(a) 
Required.
As required by 25 TAC 169.29(a), every owner of a dog cat, or ferret shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies by the time such animal is four months of age.
(1) 
Dogs and cats must receive a rabies booster within the 12-month interval following the initial vaccination. If such booster was with a triennial vaccine, such dog or cat must thereafter be revaccinated within 36 months of the previous vaccination. If such booster was with an annual vaccine the dog or cat must be revaccinated within 12 months. Dogs and cats shall be revaccinated thereafter within 36 months if the previous vaccination was with a triennial rabies vaccine, or within 12 months if the previous vaccination was with an annual rabies vaccine.
(2) 
Ferrets must receive a rabies booster within the 12-month interval following the initial vaccination and revaccinated annually thereafter.
(b) 
Exemptions to vaccination.
According to the Center of Disease Control no rabies vaccines are licensed for use in wild animals or hybrids. The American Veterinary Medical Association do not recommend wild animals or hybrids as pets.
(c) 
Requirement for new residents.
Any person establishing residence within the city shall comply with this chapter within ten days of establishing such residency.
(d) 
Exception for quarantined dogs, cats or ferrets.
If an unvaccinated dog, cat or ferret inflicts a bite or scratch or otherwise attacks any person within the city limits, a rabies vaccine shall not be administered to the dog, cat or ferret until that animal is released from quarantine.
(Ordinance 3235, § 1, adopted 4/22/2013)
Upon vaccination, the veterinarian shall execute and furnish to the owner of the dog, cat or ferret as evidence thereof, a certificate of vaccination. The veterinarian shall retain a duplicate copy of the certificate, and one copy shall be filed with the owner. Such certificate shall contain the following information:
(1) 
The name, address and telephone number of the owner of the vaccinated animal;
(2) 
The date of vaccination;
(3) 
The vaccine used-product name, manufacturer, and serial number;
(4) 
The year and number of the rabies tag;
(5) 
The revaccination due date;
(6) 
The animal identification-species, sex (including neutered if applicable), approximate age, size (pounds), predominant breed, and colors; and
(7) 
The veterinarian's signature, signature stamp, or computerized signature, plus address and license number.
(Ordinance 3235, § 1, adopted 4/22/2013)
Concurrent with the issuance and delivery of the certificate of vaccination, the owner of the dog, cat or ferret shall cause to be attached to the collar or harness of the vaccinated animal a metal tag, serially numbered to correspond with the vaccination certificate number and bearing the year of issuance. Such tag shall at all times be securely attached to a collar or harness around the neck of the animal.
(Ordinance 3235, § 1, adopted 4/22/2013)
All dogs, cats or ferrets three months of age or older which are kept, harbored, or maintained as a companion animal within the corporate limits of the city shall be licensed. Dog, cat and ferret licenses shall be provided by the humane division or tier agent upon payment of the required fee for each dog, cat and ferret. Before a city license will be issued, the owner of the dog, cat or ferret must present a certificate from a licensed veterinarian showing that said dog, cat or ferret has been vaccinated for rabies within the preceding 12 months. The owner shall state his name and address, and the breed, color and sex of the dog, cat or ferret to be licensed. Said license shall be valid for one year from date of issuance and renewed annually thereafter.
(Ordinance 3235, § 1, adopted 4/22/2013)
A yearly license fee as set out in Appendix A shall be paid.
(Ordinance 3235, § 1, adopted 4/22/2013)
Upon payment of the license fee where applicable, the city shall issue to the owner a license certificate and metal tag having stamped upon it the year for which it is issued and the number corresponding with the number of the certificate. Such tag shall at all times be securely attached to a collar or harness around the neck of the animal. In case a tag is lost, a duplicate will be issued by the humane division or its agent upon presentation of the receipt showing the payment of license fee for the calendar year. Tags shall not be transferable from one animal to another, no refunds shall be made.
(Ordinance 3235, § 1, adopted 4/22/2013)
All dogs which are professionally trained and kept solely for the protection of persons and property, residential, commercial or personal, shall be permitted from the animal adoption and rescue center. The area or premises in which such dog is confined shall be conspicuously posted with warning signs bearing letters not less than two inches high, stating "GUARD DOG ON PREMISES." Said area of premises shall be subject to inspection by the humane division to determine that the animal in question is maintained and secured at all times in such a manner so as to prevent its coming in contact with the public. The dog shall be issued a tag by the humane division, varying in color from the license tag, and a fee shall be charged. The guard dog permit shall expire one year from date of issuance and is not transferable. The tag must be secured to the collar or harness of the dog at all times. Dogs permitted under this section shall not be required to obtain a city license, but shall be required to comply with all provisions of this chapter.
(Ordinance 3235, § 1, adopted 4/22/2013)
(a) 
Reasons for revocation.
The director of the department of neighborhood services or his agent or as otherwise designated by the city manager may revoke any dog, cat or ferret license after a hearing for any one or more of the following reasons:
(1) 
Impoundment of a dog, cat or ferret by the humane division more than two times during a 12-month period;
(2) 
More than two final convictions of a person for violating this article when such convictions relate to the dog, cat or ferret which is being considered for revocation of its license certificate; or
(3) 
Any combination of subsections (1) and (2) totaling three incidents.
(b) 
Notification.
Upon revoking the license of any dog, cat or ferret the humane division or as otherwise designated by the city manager shall notify the owner of the dog, cat or ferret of said action in writing. Written notification shall be deemed made when a certified letter, return receipt requested, addressed to the last known mailing address of the dog, cat or ferret's owner is deposited in the U.S. mail.
(c) 
Removal of dog, cat or ferret from city.
Upon the expiration of the ten days after written notification of revocation is deposited in the U.S. mail, as provided above, no dog, cat or ferret which has had its license revoked shall be kept, maintained, or harbored within the city limits, and each 24-hour period shall constitute a separate violation.
(Ordinance 3235, § 1, adopted 4/22/2013)
The humane division or as otherwise designated by the city manager shall have the authority to conduct random or city wide verification programs in a manner calculated to determine compliance with the license and rabies vaccination requirements.
(Ordinance 3235, § 1, adopted 4/22/2013)
For the purpose of this chapter, a late fee may be assessed under the following conditions:
(1) 
A failure to obtain a license for a dog, cat or ferret within 30 days of that animal reaching three months of age.
(2) 
Failure to renew license within 30 days of expiration of current license.
(3) 
Failure to obtain license within 30 days of the animal taking up residence in the city.
(Ordinance 3235, § 1, adopted 4/22/2013)
Where violations of the licensing and/or rabies vaccination requirements of this chapter are observed, any humane officer may issue a violation notice in lieu of a citation. The violation notice will stipulate a compliance date and associated fee and late fee, as well as a waiver provision providing that the person to whom the violation notice is issued waives all rights to protest such violation and waives all rights to a hearing on the issues relating to that violation. All associated fees and late fees shall be paid to the humane division. Failure to pay associated fees and/or late fees and failure to waive rights by the compliance date shall constitute a violation of this chapter and may result in the issuance of a citation.
(Ordinance 3235, § 1, adopted 4/22/2013)