It shall be unlawful for a person to sell, offer for sale, barter, trade, keep, own, maintain, use or have in a person's possession or on premises under such person's control any of the following:
(a) Any dangerous animal, pursuant to a final determination by the director and in accordance with this chapter that the animal is dangerous;
(b) Any prohibited animal unless that person is exempted by Tex. Health & Safety Code § 822.102, Subchapter E, Dangerous Wild Animals, as amended; or
(1) A prohibited animal is exempt from this section if:
a. The animal belongs to a bona fide zoological park, circus, educational institution, museum, licensed laboratory, publicly owned nature center or the animal is kept by bona fide members of an educational or scientific association or society approved by the director of health, or persons holding permits from an agency of the state or the United States for the care and keeping of animals for rehabilitative purposes. If a person holds a permit from the Texas State Department of Parks and Wildlife to operate a wildcare center in the city, the permit holder must also comply with the city comprehensive zoning ordinance, as amended, and must keep any and all animals or reptiles in cages of sufficient size, construction and strength to restrain the animal or reptile at all times; or
b. The animal is a service animal, as defined herein, that has been registered with the city and the following information has been provided to the director:
1. Records of vaccination appropriate for the species of animal;
2. Documentation from a veterinarian that the animal is healthy;
3. Proof of proper restraint for the animal; and
4. Proof that the animal has been or is being trained to perform tasks of an assistance or service animal.
(Ord. 23295-06-2018, § 1, passed 6-26-2018, eff. 7-6-2018)