As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings respectively ascribed to them:
Off the premises of the owner and not under the complete
control of the owner, either by leash, cord, chain or otherwise.
Any person owning, keeping, harboring, in charge of or in
control of a dog.
An injection of a type of vaccine approved by the state veterinarian
and administered by a veterinarian licensed under state law.
(1979 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 5, Sec. 5-20)
The chief of police and any police officer of the city shall
have the right to enforce any of the provisions of this article, and
the chief of police is hereby delegated authority to appoint any persons
to aid and assist him in the carrying out and enforcement of this
article.
(1979 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 5, Sec. 5-21)
No owner of any dog shall permit such dog to run at large within
the city.
(1979 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 5, Sec. 5-22)
It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain or keep a dog
or cat at large more than four (4) months of age on any premises within
the corporate limits of the City of Tahoka unless such dog or cat
wears a collar or harness securely attached to its body to which shall
be securely attached a current rabies tag.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
(a)
If any
dog or other quadruped animal has bitten any person, the owner of
said dog or other quadruped animal shall immediately, and in any event
not later than twenty-four (24) hours after such biting, notify the
chief of police and the city health officer of such biting and have
such dog or other quadruped animal impounded in the city pound or
a veterinarian hospital in the city for a period of two (2) weeks.
(b)
No such
dog or other quadruped animal so held for observation shall be released
from impoundment without the authorization of the city health officer.
(c)
Such
impoundment shall be at the expense of the owner of said dog or other
quadruped animal except where at the time of said biting, the dog
or other quadruped animal was wearing a collar or harness with valid
license and rabies tags attached thereto and was lawfully restrained
or on the owner’s premises as required by this article, in which
event the expense of confinement shall be against the person so bitten,
unless such person is on the premises with the express or implied
consent of the owner, such as in the case of delivery men, guests,
postmen or utility meter readers, etc., in which event the cost of
confinement shall be at the dog owner’s expense.
(1979 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 5, Sec. 5-26)
(a)
The
owner of any dog or other quadruped animal suffering a bite from a
rabid animal or suspected or believed to have been bitten by a rabid
animal, shall within twenty-four (24) hours from the time of such
biting, notify the chief of police and the city health officer and
have the dog or other quadruped animal impounded and either administered
the Pasteur treatment or destroyed.
(b)
When
the owner desires to have the animal administered the Pasteur treatment,
the confinement shall be under the direction and supervision of the
city health officer who shall direct the manner and means by which
the dog or other quadruped animal shall be confined, the confinement
to be for a period of six (6) months and at the owner’s expense.
(c)
Such
dog or other quadruped animal shall be released only by order of the
city health officer.
(1979 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 5, Sec. 5-27)
Any dog or other quadruped animal within the terms of this article
found within the city in violation of any of the provisions of this
article shall immediately be impounded and kept for a period of seventy-two
(72) hours and then disposed of; provided however, that the owner
of any animal impounded under the terms of this section shall be allowed
to take such dog from the place where impounded upon the following
conditions:
(1)
Upon
the payment of an impounding fee of the sum of one dollar ($1.00)
for each day or fractional part thereof which said animal has been
impounded.
(2)
If a
dog is not wearing a collar with valid rabies and license tags attached,
the owner thereof must present a certificate showing that said dog
has been vaccinated within twelve (12) months from that day or have
said dog vaccinated prior to its release from impoundment and must
further produce or secure a valid license tag for such dog.
(3)
If a
dog, provide the dog with a collar or harness to which the license
and rabies tags are attached.
(1979 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 5, Sec. 5-28)
