Ord 3160 2/1/1977 ORDINANCE NO. 3160
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 5 OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES, CONCERNING ANIMALS AND FOWL, BY
AMENDING SECTION 5-1 TO REDEFINE "WILD ANIMAL" ,
AMENDING SECTION 5-16 TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL FOR
AN OWNER TO REFUSE TO PLACE A BITING OR SCRATCHING
ANIMAL IN QUARANTINE, AND AMENDING SECTION 5-53
TO REQUIRE A DOG WHICH HAS BEEN VACCINATED TO
WEAR VALID TAGS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY
OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS , THAT:
SECTION 1. The definition of "wild animal" in Section
5-1 of the Code of Ordinances is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"Wild animal: Any warm-blooded animal which can normally
be found in the wild state, including, but not limited to
the following: bear, coyote, wolf, fox, lion, tiger, ocelot,
jaguar, panther, leopard, lynx, bobcat, and cheetah. Excluded
from this definition are hamsters and gerbils."
SECTION 2. Section 5-16 of the Code of Ordinances is
hereby amended to read as follows:
"Section 5-16. Quarantining of rabid dogs or animals and
animals which have bitten persons; redemption fee.
Every animal that bites, scratches, or otherwise attacks
any person or persons within the city limits shall be, upon
complaint of the injured person, quarantined and held for
a period of ten days in any veterinary hospital approved by
the Director of Public Health, in the Animal Control Center,
or any other facility approved by the Director of Public
Health. Any such animal, prior to being redeemed by an owner,
shall be examined by a licensed veterinarian. All of the
costs of such keeping and examination shall be borne by the
owner. In the event an owner of the subject animal has not
been identified, the victim at his option may elect to have
the animal examined by a licensed veterinarian or have tissues
submitted for laboratory examination, and the costs incurred
shall be borne by the victim. It shall be unlawful for any
owner of such an animal to refuse to place the animal, or to
refuse to allow the animal to be placed, in quarantine as
herein described. "
SECTION 3. Section 5-53 of the Code of Ordinances is
hereby amended to read as follows:
"Section 5-53. Vaccination required.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog or cat
to keep or maintain such dog or cat unless it shall have
been vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian or approved
antirabies clinic with rabies vaccine within one year pre-
ceding the date on which such dog or cat is kept and main-
tained. Proof that a dog was not wearing a valid rabies vaccina-
tion tag shall constitute prima facie proof that such dog
has not been vaccinated.
SECTION 4. The fact that the keeping of certain wild
animals, biting and scratching animals, and inadequate rabies
control constitute a danger to the citizens of the City of
Wichita Falls creates an emergency, and this ordinance is
declared an emergency measure on the ground of urgent public
need for the preservation of the peace, health and safety of
property of the city, and it shall go into effect immediately
upon its passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 1st day of February, 1977.
(:/;IY O R //I' )/'
ATTEST:
City Clerk
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