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:
Any animal, especially and particularly a dog, that:
Makes an unprovoked attack on a person causing bodily injury and occurring in a place other than an enclosure in which the animal was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the animal from leaving the enclosure on its own;
Commits unprovoked acts in a place other than an enclosure in which the animal was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the animal from leaving the enclosure on its own and those acts cause a person to reasonably believe that the animal will attack and cause bodily injury to a person;
Kills a dog, cat, or deer;
Attacks another animal; or
Molests or intimidates pedestrians or passersby without provocation.
An activity conducted on agricultural land for the commercial use or production of food, fiber, or other agricultural products. The term includes, but is not limited to:
Cultivation of the soil for the planting, growing, and harvesting of crops or vegetation;
Raising, feeding, breeding, or managing livestock or poultry;
Production, processing, or storage of agricultural products directly related to those activities; and
Routine agricultural practices and improvements necessary to carry out the above activities.
The term does not include the keeping, maintaining, or housing of pets or domesticated farm animals solely for personal, recreational, or ornamental purposes, or the non-commercial keeping of animals, for hobby farming or for personal enjoyment rather than agricultural operations.
Birds, burros, cats, cattle, chickens, dogs, donkeys, ducks, ferrets, geese, gerbils, goats, hamsters, hogs, horses, jackasses, jennets, jennies, mules, pigs, ponies, rabbits, sheep, turkeys, or other similar domesticated animals.
The chief of police or another designated officer approved by the city administrator.
On:
The premises of a person other than the owner of an animal, without consent of an occupant of such premises; or
A public street, on public or private school grounds, or in any other public place, except when under the control of the owner by leash, cord, chain or other similar means of physical restraint, provided that such leash, cord, chain or other means is not more than eight feet in length. This provision shall not be construed to permit that which is prohibited by any other law.
A dog that makes a noise steadily that annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, peace, repose or safety of any person of normal sensitivities.
A strap, chain, or harness securely fastened around an animal’s neck to which is attached a valid rabies tag and a nameplate with the animal owner’s surname, address, and telephone number.
Any animal, especially and particularly a dog, that:
Makes an unprovoked attack on a person causing bodily injury and occurring in a place other than an enclosure in which the animal was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the animal from leaving the enclosure on its own;
Commits unprovoked acts in a place other than an enclosure in which the animal was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the animal from leaving the enclosure on its own and those acts cause a person to reasonably believe that the animal will attack and cause bodily injury to a person; or
Makes an unprovoked attack on or kills a dog, cat, or deer.
Any animal. not typically kept as a pet, kept solely for the use or enjoyment of the owner or lessee of the land and not for any Agricultural Operations, including but not limited to: Alpacas, cattle, donkeys, goats, horses, hogs, llamas, mules, ratites, sheep swine, and poultry such as: Chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and other domesticated fowl.
A fenced area, device, or structure located on private property that is capable of preventing the escape or release of an animal.
Reasonable expenses incurred by the city for impounding, holding, boarding, seeking the owner of, disposing of, or selling an animal.
Alpacas, asses, cattle, goats, horses, llamas, mules, sheep, exotic livestock including elk and elk hybrids, ratites, swine, and any other species defined as livestock in Texas Agriculture Code § 1.003 and Texas Penal Code § 42.09(5).
Any animal that:
Damages or destroys the property of others while at-large.
Overturns or removes contents from a covered garbage or trash container.
Commits any other acts that may reasonably be considered to constitute a nuisance, including but not limited to the acts described in section 4.01.010; or
In the case of livestock or poultry not engaged in an agricultural operation as defined in Texas Agriculture Code § 251.002, creates a condition that unreasonably interferes with the use and enjoyment of property by others, including but not limited to:
Any person having title to any animal or a person who feeds, harbors, keeps, or causes or permits to be harbored or kept, any animal.
Birds, cats, dogs, ferrets, gerbils, hamsters, or other similarly domesticated animals excluding exotic animals as defined by state law.
Domesticated birds kept for the production of food or fiber, including chickens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, turkeys, and similar species.
A fenced area or structure that is
Locked;
Capable of preventing the entry of the general public, including children;
Capable of preventing the escape or release of an animal;
Clearly marked as containing a dangerous animal; and
In conformance with the requirements established for enclosures by the animal control authority.
A doctor of veterinary medicine who holds a valid license to practice the profession.
(1996 Code, sec. 10-31; Ordinance 343 adopted 4/26/17; Ordinance 2025-024 adopted 12/10/2025)