(a) Every
owner of a cat or dog, which is at least four (4) months of age and
is kept in the city, shall register the animal with the city every
year.
(b) In
order to register a cat or dog, the owner shall:
(1) Complete the registration application provided by the city;
(2) Provide a current rabies vaccination certificate issued by a licensed
veterinarian that contains identifying information regarding the animal
including, but not limited to, breed, sex, and sterilization information;
(3) Present a valid picture identification card issued to him or her
by a state; and
(4) Pay a registration fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix
A of this code.
(c) Upon
registration, the city shall execute and furnish to the owner of the
cat or dog a certificate of registration and a tag that contains a
serial number to correspond with the registration certificate number.
The owner shall place the registration tag on the animal’s collar
or harness and it must remain affixed at all times.
(Ordinance 10042021-01, sec. 1,
adopted 10/4/21; Ordinance adopting
2023 Code)
The city shall retain a paper or digital copy of the registration
certificate and registration application, including the required rabies
vaccination information, securely with the city secretary’s
office. The city secretary shall maintain the confidentiality of these
rabies vaccination certificates and any record compiled with the same
information in compliance with the Texas Health and Safety Code, section
826.0211, and the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code,
chapter 552, and other applicable law.
(Ordinance 10042021-01, sec. 2,
adopted 10/4/21)
(a) It
shall be unlawful for a person to knowingly possess a dog or cat that
has not been registered as prescribed by this article.
(b) It
shall be unlawful for a person to knowingly use a certificate of registration
or tag of any dog or cat other than the one for which it was issued.
(c) It
shall be unlawful for a person to alter or obliterate any information
contained in a certificate of registration or on a registration tag.
(d) It
shall be unlawful for a person who owns or harbors a dog or cat to
fail or refuse to present proof to a police officer, or city code
officer, upon request, that such animal is currently registered as
required by this article.
(Ordinance 10042021-01, sec. 3,
adopted 10/4/21)
The city may refuse to register a dog or cat, or revoke a registration
issued, to any person who has been convicted in a court of competent
jurisdiction in the state, or resides with any person so convicted,
of any of the following:
(1) Cruelty
to animals as defined in the Texas Penal Code, inhumane treatment,
or neglect of an animal; or
(2) Convicted
of four (4) or more separate and distinct violations of an animal
control ordinance of a municipality in the state within any 12-month
period.
(Ordinance 10042021-01, sec. 4,
adopted 10/4/21)
Any person, firm or corporation who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or refuses to comply with or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this article shall be fined in accordance with the general penalty provided in section
1.01.009 of this code for each offense. Each day that a violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate offense. In addition, any person, firm or corporation who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or refuses to comply with or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this article may also be subjected to such civil penalties and such civil remedies as authorized by law.
(Ordinance 10042021-01, sec. 6,
adopted 10/4/21; Ordinance adopting
2023 Code)