§ 10-8. Animals at large (restraint).

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person owning or harboring an animal to permit such animal to run at large. Any officer or citizen of the City of Haltom City is hereby authorized to take up and deliver to the animal care and adoption center any animal mentioned in this chapter that may be found "at large" in the corporate limits of the city, subject to the applicable provisions of the law. Failure to notify and/or turn over to the animal services officer any such animal within forty-eight (48) hours may subject the person taking up the animal to civil and/or criminal action. The animal services officer or his agent and peace officer are authorized to impound any animal mentioned in this chapter which is in violation of the chapter. In the event the animal is on private property or property of the animal's owner the animal services officer may enter the property, other than a private dwelling, for the purpose of impoundment or issuance of a citation, or both, subject to the applicable provisions of the law.

(b)

No dog or puppy may be restrained by leash, tether or chain unattended in any yard of a residence or business unless there is a fence surrounding the area where the animal is restrained.

(c)

No dog or puppy may be restrained by a fixed point chain or tether. The restraint must be at least ten (10) feet in length and attached to a pulley or trolley mounted on a cable which is also at least ten (10) ten feet in length and mounted no more than seven (7) feet above the ground. Any tethering employed shall not allow the dog or puppy to leave the owner's property. No chain or tether shall weigh more than one-eighth ( 1/8 ) of the dog or puppy's body weight. Any chain or tether used must be attached to a properly fitting collar or harness worn by the animal.

(d)

Each animal in violation of this section constitutes a separate offense.

(e)

It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the animal was a police service animal under the supervision of a peace officer in the performance of his official duties

(Ord. No. O-2013-004-04, § 1, 3-25-13)