The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Dangerous wild animal
means a lion, tiger, ocelot, cougar, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, bobcat, lynx, serval, caracal, hyena, bear, coyote, jackal, baboon, chimpanzee, orangutan, gorilla, or any hybrid of these listed animals and as otherwise provided in V.T.C.A., Texas Health and Safety Code ch. 822, as amended.
Prohibited animals
means any animal prohibited by state or federal law and including any individual species and/or subspecies of the following animals: antelope, lions, tigers, ocelots, bobcats, lynx, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, hyenas, bears, lesser pandas, ferrets born in natural habitats, binturong, ostriches, emus, elephants, Vietnamese pot belly pigs, miniature pigs, apes, or such other nondomestic species of animal not common to the city and surrounding area.
Wild animal or wildlife
means prohibited animals and a nondomestic creature (mammal, amphibian, reptile, or fowl) that is of a species wild by nature, normally found in a wild state, and which is not naturally tame or gentle, or which, because of its size, vicious nature, and other characteristics, constitutes a danger to human life or property.
(Ordinance 1343 adopted 10/2/2024)
No person may possess a prohibited animal within the city limits. Prohibited animals shall include, but are not limited to, animals prohibited by state or federal law a hybrid of prohibited animals, or other class of animals determined to be dangerous by the animal control division or a dangerous animal added to the list of a high risk animal in the Texas Rabies Control Act, as amended, and as follows:
(1) 
Class mammalian:
a. 
Family Canidae (such as wolves, coyotes, fox, and hybrids) except domesticated dogs;
b. 
Family Mustelidae (such as weasels, martins, fishers, skunks, wolverines, mink, and badgers) except ferrets;
c. 
Family Procynodae (such as raccoons);
d. 
Family Ursidae (such as bears); and
e. 
Order Chiroptera (such as bats).
(2) 
Poisonous reptiles, cobras, and their allies (Elapidae and Hydrophiidae); vipers and their allies (Crotalinae and Viperidae); Boonslang and Kirtland's tree snakes; Gila monsters (Helodermatidae); and crocodiles, alligators, and their allies (Order Loricata).
(3) 
Any venomous spiders.
(Ordinance 1343 adopted 10/2/2024)
(a) 
The animals specified in this section as dangerous wild animals shall be deemed as contraband and no person may possess any individual species and/or subspecies of the following dangerous wild animals:
(1) 
Order Carnivora, family felidae (such as lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards and cougars, ocelot, lynx, bobcat, and cheetahs)
(2) 
Hyenas;
(3) 
Bears;
(4) 
Lesser pandas;
(5) 
Ferrets from natural habitats;
(6) 
Suborder Strepsirrhini and Haplorrhini (such as monkeys, chimpanzees, and apes).
(b) 
No person may possess any individual species of the following animals:
(1) 
Antelope;
(2) 
Binturong;
(3) 
Family Suidae (such as wild or domestic pigs, miniature pigs, and Vietnamese pot belly pigs);
(4) 
Elephants;
(5) 
Such other nondomestic species of animal not common to the city and surrounding area.
(Ordinance 1343 adopted 10/2/2024)
(a) 
No person shall possess, keep or have care, custody, or control of a prohibited animal, wild animal or wildlife within the city except as provided herein.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for a person to sell, give, transfer or import a wild animal into the city.
(c) 
This section shall not apply to an approved zoological parks or circuses. Nor shall this section apply to zoological parks owned or operated by a governmental entity.
(d) 
It shall be a defense to prosecution under this section that the wild animal being kept was an infant or injured animal which was not capable of surviving on its own and such animal was kept for three days or less, or for such reasonable time as was necessary before surrendering the animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
(Ordinance 1343 adopted 10/2/2024)
No person shall keep, or permit to be kept, on his premises a dangerous wild animal or prohibited animal for display or exhibition purposes, whether gratuitously or for a fee. This section shall not apply to a zoo or circus, as defined in section 5-81.
(Ordinance 1343 adopted 10/2/2024)
(a) 
It shall be a violation of this article for a person to possess an animal described in sections 5-242, 5-243, and 5-244. Each day of violation for each animal shall constitute a separate offense.
(b) 
It shall be a violation of section 5-245 for a person to keep or permit to be kept on his premises a dangerous wild animal or prohibited animal for display or exhibition purposes and each day of violation for each animal shall constitute a separate offense.
(c) 
In addition to any criminal penalty for a violation of section 5-243, the person is liable for a civil penalty of not less than $200.00 and not more than $2,000.00 for each dangerous wild animal or prohibited animal for each day the violation continues. The city attorney may bring suit to collect the civil penalty and costs allowed by statute and the civil penalty shall be retained by the city.
(d) 
It shall be a violation of this article to operate a circus or zoo without a valid permit issued pursuant to this article and each day of operation shall constitute a separate offense. In addition to any criminal penalty, if the circus or zoo at the time of violation is in possession of any dangerous wild animal, the liability for the civil penalty detailed in subsection (c) of this section, may be imposed for each dangerous wild animal possessed.
(Ordinance 1343 adopted 10/2/2024)