As used in this chapter, the following terms shall be construed to have the following meanings:
Animal
means any live, vertebrate creature, domestic or wild.
Animal control officer
means the animal control officer, code enforcement officer or other municipal officer or designee appointed by the city council to enforce the provisions of this chapter. In the event there is no animal control officer, the county sheriff may serve as the animal control officer.
At large
means any animal not restrained.
Domestic animals
means those which are naturally tame and gentle or which, by long association with man, have become thoroughly domesticated and are now reduced to such a state of subjection to his will that they no longer possess the disposition or inclination to escape. This definition specifically includes household pets, such as dogs and cats.
Estray
means any stray horse, stallion, mare, gelding, filly, colt, mule, hinny, jack, jennet, hog, sheep, goat, or head of any species of cattle.
Guard dog
means any dog trained or used to protect persons, premises, or property by attacking or threatening to attack any person found within the area patrolled by the dog.
Kennel
means any place where five (5) or more dogs, cats or any combination thereof, over the age of four (4) months, are raised, trained, boarded, harbored or kept.
Livestock
shall include any horse, donkey, stallion, mare, gelding, filly, colt, mule, hinny, jack, jennet, hog, sheep, goat or head of any species of cattle.
Local rabies control authority
means any person designated by the city council and is also referred to herein as “LRCA.”
Other animal
means a goose, chicken, duck, rabbit, guinea, pigeon, bird, fowl, or any other animal of a domestic barnyard variety not listed as a wild animal, domestic animal or estray.
Owner
means any person who owns, keeps, harbors, controls (physically or orally), feeds, shelters, or aids any animal, or any person who is the owner’s agent left in charge of an animal.
Quarantine
means isolation and close observation of animals to prevent transmission of certain diseases.
Restrain.
Any animal shall be deemed to be restrained when it is:
(1) 
Confined within a secure enclosure;
(2) 
Prohibited from leaving the premises of the owner due to an electronic restraint system designed for domestic animals to prevent the animal from leaving the premises of the owner;
(3) 
Fastened or picketed by a lead, rope, or chain that is six feet (6') or less in length so to as to keep the animal on the premises;
(4) 
Under the control of a person by a leash;
(5) 
Within a vehicle being driven or parked; or
(6) 
At heel and obedient at oral command.
Secure enclosure
means a fenced area or structure that:
(1) 
Is constructed and maintained in a manner so that the dog cannot escape;
(2) 
Is constructed and maintained so that it is capable of preventing the entry of the general public, including children;
(3) 
Is of sufficient size to accommodate the dog, considering the size and number of dogs enclosed;
(4) 
Has sufficient covering to provide protection from excessive sunlight and precipitation; and
(5) 
As defined by article 3.05 of this chapter if the dog has been determined to be a dangerous dog in accordance with chapter 822, Texas Health and Safety Code.
Wild animals
means those living in a state of nature and not ordinarily tame or domesticated.
(Ordinance 124, sec. 1, adopted 4/27/21)
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009 of this code. Each such violation shall be considered a separate offense.
(Ordinance 124, sec. 32, adopted 4/27/21; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
(a) 
Generally.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own or maintain an animal in such a manner as to constitute a public nuisance. The following acts shall constitute a public nuisance:
(1) 
Failure to restrain an animal.
(2) 
Property damage caused by an animal.
(3) 
Maintain an animal in an unsanitary environment.
(4) 
Permit an animal to bark, whine, howl, crow, cackle, or make any other noise which causes annoyance or interference with another’s reasonable use and enjoyment of his premises.
(5) 
Herding of animals along or upon any public right-of-way, except by officers, agents, or employees of the federal, state, or local government or agency thereof, if such herding is done in the performance of official duties.
(6) 
The maintenance of a kennel in violation of the zoning ordinances.
(7) 
Keeping of more than five (5) dogs or cats (exclusive of a puppy or kitten litter under the age of six months) within a residence.
