ARTICLE 2.200  DOGS AND CATS

Sec. 2.201     Impoundment

Animals owned or harbored in violation of this chapter or any other ordinance or law of the State of Texas may be taken into custody by an animal control officer or other designated official and impounded. A suitable animal shelter shall be provided by the impounding agency for the purpose of boarding and caring for any animal impounded under the provisions of this chapter.  (1977 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 2, Section 1)

Sec. 2.202     Disposition of Impounded Animals

If the owner of an impounded animal can be determined, oral notification of the impoundment followed by written notification sent to the owner's last known address by regular mail shall be provided to said owner immediately. The owner of the impounded animal may redeem and recover the animal upon payment of the impoundment fee, reasonable care and feeding charges, veterinary fees, rabies vaccination fees, and such other costs as determined by the animal control officer in the Watauga Department of Public Safety. If such animal is not redeemed and recovered within four (4) days after initial notification (written or oral) to the owner, the animal shall be deemed abandoned and may be placed for adoption, subject to the adoption policies of the city, or the animal control officer may humanely euthanize said animal by injection or other means approved by the city council. If the animal is not redeemed and recovered by the original owner, the original owner shall be responsible for all charges, (including euthanization) even though the animal may have been adopted or euthanized.  (1977 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 2, Section 2)

Sec. 2.203     Disposition of Impounded Animal Being Held on Complaint

If the complaint has been filed in municipal court for the City of Watauga against the owner of an impounded animal for a violation of this chapter, the animal shall not be released except on the order of the court which may also direct the owner to pay any penalties for violation of this chapter in addition to all impoundment fees. Surrender of an animal by the owner thereof to the animal control officer does not relieve or render the owner immune from the decision of the court, nor to the fees and fines which may result from a violation of this chapter.  (1977 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 2, Section 3)  

Sec. 2.204     Removal of Dogs and Cats From Confinement

It shall be unlawful for any person to remove from any place of confinement any dog or cat which has been confined as authorized, without the consent of the impounding agency.  (1977 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 2, Section 4)

Sec. 2.205     Animals at Large

It shall be unlawful for any person owning or harboring an animal to permit such animal to run at large. (1977 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 2, Section 5)

Sec. 2.206     Confinement During Estrus

Any unspayed female dog or cat in the state of estrus (heat) shall be confined during such period of time in a house, building or secure enclosure and said area of enclosure shall be so constructed that no other dog or cat may gain access to the confined animal. Owners who do not comply shall be ordered to remove the animal in heat to a boarding kennel, veterinary hospital or animal shelter. All expenses incurred as a result of this confinement shall be paid by the owner. Failure to comply with the removal order of the animal control officer shall be a violation of this section as prescribed in this article.  (1977 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 2, Section 6)

Sec. 2.207     Fees Related to Impoundment and Surrender of Dogs and Cats

(a)     Fees. Provided for in the fee schedule found in the appendix of this code.

(b)     Dog or cat bearing a current license tag and impounded for the first time is eligible for a fifty percent (50%) reduction in the impoundment fee.

(c)     When an unaltered animal has been impounded, a fifteen dollar ($15.00) refund will be provided to the owner in the event written evidence that the animal has been altered and the same is presented to the City of Watauga within thirty (30) days of the initial impoundment.

(Ordinance 1000 adopted 5/22/00)

Sec. 2.208     Violation Notice

(a)     When violations of the licensing, rabies vaccination, or "animal at large" requirements of this article are observed any animal control officer or public safety officer, the officer may issue a violation notice in lieu of a citation. The violation notice will stipulate a compliance date and an associated fee and late fee, as well as a waiver provision providing that the person to whom the violation notice is issued waives all rights to contest such violation and waives all rights to a hearing on the issues relating to that violation. Failure to pay associated fees and/or late fees by the compliance date shall constitute a violation of this article and may result in the issuance of a citation.

(b)     Fees. Provided for in the fee schedule found in the appendix of this code.

(Ordinance 1001 adopted 5/22/00)