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OR 95 Approves an ordinance to be known as the "City of Coppell Animal Control Ordinance" AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS ORDINANCE NO. 95 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS, TO BE KNOWN AS THE "CITY OF COPPELL ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE"; DEFINING THE TERM "ANIMAL" AS USED HEREIN TO INCLUDE DOGS, WOLVES, JACKALS, FOXES AND ALL OTHER DOMESTICATED CARNIVOROUS ANIMALS; PROVIDING FOR ANNUAL REGISTRATION AND VACCINATION OF SUCH ANIMALS; MAKING IT UNLAWFUL FOR ANIMALS TO RUN AT LARGE WITHIN TIlE CITY; PROVIDING OFFICERS WITH AUTHORITY TO IMPOUND ANIMALS; PROVIDING FOR THE DISPOSITION OF UNREDEEMED ANIMALS; PROVIDING FOR THE QUARANTINING OF ANIMALS EXPOSED TO RABIES; MAKING IT UNLAWFUL TO KEEP UNUSUALLY LOUD, BARKING OR HOWLING DOGS OR OTHER ANIMALS; REPEALING ORDINANCE NUMBER 13 ; REPEALING ANY PART OF ANY OTHER ORDINANCE WHICH IS IN CONFLICT WITH THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF THIS ORDINANCE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS: SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS: "ANIMAL" For the purposes of this ordinance the word "animal" shall mean all members of the family canidae which includes dogs, wolves, jackals, and foxes as well as all other domesticated carnivorous animals. SECTION 2. ANNUAL REGISTRATION AND LICENSE-FEE REQUIRED It shall be unlawful for the owner or halborer of any animal to harbor or permit such animal within the City without having paid to the City an annual registration and license fee of $/Z~ upon each animal (male or female) six months of age or over. The annual registration and license fee required by this section shall be due and payable as of the first day of ~/~ of each calendar year, and when paid shall be good for the year ending . ~ next following. SECTION 3. VACCINATION AS PREREQUISITE TO THE ISSUANCE OF LICENSE. All animals more than six months old are required to be immunized against rabies by a licensed veterinarian and by means of any approved standard vaccine for the prevention of rabies. Whosoever administers such vaccine shall issue to the owner or person having such animal vaccinated a certificate of vaccination, stating the name of the owner, the address where the animal is kept, description of the animal, date of vaccination, the number of the rabies v'accination tag and the kind of vaccine used. He shall also furnish to the owner of such animal a metal tag, one side of which is stamped "rabies vaccine administered," or a similar phrase and the date of vaccination. Such tag shall be at all times securely attached to a collar or to a harness around the neck and/or body of the animal vaccinated. Neither the City Clerk nor his deputies shall issue any license to any owner of an animal, unless the applicant exhibits either the metal tag or the certificate of vaccination. SECTION 4. TAG TO BE ATTACHED TO COLLAR OR HARNESS OF ANI~.~AL. Upon payment of the annual registration and license fee, it shall be the duty of the City Clerk to furnish the owner of such animal a metal tag of distinctive design, on one side of which is stamped the words, "registration fee paid," with the year for which same is paid and the serial number of the tag. Such tag shall at all times be securely attached to a collar or harness around the neck or body of the animal upon which the regi- stration fee has been paid. SECTION 5. RUNNING AT LARGE It shall be unlawful, and a violation of this ordinance on the part of the owner or harborer of any animal, for such animal to run at large within the City upon the streets, alleys, other public places or private property of one not the owner or harborer. The phrase "Running at Large" shall mean any animal found upon any street, alley, other public place or upon private property of one not the owner or harborer thereof which is not under control of its owner, harborer, a member of their family or their servant or agent. Where necessary to prevent any animal from running at large, the owner or barborer shall confine such animal to his premises by a substantial fence, or by a leash of sufficient strength to prevent the animal from escaping. SECTION 6. DUTY OF OFFICERS TO IFIPOUND. It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer, any officer of the animal control department, the Health Officer, any Police Officer or Dog Catcher of the City to cause to be taken up and impounded all animals running at large within the City or otherwise in violation of this ordinance. Such officer in hot pursuit of any animal which is found running at large or in violation of this ordinance or any other ordinance of the City, may pursue and apprehend any such animal across or on any private or public property within the City provided, however, that such right of hot pursuit shall not extend into the confines of any building unless proper warrant for such search and apprehension has been obtained or permission is granted by the owner or occupant of such building. SECTION 7. REDEMPTION AND DISPOSAL OF IMPOUNDED ANIMALS. Redemption and disposal of any animal impounded under the terms of this ordinance shall be in accordance with the terms of this ordinance and such other rules, regulations, fees and charges as may from time to time be established by the City Council. SECTION 8. VACCINATION AS A PREREQUISITE TO REDEMPTION. If the owner of any impounded