In addition to any applicable requirements set out in state law, the following requirements and restrictions shall apply to any dog in the city limits determined by the city municipal court to be a dangerous dog as defined under state law or this chapter:
(a) the dog must be spayed or neutered within ten days of the determination that the dog is a dangerous dog.
(b) if the dog is subsequently responsible for the death of or serious injury to any person, the dog will be destroyed pursuant to statute.
(c) the owner or person harboring a dangerous dog shall have the dog identified by a microchip or other identifier approved by the animal control authority, and all identifying information shall be provided to the animal control authority immediately.
(d) the dog shall at all times wear a collar and attached tag marked with an orange color visible at a minimum distance of 50 feet.
(e) the dog, when taken outside the enclosure required under state law and this chapter, must be securely muzzled in a manner that will not cause injury to the animal or impair its vision or respiration, but shall prevent it from biting any person or animal, and must be restrained by a substantial chain or cable leash having a minimum tensile strength of 1,000 pounds and not to exceed six feet in length.
(f) the owner or person harboring such a dog shall post a sign on the premises where the animal is located or kept bearing letters not less than two inches high warning that there is a dangerous dog on the property. The sign, or multiple signs, if necessary, shall be prominently displayed on the property, easily visible and capable of being read from each public street or highway adjacent to the property.
(g) the secured enclosure for the dog, in addition to the minimum requirements for such an enclosure contained in state law, must have a top, must be made of chain link fencing of no more than three inch mesh, must be at least six feet high, and must be posted with signs on each side of the enclosure bearing letters not less than two inches high warning of a dangerous dog, with additional signs for every additional 25 feet of length.
(h) the Animal Services Division may, as a condition of registration for the dog, require the owner or person harboring the dog to annually attend a class on responsible pet ownership conducted by the Animal Services Division or by the Animal Services Division's designee.
(i) the city Animal Services Division may inspect the enclosure in which any dangerous dog is maintained, without notice, at any reasonable hour.
(j) the city may charge a reasonable fee for the licensing of dangerous dogs, as established by a separate resolution of the city.
(k) new restrictions or requirements as to the regulation of dangerous dogs which were determined to be dangerous dogs prior to the effective date of this chapter, shall become effective as to said animals on the sixtieth day after the passage of this chapter as amended.
(l) the owner of any dog determined to be a dangerous animal by any court or magistrate, must register the animal with the city animal control authority within ten days of bringing the animal into this jurisdiction.
(m) the appeal of any determination by the city municipal court that a dog is a dangerous dog, will be to the County Court at Law, and will follow the provisions for appeal from a municipal court judgment as established in the Texas Government Code.
(Ord. No. 3141, § 3, 8-8-02; Ord. No. 3728, 11-11-10; Ord. No. 4054, § 10, 5-24-16)