OR 2021-1558 Animal TetheringAN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
ORDINANCE NO. 2021-1558
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS,
AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 9
"GENERAL REGULATIONS", ARTICLE 9-1 "ANIMAL SERVICES",
SECTION 9-1-1 "DEFINITIONS" OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO
ADD THE DEFINITIONS OF "TETHER", "TETHERING DEVICE", AND
"PROPERLY FITTED"; AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY
AMENDING CHAPTER 9 `GENERAL REGULATIONS', ARTICLE 9-1
"ANIMAL SERVICES", SECTION 9-1-3 "RUNNING AT LARGE" OF THE
CODE OF ORDINANCES BY REPEALING IT IN ITS ENTIRETY AND
REPLACING WITH A NEW SECTION 9-1-3 "RUNNING AT
LARGE/RESTRAINT"; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE;
PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY OF
FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
($500.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COPPELL,
TEXAS:
SECTION I. That Chapter 9 "General Regulations", Article 9-1 "Animal Services", Section
9-1-1 "Definitions" of Code of Ordinances of the City of Coppell is amended by adding definitions
for the terms "Tether", "Tethering Device", and "Properly Fitted" to read as follows:
"CHAPTER 9 — GENERAL REGULATIONS
ARTICLE 9-1. — ANIMAL SERVICES
Sec. 9-1-1. Definitions.
Properly Fitted shall mean, with respect to a collar or harness used for an animal,
a collar or harness that:
1. does not impede the animal's normal breathing or swallowing;
2. is fabricated from non-metallic materials;
3. does not result in the pinching, pronging, or choking of the animal when
pulled; and
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4. is attached to the animal in a manner that does not allow for escape and
does not cause injury to the animal.
Tether shall mean restraining an animal or the act of chaining, tying, fastening, or
otherwise securing an animal to a fixed point so that it can move or range only within
certain limits.
Tethering Device shall mean a cable, chain, cord, leash, rope, or other means of
attaching an animal to a stationary object or trolly system.
SECTION 2. That the Code of Ordinances of the City of Coppell be hereby amended by
repealing Chapter 9 "General Regulations", Article 9-1 "Animal Services", Section 9-1-3 "Running
at large" in its entirety and replacing with a new Section 9-1-3 "Running at large/Restraint" to read
as follows:
"CHAPTER 9 — GENERAL REGULATIONS
ARTICLE 9-1. — ANIMAL SERVICES
Sec. 9-1-1. .....
Sec. 9-1-3 Running at large/Restraint.
A. It shall be unlawful for an owner of a dog or other animal without regard to mental
state, to fail to keep the animal from running at large as defined in this article.
B. It shall be unlawful for an owner or person to allow a dog or other animal to be tethered
to a stationary object or trolly system unless:
1. The dog or other animal is tethered in a manner or by a method that prevents the
dog or other animal from becoming entangled or injured;
2. The dog or other animal is tethered using a properly fitted harness or collar that is
specifically designed for the dog or other animal; and
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3. The tethering device is attached to the dog or other animal's harness or collar and
not directly to the dog or other animal's neck or any other body part.
4. Such tethering complies with subsection C of this section.
C. An owner shall not tether a dog or other animal by use of a tethering device:
1. While not attended by the owner or another person;
2. For more than one (1) consecutive hour in a twenty-four (24) hour period and no
longer than is necessary for the owner or person to complete a temporary task that
requires the dog or other animal to be tethered; or
3. During extreme weather conditions, including conditions in which:
a. The actual or effective outdoor temperature is below thirty-two (32)
degrees Fahrenheit;
b. A heat advisory has been issued for the jurisdiction by the National
Weather Service; or
c. A tornado warning has been issued for the jurisdiction by the National
Weather Service.
SECTION 3. That all provisions of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Coppell, Texas,
in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be, and the same are hereby, repealed, and all other
provisions not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 4. That should any word, phrase, paragraph, section or phrase of this ordinance
or of the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, be held to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid,
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 unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, and shall not affect the validity
of the Code of Ordinances as a whole.
SECTION 5. An offense committed before the effective date of this ordinance is governed
by prior law and the provisions of the Code of Ordinances, as amended, in effect when the offense
was committed and the former law is continued in effect for this purpose.
SECTION 6. That any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions or terms
of this ordinance or of the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
and upon conviction in the Municipal Court of the City of Coppell, Texas, shall be subjected to a fine
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not to exceed the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each offense; and each and every day
such violation is continued shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense.
SECTION 7. That this ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after its passage
and the publication of the caption, as the law and charter in such cases provide.
DULY PASSED by the City Council of the City of Coppell, Texas, this the 2.� day of
'40,11 , 2021.
ATTEST:
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ASHLEY O S, CITY SECRETARY
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T E. HAGER-aTY ATTORNEY
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