(b) 
Keeping “other animals”.
All “other animals” authorized to be kept shall be confined to the premises of the owner or custodian of such “other animals,” and it shall be unlawful for any person to allow such “other animals” to run or fly at large, or go upon the premises of another person. No “other animals” shall be kept within a front yard of a residence or in a residential area.
(c) 
Disposal of dead animals.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of any dead animal which is not intended as food for human consumption to permit or suffer such dead animal to remain upon any premises.
(d) 
Keeping livestock.
It shall be unlawful to keep any livestock within the city limits unless such livestock is kept in private or commercial premises as authorized in article 3.02 of this chapter.
(Ordinance 124, sec. 2, adopted 4/27/21)
It shall be the duty of the animal control officer or his designee to keep, or cause to be kept, accurate and detailed records of:
(1) 
Impounding and disposition.
Impoundment and disposition of all animals coming into his custody. Such records shall be kept for a period of at least three (3) years and shall give the description of all animals impounded, the date of impounding, the date of sale or other disposition, the amount of money received from the sale, and the name and address of the purchaser.
(2) 
Bite cases.
All known animal bite cases shall be recorded by the local rabies control authority (LRCA).
(3) 
Monies received.
Records regarding monies received under the provisions of this chapter shall be open to inspection at reasonable times by persons responsible for similar records of the city, and shall be audited by the city auditor annually in the same manner as other city records are audited.
(Ordinance 124, sec. 4, adopted 4/27/21)
(a) 
Duties of person striking animal with motor vehicle.
Any person who, as the operator of a motor vehicle, strikes a domestic animal shall immediately report such injury or death to the animal’s owner. In the event the owner is unavailable or unknown, then such report shall be made to the animal control officer or to the local Humane Society.
(b) 
Prohibited traps.
No person shall expose an open trap or metal jaw trap likely to injure any domestic animal or person.
(Ordinance 124, sec. 5, adopted 4/27/21)
No person shall own, keep or harbor a dog or cat over the age of four (4) months within the city limits unless the dog or cat shall have been vaccinated with an anti-rabies vaccine by a licensed veterinarian. All such animals shall be vaccinated at one (1) year intervals from the initial date on which such animal was vaccinated or required to be vaccinated.
(Ordinance 124, sec. 6, adopted 4/27/21)
Upon compliance with the provisions of section 3.01.007, there shall be issued to the owner a numbered metallic vaccination tag stamped with the number and the month and year issued, which shall be securely fastened such vaccinated dog or cat.
(Ordinance 124, sec. 7, adopted 4/27/21)
(a) 
Guard dogs shall be securely enclosed within the area patrolled at all times or under the continuous control of a trained handler. It shall be unlawful for any person to place or maintain guard dogs in any area for the protection of person or property unless the following provisions are met:
(1) 
The dogs shall be confined to an enclosed area adequate to ensure the dog will not escape; or
(2) 
The dogs shall be under the absolute control of a handler at all times when not securely enclosed; and
(3) 
The owner or other persons in control of premises upon which a guard dog is kept shall post a warning sign at each entrance to such premises, with lettering clearly visible from a distance of fifty (50) feet. In the case of nonresidential or multifamily premises, the sign shall contain a telephone number where some person responsible for controlling such guard dog can be reached twenty-four (24) hours a day; and
(4) 
Prior to the placing of a guard dog on any nonresidential or multifamily premises, the persons responsible for the placing shall inform the city secretary in writing of their intention to place said dog or dogs, the number of dogs to be placed, the location where said dog or dogs will be placed, and the approximate length of time said dog or dogs will be guarding the area.
(b) 
For the purpose of this section, the term “nonresidential or multifamily premises” shall mean the placing of guard dogs on any nonresidential or multifamily property, irrespective of ownership of the property of the dog.
(Ordinance 124, sec. 8, adopted 4/27/21)