For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
Abandon.To leave any animal without proper care or supervision on public or private property for a period of time exceeding twelve (12) hours, or to leave an animal in the care, custody, or control of another person without his or her consent. An animal not reclaimed from the city animal shelter within three calendar days from the date of impoundment shall also be considered abandoned.
Animal fighting paraphernalia.Any item or equipment that is designed, adapted, or used for animal fighting purposes, including, but not limited to, instruments designed, adapted, or used in a manner that attaches to the leg of an animal, such as a knife, gaff, or other sharp instrument, or items used to train or condition animals to fight, including, but not limited to, training pens, hot walkers, or "break sticks."
Animal services manager.The staff member in the position of Animal Services Manager or the Environmental Services Director.
Animal services officer.Any person designated by the DCO as an Animal Services Officer who is assigned to perform duties under this chapter.
Animal shelter.Any facility operated by a county or municipal agency or its authorized agents for the purpose of collecting, impounding, keeping, or caring for stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted dogs, cats, or other animals held under the authority of this chapter.
Animal.Any living, vertebrate creature, domestic or wild, including but not limited to mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish, but specifically excluding human beings.
At-large.An animal that is not confined to the premises of its owner by a fence of sufficient strength and height to prevent the animal from escaping therefrom, inside a house or other enclosure, or secured on said premises by a leash of sufficient strength to prevent the animal from escaping from said premises, and so arranged that the animal will remain upon said premises when the leash is stretched to full length in any direction; an animal in the open bed of a pickup, flatbed or similar vehicle and not securely confined within a container or other device that prevents the animal from exiting or reaching outside the vehicle. Provided, however, an animal shall not be considered "at-large" when under direct physical control by a person by means of a leash or chain of proper strength and length to control the action of the dog, while confined within the enclosed compartment of a vehicle or in any city-designated dog park so long as the animal is in compliance with all other requirements of this chapter.
Basic grooming.Maintaining the eyes, ears, beaks, hooves, feet, nails, coat, and skin of an animal in such a manner that is reasonably necessary for the health and safety of the animal.
Cat.A domestic member of the feline family and shall not include bobcat, panther, mountain lions, tigers or other exotic cats or hybrids.
Chicken.A domestic fowl from the Gallus gallus domesticus sub-species.
Circus.Any commercial variety show featuring animal acts for public entertainment.
City.The City of Carrollton.
Collar.A band of material specifically designed to be placed around the neck of a dog.
Commercial animal establishment.Any place or facility where animals can be rented, leased, purchased, sold, or traded, riding school or stable, zoological park, circus performing animal exhibition, kennel or other establishment in which animals are used for commercial purposes.
Conviction.An adjudication of guilt, a sentence imposed by a court, or a court order of community supervision, including deferred adjudication.
Direct physical control.Having precautions in place so the person may exercise physical control over the animal in the event it should become necessary to do so to protect the animal, a human, or another animal from harm. For the purposes of this chapter, voice control, shock collars, e-collars, and collar-mounted electronic training devices, regardless of the animal's proximity or training status, shall not be considered direct physical control.
Dog.A domesticated member of the canine family, but shall not include wolves, jackals, foxes, hybrids, or other wild species of this family.
Domestic animal.An animal of a tamed species commonly kept as pets and includes livestock and fowl.
Establishment.A place where business is transacted, together with its grounds and equipment.
Facilities (as applied to keeping animals).The pens, stalls, stables, corrals, feeding trough area, sheds, and facilities of every kind where fowl, livestock, or pets are penned, fed and/or protected from the weather. This shall not be interpreted to include a grazing area.
Fowl.Includes chickens, turkeys, pheasant, quail, guineas, geese, ducks, pigeons, and other feathered animals regardless of age or sex excluding parrots.
Harness.A set of straps constructed of nylon, leather, or similar material, specifically designed to restrain or control a dog.
Hive.A dome-shaped or box-like structure in which bees are kept.
Humane trap.Any trap designed to capture an animal without injuring the animal.
Humanely euthanize.To cause the death of an animal by an approved method according to the current version of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals.
Identification.Any acceptable method, such as microchipping, registration tag, or tattoo, which can be used to readily trace the current ownership of an animal.
Impound.To place an animal in the city's animal shelter; or the taking into custody of an animal for the purpose of transportation to the city's animal shelter.
