PRESENTER: Presenter
Bryan V. Ruiz, Neighborhood Services Manager
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SUBJECT: Title
Presentation regarding amending the city's ordinance for dangerous dogs and rabies control.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning & Development Services - Neighborhood Services - Animal Welfare & Rescue Division
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of New Braunfels’ current vicious or dangerous dog ordinance has been in place for many years and requires updating. Staff proposes to amend the current ordinance to provide consistency with State statutes and with other Texas municipalities. One example is the current ordinance requires a Police Officer hear a case to determine if a dog is dangerous. A recommended change is to allow the New Braunfels Animal Welfare & Rescue Division to make this determination after investigating all the evidence on the case.
Another recommended improvement includes allowing home quarantine of an animal without the need for approval of the victim or guardian. This change would allow the Animal Welfare & Rescue Officer to make an unbiased home quarantine determination and not add an undue financial burden on the owner of the animal. Additionally, quarantining at an unfamiliar facility can stress an animal that may be at an advanced age or have medical issues, in some cases limiting some such animal’s ability to complete a 10-day quarantine.
The City also recommends amending the ordinance that currently requires an unvaccinated animal that was bitten or exposed to a rabid animal to be isolated for 6 months - the recommendation is to reduce this to 3 months. Another proposed change is to the current rule if a vaccinated animal was bitten or exposed to a rabid animal to be isolated for 3 months - reduce this to 45 days. These changes in the time frames for isolation are to be consistent with current state statute.
ISSUE:
New Braunfels’ current dangerous dog ordinance is not consistent with the State of Texas dangerous dog rules. The proposed amendments would resolve these inconsistencies and reduce the amount of time the animal is unnecessarily in isolation.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
The Animal Services Advisory Board recommended approval.