(a) 
The animal control officer of the city is designated as the local rabies control authority to enforce the provisions of the Rabies Control Act of 1981 (Vernon’s Texas Statutes and Codes Annotated, Health and Safety Code, title 10, Health and Safety of Animals, chapter 826, Rabies), as amended.
(b) 
The duties of the local rabies control authority shall include but are not limited to the enforcement of:
(1) 
The provisions of the Rabies Control Act of 1981, and the rules of the state board of health which comprise the minimum standards for rabies control;
(2) 
The ordinances and/or rules of the city; and
(3) 
The rules adopted by the state board of health under the area quarantine provisions of section 826.045 of said act.
(Ordinance adopted 9/22/03, sec. 8)
It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep any dog or cat four (4) months and older in the city unless such dog or cat is currently vaccinated against rabies by the injection of antirabic vaccine by a licensed veterinarian in an amount sufficient to produce an immunity.
(Ordinance adopted 9/22/03, sec. 3)
(a) 
Every person owning or keeping any dog or cat four (4) months and older currently vaccinated against rabies shall procure a written vaccination certificate, signed by the veterinarian administering the vaccine, giving an accurate description of the dog or cat, the date of immunization, and the name and address of the owner of the dog or cat.
(b) 
Any authorized agent of the city may request to see such vaccination certificate at any time, and the failure of the owner or person in possession of the dog or cat to exhibit such vaccination certificate upon request shall constitute an offense under this chapter.
(Ordinance adopted 9/22/03, sec. 4)
(a) 
Report; confinement required.
(1) 
Whenever any animal subject to having rabies bites a person, the owner of the biting animal or the person observing the incident shall immediately report the incident to the local rabies control authority, animal control officer, or police department.
(2) 
The city’s chief of police shall contact the animal control officer for such reports.
(3) 
The animal making the attack shall be placed under observation, at the owner’s expense, for a period of ten days (240 hours) from the time of the bite, and held in the animal control facility or a veterinary clinic operated by a licensed veterinarian within the jurisdiction of the city, except:
(A) 
In cases where the animal bites a member of the immediate family of the owner and has been currently vaccinated for rabies and currently licensed by the city and the local rabies control authority has determined the owner has adequate facilities to prevent the animal’s escape and that the animal will be isolated from contact from any other family pet; or
(B) 
Any guard or police dog currently vaccinated and licensed, but only when the bite occurs in the line of duty, and only if any lawful patron or visitor of a business is not jeopardized by the guard dog during the hours said business is open to the public. Any guard or police dog currently vaccinated and licensed that is involved in a bite incident while in the performance of its guard or police duties shall be allowed to continue on duty under observation. Where an exception is granted, the owner of the animal shall be responsible for confining the animal so as to prevent further exposure to humans or other animals during the observation period.
(b) 
Seizure and impoundment of animal; release from observation.
(1) 
The violation of observation confinement of the biting animal shall be just cause for seizure and confinement of the animal in the animal control facility of the city.
(2) 
No biting animal shall be released from observation unless a licensed veterinarian or the local rabies control authority certifies in writing that the animal is not showing any symptoms of rabies and that the animal is vaccinated against rabies upon redemption. Exemption from placing such animal in the animal control facility or in a veterinary clinic shall not exempt such owner from securing a proper release as provided above.
(3) 
Whenever any animal subject to having rabies bites a person and the owner or person in control of such animal fails, neglects or refuses to deliver such animal to the animal control facility or licensed veterinary clinic within the jurisdiction of the incident and such fact is made known to the judge of the municipal court upon affidavit of a credible person, it shall be the duty of such judge to issue a written order directed to the animal control officer ordering him or her to seize such animal and deliver it to the animal control facility instanter.
(4) 
Any person who resists or interferes with the officer in the enforcement of such order may be proceeded against under this chapter or the Penal Code of the state or by contempt proceedings in municipal court, or all of these.
(5) 
The owner of any animal confined in the animal control facility under the provisions of this section shall pay board on such animal at the rate established by city council per day, plus the impoundment fee in the amount established by city council.
(Ordinance adopted 9/22/03, sec. 9(A), (B); Ordinance adopting Code)
The animal control officer shall serve notice in writing upon an owner of a dog, cat, or other animal known to have been bitten by an animal known or suspected of being infected with rabies, requiring such owner to have the dog or other animal examined and treated within twenty-four (24) hours by a licensed veterinarian. In such cases that the biting animal is not captured and is high risk for rabies or is captured and tests positive for rabies, the owner of the animal bitten shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies and placed into isolation for the period of time according to its vaccination status at the time of the bite, as defined by state board of health rule 169.30 (Disposition of Animals Exposed to Rabies), or be humanely killed.
(Ordinance adopted 9/22/03, sec. 9(C))
The heads of animals that have died of rabies or suspected of having rabies shall be turned over to the animal control officer for dispatch to an authorized laboratory for fluorescent rabies antibody testing.
(Ordinance adopted 9/22/03, sec. 9(D))
Whenever a dog, cat, or other animal is infected with rabies or suspected of being infected with rabies or has been bitten by an animal known to be or suspected of being infected with rabies, the owner of the animal, or any person having knowledge thereof, shall immediately notify the animal control officer where the animal may be found.
(Ordinance adopted 9/22/03, sec. 9(E))