cat for which such tag was issued to another dog or cat.
(Ordinance 1106, sec. 5, adopted 11/18/86; Ordinance adopting 1996 Code; 1996 Code, sec. 2.205)
It shall be the duty of any authorized officer of the city to cause to be taken up, or impounded, all dogs and cats found in the city in violation of the provision of this article. Such officer is hereby authorized to enter upon any unfenced lot, tract, or parcel of land for the purpose of seizing and impounding any such dog or cat unless said land is owned by the owner of the dog.
(Ordinance 1106, sec. 6, adopted 11/18/86; Ordinance adopting 1996 Code; 1996 Code, sec. 2.206)
Fees are as provided for in the fee schedule found in the appendix of this code.
(Ordinance adopted 7/11/96; 1996 Code, sec. 2.207)
The owner of any dog or cat which has been impounded under the provisions of this article shall have the right to redeem the same upon the payment of any and all fees which may be due and payable for the impoundment of such dog or cat.
(Ordinance 1106, sec. 8, adopted 11/18/86; Ordinance adopting 1996 Code; 1996 Code, sec. 2.208)
(a) 
Upon impoundment of an animal, the City shall immediately notify the owner by telephone, in person, or by attaching a written notice to the door of the residence of the owner of the animal. The notice shall describe the animal and the time and place of taking, the location of the shelter where the animal is confined, and the hours during which the animal can be reclaimed. The notice shall also include language indicating that failure of the owner to claim the animal within five days of the date of impoundment shall result in the City taking ownership of the animal and may result in the disposition of the animal.
(b) 
If the owner of the animal is not readily apparent, the City shall make a reasonable effort to determine the identity of the owner of the animal and, if the owner is found, to provide notice to the owner under subsection (a), above. However, final responsibility for the location of an impounded animal is that of the owner.
(c) 
An owner reclaiming an impounded animal shall pay impoundment fees as established by the City Council in Appendix A "Fee Schedule" at the time of redeeming the animal.
(d) 
Any animal not reclaimed by its owner within five days of impoundment shall become the property of the City and shall be placed for adoption in a suitable home or euthanized in a humane manner. The day of impoundment shall be considered the first day of this 5-day period.
(Ordinance 1106, sec. 9, adopted 11/18/86; Ordinance adopting 1996 Code; 1996 Code, sec. 2.209; Ordinance 1318 adopted 9/16/2025)
All unlicensed dogs or cats redeemed at the impound must be immediately vaccinated against rabies before the said dog or cat can be released.
(Ordinance 1106, sec. 10, adopted 11/18/86; Ordinance adopting 1996 Code; 1996 Code, sec. 2.210)
(a) 
The animal control officer shall, upon receiving any dog, make a complete registry of the dog or cat, entering the breed, color, and sex of said dog or cat, together with a statement of whether said dog or cat is licensed and the time and place of taking dog into custody. If such dog or cat be licensed, the animal control officer or his deputies shall enter the name and address of the owner and the number of the license tag upon such registry.
(b) 
In addition to such records, the animal control officer shall also keep necessary records as are required to show in detail the disposition of all dogs or cats impounded, the monies collected, and any other records as may be required by the city auditor. All monies shall be placed in the general fund for the city.
(Ordinance 1106, sec. 11, adopted 11/18/86; Ordinance adopting 1996 Code; 1996 Code, sec. 2.211)
(a) 
If any dog or cat has bitten any person or is suspected of having bitten any person, or is, for any reason, suspected of having or being infected with rabies, then said dog or cat shall be apprehended and retained in a pound, securely penned and separated from other dogs and animals for at least ten (10) days or for such a period of time as may be necessary to ascertain whether the dog or cat is infected with rabies. If, after sufficient observation, the dog or cat, in the opinion of the chief of police, is not infected, then the dog, if claimed, shall be returned to the owner. The owner will be responsible for the care and feeding cost of the animal. If, in the opinion of the chief of police after consultation with a licensed veterinarian or county health officer, symptoms develop justifying a microscopic examination, then the dog or cat shall be killed and the head sent to the state board of health in Austin for further examination.
(b) 
In lieu of the provisions of subsection (a), the owner of any such dog may, at his own expense, take such dog to any duly qualified and licensed veterinarian for observation. Such veterinarian shall report his findings in writing to the chief of police. If, in the opinion of such veterinarian, a microscopic examination is justified, then the dog shall be turned over to the city police department and shall be killed and the examination shall be made by the state board of health in Austin as described in subsection (a) above.
(c) 
Any dog desired for observation by the chief of police under this section shall be delivered to the police department upon demand and shall not be withheld, hidden, or harbored. Persons violating this provision shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor (class C). Upon refusal of any person to so deliver such dog, any officer of the police department shall cause a warrant to be issued for the arrest of such person, which warrant shall also provide for the surrender of the dog and shall be lawful authority for the apprehending and forceful taking of such dog.
(Ordinance 1106, sec. 12, adopted 11/18/86; Ordinance adopting 1996 Code; 1996 Code, sec. 2.212)
Every owner of any dog or cat impounded by the city or voluntarily impounded by the owner, shall be liable for all costs and fees incurred by such impoundment.
(Ordinance 1106, sec. 13, adopted 11/18/86; Ordinance adopting 1996 Code; 1996 Code, sec. 2.213)
Any dog or cat creating a nuisance to any person or property may be identified and the owner filed upon for allowing his dog or cat to be a nuisance, regardless of the fact that the dog or cat may have the city tag and the vaccination tag. The owner of said dog or cat should be given one warning and thereafter may be filed on by the complaining party. Each time the dog or cat is said to be a nuisance will constitute a separate offense and charges may be filed accordingly.
(Ordinance 1106, sec. 14, adopted 11/18/86; Ordinance adopting 1996 Code; 1996 Code, sec. 2.214)
No more than three (3) dogs and/or cats over the age of six (6) months shall be kept on their owner’s premises within the city limits, nor shall any person keep, house, feed, breed, or maintain more than three (3) dogs or cats over the age of six (6) months at any time, within the city.
(Ordinance adopting 1996 Code; 1996 Code, art. 2.400)