§ 90.08. Impoundment

(A) Animals subject to impoundment. The following animals are subject to impoundment:

(1) Cats or dogs not exhibiting evidence of being vaccinated or registered, as described in § 90.07.

(2) Any animal running at large, other than a cat; provided, however, a cat may be impounded under the conditions specified in division (B) of this section.

(3) Any animal treated in a manner determined by an Animal Control Officer as cruel or inhumane.

(4) Any animal that has bitten, scratched or viciously attacked a person, or needs to be placed under observation for rabies, as determined by an Animal Control Officer.

(5) Any animal in violation of any provision of this chapter.

(B) Right of property owner to confine; notification of Animal Control. If any animal named in this chapter is found on the premises of any person, the owner or occupant of the premises shall have the right to confine such animal in a humane manner until he or she can notify Animal Control to impound the animal. When so notified, it shall be the duty of an Animal Control Officer to have such animal impounded as herein provided.

(C) Notification of animal owner by Animal Control. Reasonable effort shall be made by Animal Control to contact the owner of any animal impounded which is wearing current registration or vaccination certificates; however, final responsibility for location of an impounded animal is that of the animal owner.

(D) Reclaiming of impounded animals generally. The owner may resume possession of any animal impounded upon payment of impoundment fees, handling fees, and any veterinary expenses incurred by Animal Control for the welfare of the animal, and upon compliance with vaccination and registration provisions of this chapter, except where prohibited in divisions (E) and (F) of this section.

(E) Reclaiming animals impounded on the grounds of suspicion of cruel or inhumane treatment. Disposition of animals impounded on the grounds of suspicion of cruel or inhumane treatment shall be by the court of jurisdiction.

(F) Reclaiming animals under rabies quarantine. If any animal is being held under quarantine or observation for rabies, the owner shall not be entitled to possession until it has been released from such quarantine.

(G) Designation of place of impoundment. The City Manager shall select and establish a place for impounding all animals impounded under any provision of this chapter.

(H) Disposition of unreclaimed animals generally. Any animal except vicious, wild, or unvaccinated bite-case animals, not reclaimed by the owners, may be humanely destroyed by Animal Control after being held 72 hours, except that any animal wearing current registration or vaccination metal certificates shall be held seven days prior to disposition.

(I) Disposition of impounded vicious or wild animals. Any vicious animal impounded, unless there is reason to believe such animal has an owner, may be immediately disposed of as deemed appropriate by the Supervisor of Animal Control. Any impounded wild animal, unless such animal is an endangered species, may be immediately disposed of as deemed appropriate by the Supervisor of Animal Control. Wild animals that are considered endangered species will be immediately reported to and turned over to the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife for disposition.

(J) Disposition of nursing baby animals. Any nursing baby animal impounded without the mother, or where the mother cannot or will not provide nutritious milk, may be immediately euthanized by Animal Control to prevent further suffering of such baby animals.

(K) Adoption of impounded dogs and cats authorized. Any impounded dog or cat not wearing current registration or vaccination certificates may be given up for adoption after 72 hours, except those under quarantine. Any impounded dog or cat wearing current registration or vaccination certificate may be given up for adoption after being held seven days. If the rightful owner of the animal appears within seven days of adoption, he or she may redeem the animal by paying the adoptee all documented expenses incurred, and reasonable board equal to the established daily impoundment rate for the animal.

(L) Disposition of animal upon direction of owner. An owner who no longer wants responsibility for an animal, or who believes an animal to be ill or injured, may sign a written waiver, supplied by Animal Control, allowing animal to be euthanized in a humane manner; provided, that such warm-blooded animal has not bitten any human. Such animal that has bitten shall be held for ten days quarantine except where laboratory examination is provided for.

(M) Disposition of injured or ill animals. Any impounded animal that appears to be suffering from extreme injury or illness may be euthanized or given to a nonprofit humane organization for the purpose of veterinary medical care, as determined by the Supervisor of Animal Control.

('84 Code, § 3-5) (Ord. 13, passed 8-6-02; Am. Ord. passed 2-2-11; Am. Ord. passed 4-17-17; Am. Ord. passed 5-29-18; Am. Ord. 358, passed 2-28-84; Am. Ord. 10-14-98, passed 10-27-98)

refcross

Penalty, § 10.99.