Animal Control

ANIMAL CONTROL

Click HERE for the City of Westworth Village's Code of Ordinances regarding Animal Control for more information. 

Enforcement
The Police Department is responsible for animal control activities in the city; including controlling the stray animal population, investigating suspected cases of animal cruelty and animal/human bites, and responding to animal nuisance complaints.

Registration

Pet Registration Application  


All dogs and cats four months of age or older must be currently registered with Animal Control.  No household will be allowed to register or keep more than 3 animals, in any combination, unless specifically allowed by animal control ordinance.   To obtain a metal registration tag for each dog or cat in your care, bring proof of current vaccinations to the Water/Permits window, complete the required form and pay the registration fee.

  • The issued metal registration tag must be attached to the animal at all times.
  • No dog or cat may be registered until it has a current rabies vaccination.
  • Registration and/or vaccination tags are valid only for the animal for which they were originally issued.
  • If animal ownership changes, the new owner must transfer the registration with Animal Control.  

Running at Large
It is unlawful for any dog or other animal possessed, kept or harbored, other than a cat, to run at-large. The animal control officer may impound animals running at-large, other than cats, and may impound a cat that has caused a nuisance or hazard to the health or welfare of humans or animals.

Animal Nuisances
Some examples of common animal nuisances which constitute ordinance violations include:

  • The keeping of any animal which, by causing frequent or continued barking or noise disturbs persons in the vicinity.
  • Animals kept in a manner endangering the public health.
  • The accumulation of animal waste causing foul and offensive odors or considered a hazard to animals or humans, or continued presence on the premises of another.

 

Restricted Animals
It is unlawful to keep or release any restricted animals inside the city.  Restricted animals include stray dogs, stray cats, and miniature swine, or any other species of wild, exotic or carnivorous animal; including mammal, amphibian, reptile, or fowl which is of a species which is wild by nature, and of a species which, due to size, vicious nature, or other characteristic, is dangerous to human beings. Such animals shall include, but not be limited to, deer, lions, tigers, leopards, panthers, bears, wolves, raccoons, skunks, apes, gorillas, monkeys, foxes, elephants, rhinoceroses, alligators, crocodiles and all forms of poisonous reptiles.

Report a Bite
Animal bites to humans must be reported to the Police Department within 24 hours of the incident.  The owner of the biting animal is responsible for expenses associated with the required quarantine of the animal.

Impounding Animals
The City contracts impound / shelter services through Lake Worth Animal Control.  Animals may be impounded for the following reasons:

  • causing a nuisance or running at-large
  • infected or kept under conditions endangering the public or animal
  • biting a human, or observation for rabies determination
  • unvaccinated or unregistered cats and dogs
  • violations of the Westworth Village Animal Control laws

 

The City relinquishes ownership, rights and responsibilities of all animals not reclaimed by the owner after being impounded for 72 hours, to Lake Worth Animal Conrol.

  • Prior to the end of the 3rd day, owners can resume possession of impounded animals upon payment of impoundment fees and any incurred veterinary bills for the welfare of the animal as determined by the Veterinarian.  
  • Owners of animals impounded for quarantine are not entitled to possession until the animals have been released from quarantine and associated fees have been paid.

Exposure to Rabies / Quarantine
Animals known to have been, or suspected of being, exposed to rabies must be immediately reported to animal control.  Currently vaccinated animals must be re-vaccinated immediately and quarantined at the owner’s expense, according to the method and length of time prescribed by the Veterinarian and in accordance to City code.  Animals not having a current vaccination may be humanely destroyed.
Wild animals will not be placed in quarantine. Any wild animal involved in human biting incidents will be humanely destroyed and the brain submitted to a Texas Department of Health certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis

Outdoor Dogs

Whether the animal is tethered to a fixed point or to a pulley:

  • The tether must be attached to a properly fitted collar. Pinch, prong, or choke type collars CAN NOT be used. The tether cannot be wrapped directly around the animal's neck.
  • The tether is required to be either 10 feet or five times the length of the animal (from nose to the tip of the tail), whichever is longer.
  • The dog CAN NOT be restrained with a chain or a restraint with weights attached.
  • A restrained animal must have access to adequate shelter, with enough room to allow them to sit, stand and move around comfortably.
  • Dog must have shelter from "inclement weather", which includes rain, hail, snow, high winds, extreme low temperatures, or extreme high temperatures.
  • They must be provided an area with shade, drinkable water, and the ability to avoid standing water and excessive animal waste.
  • Have a restraint that does not become entangled, and stay within the owner's property at all times.

An owner may NOT leave a dog outside and unattended by use of restraint:

  • Between the hours of 10p.m. and 6 a.m.
  • In the case of extreme weather conditions, including when:
  1. The outdoor temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit
  2. A heat advisory has been issued by state or local authorities
  3. A hurricane, tropical storm or tornado warning has been issued for the area by the National Weather Service

Penalty:

Upon first violation, offenders will face a Class C Misdemeanor punishable by a fine. If an owner violates the law a second time, the offense will rise to a Class B Misdemeanor, which could result in up to 180 days in the county jail, a $2,000 fine, or both.

Exceptions:

  • Dogs being restrained in a public camping or recreational area: as long as the owner is in compliance with the proper requirements of the area.
  • Tying dogs in a truck bed while running errands (for as long is "reasonably necessary for the owner to complete a temporary task).
  • Dogs being trained, shepherding, herding cattle or livestock or in the business of cultivating agricultural products.