(A) When a person learns that the person is the owner of a dangerous dog, the owner shall comply with Tex. Health and Safety Code § 822.042. For purposes of the section, a person learns that the person is the owner of a dangerous dog when:
(1) The owner knows of conduct by the dog described under the definition of a dangerous dog in § 97.25; or
(2) The owner knows of conduct by the dog described in Tex. Health and Safety Code § 822.041(2)(B); or
(3) The owner is informed by the Animal Control Authority that a determination has been made that the dog is a dangerous dog; or
(4) The owner is informed after an appeal hearing by the Municipal Court Judge that the dog is a dangerous dog.
(B) If a person outside the city limits wants to move inside the city limits and is an owner of a dog declared dangerous by another city or jurisdiction, the owner must notify the Animal Control Authority before moving the dog inside the city limits. The Animal Control Authority will determine if the dog will be allowed to be kept at a residence inside the city and the dog owner shall be held to all rules and regulations per this subchapter and state law regarding dangerous dogs.
(C) Declaration by Municipal Court Judge. Not later than the thirtieth day after a person learns from the Municipal Court Judge at the appeal hearing that the person is the owner of a dangerous dog:
(1) The dangerous dog shall be euthanized if so ordered by the court; or
(2) If the dangerous dog is not ordered to be euthanized, the person shall have the dangerous dog returned to him or her when the following requirements are met:
(a) Register the dangerous dog with the Animal Control Authority for the area in which the dog is kept and pay an annual registration fee of $250 to the city plus the cost of a dangerous dog tag; and
(b) Restrain the dangerous dog at all times on a leash in the immediate control of a person or in a secure enclosure. Such dog shall not be leashed to an inanimate object such as a tree, post, building, and the like. Each dangerous dog on a leash outside the animal's secure enclosure must be muzzled by a muzzling device sufficient to prevent the dog from biting persons or other animals but will not harm the dog itself; and
(c) Obtain (and show proof annually to the Animal Control Authority) liability insurance coverage or financial responsibility in an amount of at least $100,000 to cover damages resulting from an attack by the dangerous dog causing bodily injury to a person.
(Ord. 2008-3, passed 2-5-08; Am. Ord. 2017-1, passed 1-17-17; Am. Ord. 2017-21, passed 12-19-17; Am. Ord. 2024-5, passed 2-20-24)