Every veterinarian or other person who is called to examine or professionally attend to any animal within the City having any case of rabies shall, within 24 hours thereafter, report in writing to the Local Rabies Control Authority of the City the following facts:
(A) 
The location of infected animal;
(B) 
The name and address of the owner thereof; and
(C) 
The name and address of any person known to have been exposed to such animal.
(Ordinance 4287 adopted 11/18/2025)
(A) 
An animal suspected of having rabies must be quarantined at the animal shelter or at a veterinary hospital with facilities to provide quarantine services, for a period of 10 days. The ten-day period begins at the time of the exposure or suspected event. All quarantine expenses shall be the responsibility of the animal owner. An animal shall be suspected of having rabies under any or all of the following conditions:
(1) 
The animal has bitten or scratched a person causing an injury that has broken the skin;
(2) 
The animal is showing signs of rabies;
(3) 
A licensed veterinarian suspects that the animal has rabies;
(4) 
The Local Rabies Control Authority has reasonable suspicion based upon probable cause that the animal has rabies.
(B) 
A home quarantine may be approved by the Local Rabies Control Authority under the following conditions:
(1) 
A suitable place in the home can be provided to limit contact with the animal to only one member of the household, that household member being over the age of 18;
(2) 
No other animals are being kept inside the home;
(3) 
Owner agrees to provide access to an Animal Services Officer for observation during the quarantine period at least on the first and last day;
(4) 
The animal is currently vaccinated for rabies; and
(5) 
The animal was not at-large at the time of the bite or scratch.
(C) 
If an animal dies while quarantined for rabies or has been determined to have rabies, the Local Rabies Control Authority shall send the head of the animal to the Texas Department of State Health Services laboratory for examination. The owner of an animal which is being humanely euthanized and submitted for testing shall pay all fees related to the testing, quarantine, and euthanasia, if applicable.
(D) 
An animal may be destroyed or be deemed abandoned upon failure of the owner to pay all fees and reclaim the animal within 72 hours from the end of the quarantine period.
(Ordinance 4287 adopted 11/18/2025)
(A) 
In the event a potential outbreak of rabies is suspected and the danger to public safety from rabid animals is reasonably imminent, the Local Rabies Control Authority is hereby authorized to issue a quarantine proclamation ordering persons owning, keeping, or harboring any animal to muzzle the same or confine it as herein provided for such time as may be specified in such quarantine proclamation.
(B) 
Upon the publication of such proclamation by the Local Rabies Control Authority, any persons keeping or harboring any animal shall restrain the animal from running at-large except that such animal is under the control of an adult person and on a leash, may do so only if the animal is effectively muzzled.
(C) 
The Local Rabies Control Authority may destroy any animal found at-large during the time specified by the Local Rabies Control Authority in the quarantine proclamation, if the Local Rabies Control Authority is unable to apprehend such animals for impoundment.
(Ordinance 4287 adopted 11/18/2025)