(A) (1) Any dog captured or picked up under any provision of this subchapter will be impounded in a pen provided by the city for that purpose. The animal control office will maintain the pound, which will be under its control. All dogs and cats so impounded shall be properly fed and cared for while in the pound.
(2) The animal control office shall collect a fee which shall be as established by the Council for each dog impounded, when redeemed, and shall collect a fee which shall be as established by the Council for each day or fraction of a day each dog or cat shall remain impounded.
(2012 Code, § 10-42)
(B) (1) Within 24 hours after impounding any dog , the owner (if known) will be notified and given three days in which to claim the dog or cat upon payment of the tag and registration fee, if unregistered, and all charges and costs incurred by the city for impounding and maintenance of the dog, unless impounded as a result of an unprovoked attack upon a human.
(2) If the owner of the dog is unknown, written notice shall be posted for three days in a conspicuous place in the Police Department describing the dog and the place and time of apprehension.
(3) If claimed, the owner may redeem the dog in the same manner as in division (B)(1) above unless impounded as a result of an unprovoked attack upon a human.
(4) After three days’ notice as provided in divisions (B)(1) or (B)(2) above, any animal impounded under division (B)(3) above or unclaimed by its owner shall be humanely destroyed and shall not be released to its owner or purported owner.
(5) Any dog impounded as a result of an unprovoked attack upon a human shall remain impounded at its owner’s expense until a hearing is held, upon at least three days’ notice to the owner, before the Municipal Judge. If the Judge determines, after hearing evidence, that the dog is a dangerous dog (as defined by Tex. Health and Safety Code § 822.041(2)), the Judge may condition release of the dog to its owner upon the owner’s compliance with the provisions of Tex. Health and Safety Code § 822.042, within a time certain, order the dog permanently and prominently tattooed for future identification, or order the dog humanely destroyed. An order of destruction of the dog is subject to appeal as in civil cases.
(2012 Code, § 10-43)
(C) Any dog or cat which appears to be suffering from rabies or other infectious or dangerous disease shall not be released, but shall be handled under § 90.17 of this chapter, or destroyed, as is applicable.
(2012 Code, § 10-44)