(a) An owner of a dog or cat commits an offense if:
(1) the dog or cat is not currently vaccinated;
(2) the dog or cat is not wearing a collar or harness with a current rabies tag securely attached to it; or
(3) the owner fails to show a current certificate of vaccination and rabies tag for the dog or cat upon request by the director or a peace officer.
(b) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that:
(1) the dog or cat is under four months of age;
(2) the dog or cat is unable to be vaccinated due to health reasons as verified by a licensed veterinarian; or
(3) the person charged produces to the court proof of vaccination from a licensed veterinarian showing the dog or cat was vaccinated at the time the citation was issued or not later than 20 days after the citation was issued.
(c) A licensed veterinarian who vaccinates a dog or cat for rabies shall issue to the owner of the animal a current rabies tag and a certificate of vaccination and send a copy of the certificate of vaccination to the director by the 10th day of the month following the month in which the dog or cat was vaccinated. The certificate of vaccination must contain the following information:
(1) name, address, and telephone number of the owner;
(2) animal identification, including species, sex, age, size (pounds), predominant breed, and color;
(3) vaccine used (including whether it is a one-year or three-year rabies vaccine), producer, expiration date, and serial number;
(4) date vaccinated and expiration date of the certificate of vaccination;
(5) rabies tag number; and
(6) veterinarian’s signature and license number. (Ord. Nos. 26024; 30483)
(a) An owner of a dog or cat commits an offense if the dog or cat does not have a microchip.
(b) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that:
(1) the dog or cat was under four months of age;
(2) the dog or cat was being held for adoption by animal services or an animal welfare organization;
(3) the owner of the dog or cat has resided in the city for fewer than 30 days;
(4) the dog or cat qualifies for a medical exception from a licensed veterinarian;
(5) the dog or cat owner is not a resident of the city and is staying in the city for fewer than 60 days; or
(6) the person charged produces to the court proof of a registered microchip showing the dog or cat was implanted with a microchip at the time the citation was issued or not later than 20 days after the citation was issued.
(c) The owner of a dog or cat shall maintain his or her current contact information with a microchip registration company.
(1) If the owner's contact information changes, the owner shall update the microchip registration company not later than 30 days after the change in the contact information.
(2) If the ownership of a dog or cat changes, the new owner shall provide the microchip registration company with his or her contact information not later than 30 days after the change in ownership.
(3) It is a defense to prosecution under this subsection that the person charged produces to the court proof that the contact information was current and the correct owner was listed at the time the citation was issued or the contact information was corrected and made current not later than 20 days after the citation was issued. (Ord. Nos. 26024; 27250; 30483; 32194, eff. 11-11-22)
(a) If, within any 12-month period, a person commits two or more violations of this chapter involving a dog or cat, the director may revoke the existing registrations on all dogs and cats owned by that person and deny all applications for registration of any dog or cat by that person.
(b) If the director revokes or denies the registration of a dog or cat, a written notice of the action and of the right to an appeal must be given to the owner of the dog or cat by personal service or by certified mail, return receipt requested. The owner may appeal the decision of the director to the permit and license appeal board in accordance with Section 2-96 of this code. The filing of a request for an appeal hearing stays an action of the director in revoking or denying registration until the permit and license appeal board makes a final decision.
(c) Within 15 calendar days after receipt of a notice of revocation or denial of registration, or after a final decision of the permit and license appeal board if an appeal is filed, the owner shall remove and relocate all dogs and cats from his premises or surrender and forfeit ownership of them to the director. The director or the permit and license appeal board may extend the 15-calendar-day removal and relocation period up to an additional 15 calendar days if it is determined that all dogs and cats of the owner cannot reasonably be removed and relocated from the premises within the initial period and no immediate threat to the public health exists. The owner shall demonstrate to the director proof of removal and relocation by furnishing the director with the address to which each dog or cat was relocated and by:
(1) allowing the director to inspect the premises of the owner to determine that all dogs and cats have been removed from those premises; or
(2) providing the director with a written, sworn affidavit stating that all dogs and cats have been removed from the premises.
(d) A person who has had the registration of a dog or cat revoked or denied under this section may not apply for registration of any dog or cat until 12 consecutive months have elapsed after the date of registration revocation or denial without the person committing any violation of this chapter involving a dog or cat.
(e) A person commits an offense if he:
(1) owns any dog or cat within the city during a period when he is prohibited under Subsection (d) from applying for registration of a dog or cat; or
(2) fails to remove all dogs and cats from his premises when required by this section. (Ord. 26024)
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