Inclement weather.Includes rain, hail, sleet, snow, high winds, extreme low temperatures, or extreme high temperatures.
Inhumane treatment.Any treatment of an animal prohibited by any provision of this chapter or described in section
91.008 of this chapter.
Any premises in which two or more animals, four months of age or older, are kept and where the business of buying, selling, breeding, grooming, training or boarding of dogs, cats or other animals is conducted. The term "kennel" does not include veterinary hospitals.
Licensed veterinarian.A practitioner of veterinary medicine who holds a valid license to practice their profession in the State of Texas.
Livestock.Includes horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, goats, sheep and swine, regardless of age, sex or breed.
Local rabies control authority.The person designated by the governing body of a municipality to enforce the requirements prescribed in Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter
826, "Rabies," as amended.
Any bite or scratch injury to a person caused by a warm-blooded animal that breaks the victim's skin and/or causes him or her to bleed and potentially come into contact with the injuring animal's saliva and could therefore allow the rabies virus to be transmitted from the animal to the person.
Microchip implant.A passive electronic device that is injected into an animal by means of a hypodermic-type syringe device. Each microchip shall contain a unique and original number that is read by an electronic scanning device for purposes of animal identification and recovery by the animal's owners.
Microchip reader.An electronic scanner with an operating frequency that is able to detect a microchip that has been implanted in an animal and displays the number of the microchip to its operator. The microchip reader shall be of a type that activates and displays the number of a microchip manufactured by multiple vendors.
Notice.By personal service, certified mail (return receipt requested), or a written notice left at the entrance to the premises where the animal is harbored.
Notify and notification.Unless otherwise defined in this chapter, a requirement to notify animal services, means any live communication and speak with an employee of the division or leave a voicemail. Notification shall be made immediately, but only as soon as can be done so safely.
Obnoxious odor.An extremely unpleasant, offensive, and highly disagreeable smell that most people would find repulsive and want to avoid.
Owner's agent.A person who has been authorized by the owner to act on his behalf.
Owner.Includes a person who owns, harbors, keeps, maintains or exercises control over an animal. Proof that a person is in control of premises where an animal is usually kept, harbored or maintained shall establish a prima facie presumption that such person is the owner of such animal. An animal shall be deemed to be harbored if it is fed or sheltered for three or more consecutive days. If a person under the age of seventeen (17) years owns an animal, the parent, legal guardian, or the head of the household where the animal is regularly kept shall be considered the owner. There may be more than one person who is the owner or responsible for an animal. This term shall include persons who are in temporary possession of the animal, including but not limited to, pet sitters, groomers, boarders, walkers, and trainers.
Parkway.The portion of the public street other than a roadway or sidewalk.
Person.Any individual, partnership, co-partnership, firm, company, corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, estate, governmental entity, or any other legal entity; or their legal representatives, agents, or assigns. The term person shall include the term owner.
Pet registration.The printed or written permission issued by the DCO authorizing the holder to keep a dog, cat, or potbellied pig within the city.
Pet.Any animal normally kept for pleasure rather than utility, excluding those defined as fowl, livestock or wild animal by this code.
Police service animal.An animal owned by the City of Carrollton, or other governmental law enforcement agency, specifically trained or equipped to assist personnel in a law enforcement capacity.
Premises.A parcel of land (one or more continuous lots), or portion thereof, owned, leased or controlled by one or more persons.
Probable cause.Probable cause exists when the facts and circumstances within the knowledge of the DCO or an animal services officer, based on reasonably trustworthy information, are sufficient in themselves to warrant a belief by a person of reasonable caution that a violation of animal welfare laws or regulations is being or has been committed.
Properly fitted.Means, with respect to a collar or harness, a collar or harness that:
(1) Is appropriately sized for the dog based on the dog's measurements and body weight;
Does not choke the dog or impede the dog's normal breathing or swallowing; and
Does not cause pain or injury to the dog.
Public nuisance.(1) Any animal which:
(a) Interferes with a person or passing vehicle.
Attacks another animal causing injury resulting in death or more than $500.00 in veterinary care costs.
Trespasses on school grounds.
Damages private or public property.
Has bitten or scratched a person while at-large.
Feeding:
(a) Storing food in a manner that may attract rodents or other vermin.
Feeding birds or other wildlife in a manner that may attract rodents or other vermin.
Allowing an accumulation of food, food waste, or animal waste in a manner that may attract rodents or other vermin.
