Brazos Landing

Pet Owners Please Read

Safety Bulletin

Dear Homeowners

We would like to bring to your attention the following very important safety issues in our neighborhood.

Animal Pet Control
First is proper animal or pet control. We have had several incidents recently where a dog was not under proper control and a child was either bitten or took a bad fall off of a bike to evade a dog. Both of these incidents were easily avoidable, and I know that none of us wants to see a child hurt. Also, the ordinances of this area require that your pet be on a leash and in your control. I have attached some of the rules for the city of Sugar Land as an example. Please note that minors are not always considered to be in proper control of a pet. Pets should be handled by someone of sufficient size to control the animal.

We ask your immediate attention to this matter to ensure the safety of everyone in the neighborhood.



PART II CODE OF ORDINANCES
Chapter 4 ANIMAL CONTROL*
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL
Sec. 4-1. Definitions.
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Prohibited animals do not include livestock, fowl, poultry or normal household pets, such as a psittacine bird, canary, finch, cockatiel, hamster, guinea pig, gerbil, rabbit, ferret, fish or small nonpoisonous reptiles.

Registered animal: Any animal that has a valid vaccination certificate.

Restraint: An animal shall be deemed "restrained" when it is:

(1) Confined on the premises of the owner within a building or walled or fenced enclosure;

(2) Fastened or picketed by a lead or chain, not less than three (3) times the length of the animal, measured from tip of the nose to tip of the tail, or not longer than twenty (20) feet in length, so as to keep the animal on the owner's premises;

(3) Under the control of a person by a leash;

(4) On or within a vehicle being driven or parked;

(5) At heel beside a competent person and obedient to that person's command. Minors shall not be considered competent persons for purposes of this chapter.


Running at large: An animal not confined within the boundaries of the real property of its owner or keeper. An animal confined only by an electric or "invisible fence" is considered to be running at large. For purposes of this definition, an animal is not considered to be running at large if the animal is:

(1) Secured on a leash and under control of its owner or keeper;

(2) A specially trained dog that is being used with or without a leash by a blind or deaf individual to aid them within the city; or

(3) In attendance at a formal training class and is under the direct supervision of the owner or keeper during the entire class.


Vicious animal: Any animal running-at-large that:


(1) Has bitten two (2) or more people or one person on two (2) or more occasions;

(2) Has killed a person or another pet or livestock animal;

(3) Has attacked a human being and the nature of the attack or the resulting injury was such as might endanger the life or permanent health of the human; or

(4) Habitually or repeatedly, without provocation, chases, snaps at, attacks, or bites any person or domestic animal. For the purpose of this paragraph, "without provocation" means that the animal was not reacting to the conduct or action of a person or another animal that could be expected to elicit or provoke an animal to chase, snap at, attack or bite the person or animal.


(Ord. No. 668, § 3(4-1), 6-20-89; Ord. No. 888, §§ 1--4, 6-21-94; Ord. No. 1140, § 1, 10-6-98; Ord. No. 1169, §§ 1--3, 12-7-99)

Secs. 4-2--4-11. Reserved.

ARTICLE II. IMPOUNDMENT, ADOPTION, QUARANTINE

Sec. 4-12. Running at large prohibited.

(a) It is unlawful for any person to allow an animal under his or her control to be running at large.

(b) It is unlawful for any person to fail to take the acts necessary to prevent an animal under his or her control to be running at large.

(c) The city may impound any animals found running at large.

(Ord. No. 668, § 3(4-2), 6-20-89; Ord. No. 888, § 5, 6-21-94; Ord. No. 1169, § 4, 12-7-99)

State law reference(s)--Authority to prohibit dogs running at large, Vernon's Ann. Civ. St. art. 1015(15).

Sec. 4-13. Impoundment.
(a) Animals subject to impoundments. The following animals are subject to impoundment:


(1) Cats or dogs not exhibiting evidence of being vaccinated or registered.

(2) Any animal treated in a manner determined by an animal control officer to be cruel or inhumane.

(3) Any animal that has bitten, scratched or viciously attacked a person, or that needs to be placed under observation for rabies, as determined by an animal control officer.

(4) Any animal in violation of any provision of this chapter.

(5) Any animal found running at large.

(b) Right of property owners to confine animals; notification of animal control officer. If any animal named in this chapter is found on the premises of any person, the owner/occupant of the premises shall have the right to confine such animal in a humane manner until he can notify animal control to impound the animal. When so notified, it shall be the duty of an animal control officer to have such animal impounded as herein provided.

(c) Notification of owner of impounded animal; final responsibility. Reasonable effort shall be made by animal control to contact the owner of any animal impounded which is wearing current registration and/or vaccination certificates; however, final responsibility for location of an impounded animal is that of the animal owner or custodian.

(h) Destruction of animals. Any animal except vicious, wild or unvaccinated bite case animals not reclaimed by the owners may be humanely destroyed by animal control after being held seventy-two (72) hours, except that any animal wearing current registration or vaccination certificates shall be held six (6) days prior to disposition.

Cleaning Up After Your Pet

Pet owner please remember that you are responsible for anything that your pet leaves behind - in both private and common areas. If you walk you pet around the lake area, please take with you anything necessary to despose of your pet's droppings. Please do not leave them where they land. There are trash cans around the lake and in the playground area for trash. Please be considerate of your neighbors in this matter.