animal does not have a current certificate showing that the animal has been vaccinated such owner must sign a statement giving the name of the owner and the address where such animal shall be confined, and stating that such owner will have the animal vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance within three (3) days from the date of said statement and will present evidence of such to the proper officer of the City within seven (7) days from the date of such statement. The failure to have such animal vaccinated or the failure to return to the proper officer evidence of such vaccination shall be grounds for immediate return of the animal to the City Pound and such animal may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of and such failure shall constitute a misdemeanor on the part of the owner or harborer of such animal. SECTION 9. QUARANTINE REQUIRED UPON EXPOSURE TO RABIES OR RABIES SYMPTOMS. Any animal that has rabies or symptoms thereof or has been suspected of having rabies or that has been exposed to rabies shall be immediately penned and securely confined by its owner in such a way that said animal cannot escape and other animals or persons cannot come in contact with such animal. Such animal to be kept there under the supervision of the Department of Animal Control for a period of sixty days or such other length of time as may be prescribed by the City Health Officer. Provided further the Health Officer of the City or the Animal Control Officer may under such circumstances require the animal to be impounded at a certain place when greater supervision is required. SECTION 10. QUARANTINE OF ANY ANImaL BITING OR ATTACKING PEOPLE Any animal that bites, scratches or othe~llise attacks any person shall be immediately and securely con- fined by the owner, or one having custody, for a period of (10) days subject to inspection from time to time so as to be able to determine whether such animal is affected by rabies. In any such case the City Health Officer or the Animal Con- trol Officer may require such animal to be impounded at a certain place where better supervision and observation can be had. The City Health Officer or the Animal Control Officer may also extend the period of quarantine in any such case. Where such animal is quarantined at any place other than its owners home it may be returned to its owner at the end of the quarantine period as in the case of other animals impounded under the terms of this ordinance. If such animal is not claimed by its owner and all costs of impoundment paid within three days after the end of the period of quarantine the animal may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of. Provided however, no such animal shall be destroyed until the City Health Officer has issued a written order ending the period of quarantine. SECTION 11. RABID DOG TO BE REPORTED It shall be the duty of the owner or harborer, or practicing veterinarian, to report to the Chief of Police of the City, all cases of rabies or other diseases communicable to human beings with which he comes in contact or to which his attention has been directed. This report shall be made i~ediate- ly upon diagnosis or suspicion of such cases of rabies. SECTION 12. BARKING Any person who shall harbor or keep on his premises or in or about premises under his control, any dog or other animal which, by loud or unusual barking or howling, shall cause the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or the occupants of adjacent premises to be disturbed, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to the penalty provided for herein for any violation of this ordinance. SECTION 13. REPEALING CLAUSE: All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent or in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are here- by repealed. Ordinance Number 13 is specifically repealed. However, the repeal of existing ordinances by this ordinance shall not ~ fect or prevent the prosecution or the punishment of any person for any act done or committed prior to the effective date of this ordinance in violation of any ordinance hereby repealed; and prosecution for such offenses may be instituted and causes presently pending proceeded with in all respects as if such prior ordinance or ordinances had not been repealed. SECTION 14. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE: If any article, paragraph or sub-division, clause, phrase or provision of this Ordinance shall be adjudged in- valid or held unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of this Ordinance as a whole or any part or provision thereof other than the part so decided to be invalid or uncon- stitutional. SECTION 15. PENALTY CLAUSE: Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a mis- demeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not to exceed the sum of two hundred ($200.00) dollars for each offense and each and every day such offense is continued shall constitute a new and separate offense. SECTION 16. E~ERGENCY CLAUSE: The fact that the present City regulations are in- adequate to properly protect the public health, safety and welfare, creates an urgency and an emergency and requires that this Ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after the publication of its caption as the law in such cases pro- vides. Coppell, Texas, this DULY PASSED by the City Council of the City of MAYOR ITY SE C CRETARY APPROVED AS TO FORM: CITY ATTORNEY