Property:
(a) Creates any condition on the owner's property, or that carries over to an adjacent property, that renders the ground, the water, the air, or the food hazardous or injurious to human or animal life or health or that is offensive to the senses or that is detrimental to the public health.
Creates a condition conducive to the breeding of flies, mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, or other pests.
Quarantine.To detain or take into custody, place in confinement, and isolate from human beings and other animals due to suspected contagion.
Releasing agency.Any public or private animal pound, shelter, or humane organization, The term does not include an individual who occasionally renders humane assistance or shelter in the individual's home to a dog or cat.
Riding school.Any place, which has available for hire, boarding and/or riding instruction, any horse, donkey or mule.
Rooster.A male domestic fowl from the Gallus gallus domesticus sub-species.
Sanitary.Any condition of good order and cleanliness, which preludes the probability of disease transmission.
Search and rescue activity.Any activity by a trained search and rescue dog under the direction and control of a nonprofit search and rescue organization or governmental entity to assist in the location of lost or missing persons or for other law enforcement or public safety purposes being performed at the request of a law enforcement agency.
Search and rescue organization.A group of volunteers operating as a nonprofit organization that trains dogs to assist in the location of lost or missing persons or for other law enforcement or public safety purposes.
Service animal.An animal, typically a dog, that is specially trained or equipped to help individuals with disabilities. There is no government licensing, registration, or certification of service animals; however, an animal that provides only comfort or emotional support is not considered a service animal in this chapter.
Shelter.A structure that is capable of adequately providing cover and protection from heat, cold, and other environmental conditions. At minimum, a shelter must have three sides, a top, and a bottom and must be adequately ventilated. It must have bedding material. It must be large enough so that the animal can enter, stand, turn around, and lie down, but small enough to prevent the loss of body heat during cold weather.
Standings.Refers to the designated spots where cows stand, often for specific activities such as feeding or milking, particularly within a shelter environment. These areas are designed with specific considerations for cow comfort, hygiene, and efficiency:
(1) They often have sloped floors for drainage.
They may feature tie-downs for occasional use.
Proper flooring and bedding are crucial to prevent lameness and ensure cow comfort.
Sterilized.An animal rendered incapable of reproduction.
Tether.A leash, chain, cable, rope or other form of restraint that is not less than ten (10) feet or at least five times the length of the animal restrained, as measured from the tip of the dog's nose to the base of the dog's tail, affixed at one end to any fixed object and affixed at the other end to the collar or harness worn by the restrained animal.
Transfer ownership.To convey ownership rights of an animal from one person to another by any means.
Vaccination certificate.A certificate showing on its face that the animal described thereon received an inoculation of an approved rabies vaccine in an amount sufficient to produce immunity and bearing the signature of a licensed veterinarian.
Vaccination.A protective inoculation administered by a licensed veterinarian and approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry, in an amount sufficient to provide immunity.
Veterinary hospital.Any establishment maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian for surgery, wellness program, diagnosis and treatment of diseased and injured animals.
Wild animal.An animal not normally considered domesticated, regardless of the state or duration of captivity, that can typically be found in a wild state which, because of its size, vicious nature, potential disease threat, or other natural characteristic(s), would constitute a danger to human life, property, or domestic animals, or any animal that is restricted from ownership by any international, federal, or state law including, but not limited to, the following animals:
(1) Reptiles: venomous reptiles, crocodiles, alligators, any reptile that typically reaches a total length greater than eight feet, and iguanas;
Birds: emus, ostriches, or rheas;
Mammals: ocelots, lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, cougars, panthers, bobcats, lynxes, wolves, dingoes, coyotes, jackals, elephants, armadillos, kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, opossums, beavers, porcupines, weasels, martins, minks, badgers, pandas, bears, raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, cheetahs, servals, caracals, hyenas, squirrels, wild rabbits, or monkeys (non-human primates);
Any species illegal to own under federal or state law, or any animal which is, or may be hereafter, listed as a "high risk" animal in the Texas Rabies Control Act; or
Any hybrid of any animal classified as a wild animal.
Zoological park.Any facility, other than a business enterprise that buys, sells or boards any species of pets, or kennel, displaying or exhibiting one or more species of non-domesticated or wild animals operated by a person, partnership, corporation or government agency.
(Ordinance 4287 adopted 11/18/2025)