This article shall be enforced by the animal services division of the Wichita Falls - Wichita County public health district. All permitted/registered parties are subject to annual inspections of animals, facilities, or dwellings. Additional inspections may occur more frequently based on concerns or complaints received by an ACO or other authorized employee of the health district.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
(a) 
Veterinary clinics, veterinary hospitals, and animal clinics.
Veterinary clinics, veterinary hospitals, animal clinics, and related practices of veterinary medicine shall be exempt from this article.
(b) 
Certain other facilities.
Stock shows; sanctioned animal shows; slaughterhouses; rodeo arenas; governmental agencies including public schools, laboratories, animal reclaim centers, and research facilities approved by the ASC may be exempt from this article.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
An owner, harborer, or caretaker of an animal is required to provide any animal in their care with humane care and treatment as follows:
(1) 
Access to an adequate supply of fresh air.
(2) 
Access to fresh, clean, potable water.
(3) 
Access to species-specific food.
(4) 
Physical activity.
(5) 
Access to shelter and shade as defined in this chapter.
(6) 
Access to veterinary care as needed to prevent suffering.
(7) 
Access to grooming.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
Every owner, possessor, or harborer of animals, fowl, and livestock, shall comply with the following regulations and sanitation requirements:
(1) 
Animal waste.
Approved procedures for disposing of animal waste shall be provided. Animal excreta should be disposed of at least weekly or more often as needed to prevent a public health nuisance.
(2) 
Odor and vector control required.
All persons keeping animals within the city limits shall keep all premises, pens, or enclosures in such a manner as not to give off offensive odors or as to breed or attract flies and other insects. All persons shall use some form of chemical control at reasonable intervals to keep such premises free from flies, mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other vectors.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
Every owner of an animal shall confine the animal in an enclosure sufficient to prevent it from running at-large. Such enclosure shall be of sufficient size to maintain the animal comfortably and in good health. The animal must be able to stand, turn around, sit, and lie down in a natural position.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
(a) 
An ACO shall be required to inspect the premises prior to issuing a permit required by this article. ASC has the right to inspect the premises, including animals, livestock, and fowl at any time during normal business hours. Inspection shall occur annually or more often based on any complaint or concern received by the health director or his/her designee.
(b) 
All dogs, cats, and ferrets owned by the permit holder or residing at the permitted property must have a current city license and a current rabies vaccination certificate.
(c) 
If the person requesting a permit is not the owner of the property, written and notarized permission must be obtained from the property owner, and a copy provided to the ASC with the initial application, and annually thereafter with renewal.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
(a) 
A permit required by this article shall be issued after approval of the application, inspection of premises, and receipt of the fee. The permit shall be displayed in a prominent place on the premises. The permit shall remain in effect for one calendar year from the date of issuance unless suspended or revoked.
(b) 
Application for renewal of a permit and payment of the fee may be made one month prior to expiration, but the effective date of the permit shall coincide with the expiring permit date, and the fee will be for a full year from that date.
(c) 
Any reapplication fee that is not submitted by the due date will be subject to a late fee, and citations may be issued for operating without a permit.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
(a) 
No permit required by this article shall be issued if the applicant has:
(1) 
Withheld or falsified information on the application.
(2) 
Failed to comply with any section of this article.
(b) 
No permit required by this article shall be issued if the applicant has been:
(1) 
Convicted two or more times for violating any section or combination of sections of this chapter.
(2) 
Been convicted of inhumane or cruel treatment to animals.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
If a permit required by this article is denied, reapplication cannot be made for at least sixty (60) days. Each reapplication shall be accompanied by a fee in addition to the permit fee. The reapplication fee is nonrefundable.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
(a) 
The health district may, upon official notice, suspend a permit issued pursuant to this article for the following reasons:
(1) 
Animals are being deprived of necessary food, water, care, or shelter, as outlined in this chapter.
(2) 
Animals are cruelly confined or treated inhumanely.
(3) 
Unsanitary conditions exist that create a medium for the transmission of disease to animals or humans.
(4) 
Noncompliance with any section of this chapter.
(b) 
The health director or his or her designee has the right to take photographs and gather evidence on the premises to document any of the reasons for suspension.
(c) 
No animal covered by the suspended permit shall be accepted or placed on the property after suspension of the permit.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
If all violations and unsatisfactory conditions have been corrected within ten (10) days, the health district may reinstate a suspended permit issued pursuant to this article after reinspection. A reinspection shall be made as soon as practical but not more than five (5) working days after receiving a written request for such inspection by the person to whom the permit was issued.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
If no written request for reinspection has been received after ten (10) days from suspension of a permit issued pursuant to this article, or if satisfactory corrections have not been made, the health district shall give official notice that the permit shall be revoked after the expiration of five (5) calendar days. The city is not liable to refund any part of the permit fee. No animal covered by the permit shall be on the property during the time of suspension/revocation.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
(a) 
No person who has had a permit pursuant to this article revoked may apply for a new permit for a period of one (1) calendar year from the date of revocation. No permit shall be issued if the person has been convicted of abuse to animals.
(b) 
If less than one (1) year after revocation, another owner applies for a permit at the same location where a permit was revoked, the person whose name appears on the revoked permit may in no way be associated with the new operation, including any financial interest, or the permit will be revoked and legal action may be taken against both parties.
(c) 
If a permit is issued, the applying individual will be placed on a compliance plan with an increased inspection schedule. A fee will be charged for each inspection.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
A person who has had a permit denied, suspended, or revoked shall be entitled to appeal the decision as set forth in article VIII of this chapter.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)