OR 2002- 995 Amending definitions for new owner, releasing agency, sterilization and veterinarianAN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
ORDINANCE NO. 2002-995
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS,
AMENDING THE COPPELL CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING
CHAPTER 9, ARTICLE 9-1, SECTION 9-1-1, "DEFINITIONS", BY
PROVIDING DEFINITIONS FOR NEW OWNER, RELEASING AGENCY,
STERILIZATION, AND VETERINARIAN; BY AMENDING SECTION 9-1-
4 BY DELETING SUBSECTION C; BY AMENDING SECTION 9-1-13,
ADOPTION OF DOGS AND CATS, BY REPEALING AND REPLACING
THE SAME WITH SIMILAR LANGUAGE AND GUIDELINES;
PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY OF NOT LESS THAN TWO HUNDRED
DOLLARS ($200.00) BUT NOT TO EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
($500.00); AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Article 9-1 of the Coppell Code of Ordinances provides for Animal Services
within the City; and
WHEREAS, upon review of Article 9-1, staff has made recommendation that certain areas
of said Article be amended to update and provide more specific guidelines for the adoption of
animals and the sterilization of the same; and
WHEREAS, the City Council believes that the recommendations made by the City staff are
in the best interest of the City and its citizens;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COPPELL, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. That Chapter 9 of the City of Coppell Code of Ordinances be, and the same
is, hereby amended by amending Article 9-1, Section 9-1-1 to provide additional definitions, which
shall read as follows:
"ARTICLE 9-1. ANIMAL SERVICES.
Sec. 9-1-1. Definitions.
In this article the following words and terms shall have the following
meanings ascribed to them unless the context indicates otherwise:
New Owner shall mean a person who is legally competent to enter into a
binding contract and who is adopting a dog or cat from a Releasing Agency.
Releasing Agency shall mean a public or private animal pound, shelter, or
humane organization. The term does not include an individual who occasionally
renders humane assistance in the individual's home for a dog or cat.
Sterilization shall mean the surgical removal of the reproductive organs of a
dog or cat to render the animal unable to reproduce.
Veterinarian shall mean a person licensed to practice veterinarian medicine
by the State Board of Veterinarian Medical Examiners.
SECTION 2. That Section 9-1-4, Vaccination, of the Code of Ordinances shall be amended
by deleting 9-1-4 C in its entirety.
SECTION 3. That Section 9-1-13, Adoption of Dogs and Cats, is hereby amended by
repealing in its entirety and replacing the same with similar language and guidelines to read as
follows:
"Sec. 9-1-13. Adoption of Dogs and Cats.
A. The City shall comply with all sterilization laws as set forth in Chapter
828, of the TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, as amended. A copy of the statute
may be obtained from the Animal Services Agent.
B. Adoption
A person may adopt a dog and/or cat from the City of Coppell Animal
Services and Adoption Center that has been spayed or neutered and
classified as adaptable. If the animal has not been spayed or neutered the
new owner must sign an agreement to have the animal sterilized within a
given period of time determined by the Releasing Agency. Written
confirmation of such sterilization must be provided to the Releasing
2
Agency within seven (7) days of the given date. The new owner shall be
solely and legally responsible for compliance with all requirements
specified in the adoption receipt and sterilization agreement executed at
the time the animal is adopted.
The Releasing Agency may establish an adoption receipt and
sterilization agreement for use in the adoption process and violation
of any term of such agreement shall constitute a violation of this
Chapter.
Any person, who fails to sterilize an animal, as set forth in the
sterilization agreement is guilty of a misdemeanor offense and, upon
conviction, is punishable by a fine of not less than Two Hundred
Dollars ($200.00) and not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
The Releasing Agency, with the approval of the Environmental Health
Officer, may refuse to allow a person to adopt an animal for any valid
reason, including but not limited to, a person to whom the Releasing
Agency has reason to believe:
a. Would not have proper facilities to contain or care for the animal.
b. Wants the animal for the purpose of resale or for purposes other than
pet ownership.
c. There are reasonable grounds to believe the animal would be
subjected to abandonment or cruelty.
d. The person is under the age of eighteen (18).
e. That the purpose of the adoption is to avoid, or assist in the
avoidance of, the enforcement of any provision of this Chapter.
3. The person adopting the animal shall pay all applicable costs of adoption
established by the City Council.
The Releasing Agency shall be the sole judge as to whether an animal is
suitable to offer for adoption; however, a decision to offer a particular
animal for adoption shall not constitute any warranty, expressed or
implied, of the health, temperament, or age of the animal.
5. The City of Coppell and its agents, employees and officers shall have no
liability associated with the adoption or impoundment of any animal.
C. Reclamation of Adopted Animals
If the Releasing Agency does not receive written confmnation of
sterilization or other written disposition regarding an adopted animal, as
required in this chapter, after the seventh (7th) day of the sterilization
completion date specified in the adoption agreement and sterilization
agreement executed at the time the animal was adopted. The Releasing
Agency may promptly reclaim the animal from the new owner, or
require the new owner to remm the animal to the Releasing Agency, or
impose any other penalty as provided in this chapter.
A person shall not be entitled to any refund, reimbursement, or other
compensation regarding an animal reclaimed or returned under this
section."
SECTION 3. 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 14th day of
of May, 2002.
CANDY SHEEHAN, MAYOR
ROBERT E. HAGER, CITY ATTORNEY
(JDD/cdb 5/6/02~
ATTEST:
LIBBY BALL, CITY SECRETARY
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