Animal Cruelty
Cases in which a person abandons, abuses, or fails unreasonably to provide food, care, and shelter for an animal in his custody will be investigated as criminal offenses under Texas Penal Code 42.09.
Dangerous Dog
If a dog makes an unprovoked attack on a person that causes bodily injury and occurs in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept, animal control may declare the animal a "dangerous dog". A person who owns a "dangerous dog" within the city limits must, by law, comply with specific registration, confinement, and liability insurance requirements. Failure to comply with the requirements may result in court-ordered seizure and destruction of the animal.
If a dog causes serious bodily injury or death to a person by attacking, biting, or mauling the person, a court may order the dog seized pending a hearing. Following the hearing, in certain cases, the court may order the destruction of the animal.
Dead Animals
A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly leaves the carcass of any animal that died in his possession any place within the city limits. If an animal died while running at large, it is presumed to have died in possession of its owner.
Restricted / Prohibited Animals
Certain animals may not be
knowingly kept, possessed, or maintained within the city limits. Included in this category are all poisonous
animals including poisonous snakes, constrictor
snakes five feet or more in length, any wild animal, certain exotic animals, coyotes, wolves, and hogs, swine, or pigs. Other animals may be kept with restrictions. For example, livestock or fowl may not be kept or maintained within 125 feet of a private residence that the person has no right to occupy. If you have questions concerning whether a certain animal is allowable, please contact animal control.
Running at Large
A person commits an offense if he allows or permits an animal owned by him, other than a cat, to run at large (Run at large: Whenever an animal is not under actual physical restraint by means of a pen, fence or other structure or a leash, chain, rope or other lead.). Animals, other than cats, running at large are subject to be taken to the pound by animal control.
Unreasonable Noise
A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly owns or possesses an animal which causes unreasonable noise in a public place or in or near a private residence that the person has no right to occupy.
Vaccinations
A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly owns or possesses an animal four months old or older of a species susceptible to rabies, and the animal has not been immunized with an anti-rabies vaccine in the preceding twelve months.
Contact
If you should have any animal control concerns or comments, please contact Matt McCullough via
email or phone at 936-291-5480.