What are the rules for dogs, cats and other pets in Bellaire?

How many dogs and cats

"No more than four dogs and/or cats over the age of four months shall be kept on their owner's premises" within the city. To keep more, you need a permit from the city manager. The city manager "shall specify conditions, limitations and restrictions in the permit," and will not issue one unless your application shows the conditions or circumstances the code requires. Rule: City Code Secs. 6-36 and 6-37.

Registering your dog

"All dogs over the age of four months kept, harbored, or maintained by their owners in the City of Bellaire shall be licensed and registered annually." The license is issued without a fee. You apply "within 30 days after the dog has been inoculated, or within 30 days after the dog reaches four months, or within 30 days after a dog is newly acquired or brought" into the city. You will give your name, address and phone number, and details about the dog, including the rabies shot date and tag number. Rule: City Code Sec. 6-38.

Some dogs are not covered: dogs in Bellaire "for a period not to exceed two weeks," dogs "brought into the city for the purposes of participating in any dog show," and "seeing-eye" dogs "properly trained to assist blind persons" while in use. Rule: City Code Sec. 6-38.

The code covers dogs only. The city's own FAQ says it does not register cats.

Each dog gets a tag with a number that matches the number on the dog license certificate. You must give each dog a collar with the city license tag and the rabies (inoculation) tag affixed, and the rabies tag should be worn on the collar "at all times" where practicable (Sec. 6-8). If a tag is lost, the city will issue a duplicate on request. Tags cannot be passed from one dog to another. Rule: City Code Secs. 6-39, 6-40 and 6-41.

Rabies shots

You must have your animal "inoculated at least once a year against rabies by a veterinarian licensed to practice in the State of Texas." This applies to any animal that needs a rabies shot under normal veterinary practice. Rule: City Code Sec. 6-8.

If a pet bites or scratches a person, or shows signs of rabies, you must report it to the city manager right away. You must then keep the animal securely quarantined for as long as the city manager directs. If the city manager asks, you must hand over an animal that has bitten someone so it can be quarantined, and you pay the cost. Rule: City Code Secs. 6-99 and 6-100.

Leashes

Dogs may not run loose. A dog is "at large" when it is "not confined within the owner's premises, owner's fence, or under the control of the owner or keeper or his agent by means of a leash, chain, rope or cord not more than ten feet in length, and of sufficient strength to control the conduct of the dog." The animal chapter's only stated exception is "Lafayette Park where posted and so designated." Separately, the park rules list walking of dogs among the activities prohibited in city parks, except as allowed under a valid event permit, and then allow dogs on leash in Paseo and Vic Driscoll parks and dogs off leash "inside the fenced area in Lafayette Park designated as Officer Lucy Dog Park." Rule: City Code Secs. 6-6, 6-42 and 27-96.

Barking and noise

It is unlawful to keep any animal that causes "frequent, long continued, excessive or unusual noise which is audible by persons on adjoining property." Rule: City Code Sec. 6-3.

Picking up after your dog

When you walk or exercise your dog, you must "pick up, remove, and properly dispose of all droppings left on public property, rights-of-way, or on the property of another." At home, keep the place where your animal lives "in a clean and sanitary condition," and remove droppings "daily or more frequently if necessary." Rule: City Code Secs. 6-44 and 6-13.

Feeding cats

It is unlawful to feed a cat on public property. On private property, only the owner of the property may feed a cat, unless the owner has given written consent. If you place food only inside a working trap, and the trap was placed on public property with the written permission of the city manager, that is an affirmative defense. Rule: City Code Sec. 6-45.

Other pet rules

• Care. It is a crime to fail "unreasonably to provide necessary food, care, or shelter for an animal in his custody," to abandon an animal, or to make animals fight. Rule: City Code Sec. 6-5.
• Small pets. Birds like parakeets, finches and canaries, plus guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, white mice and rabbits, are exempt from Article III of the animal chapter. Rule: City Code Sec. 6-51.
• Wild animals. Keeping a wild animal, such as a raccoon, skunk or monkey, is prohibited without "the express consent of the city manager." Rule: City Code Secs. 6-6 and 6-15.
• Inspections. You must allow a reasonable inspection of the place where your animal is kept when the police chief, city manager or their staff ask. Rule: City Code Sec. 6-14.
• Deed restrictions or HOA rules may be stricter than the city.

Lost or impounded pets

The chief of police is "authorized to seize and impound" all animals found in the city "in violation of the provisions of this chapter." Article IV covers impound fees and getting an impounded animal back. Ask the Police Department what you need to bring to get your animal back. Rule: City Code Secs. 6-77 and 6-79.

What happens if you don't

The animal chapter sets its own penalty. Anyone who violates a provision of the chapter, or refuses to obey an animal control officer, is "punished by fine to the maximum extent as provided for by law" (Sec. 6-108). Under Texas Local Government Code Sec. 54.001, that maximum is up to $500 for most rules and up to $2,000 for public health and sanitation rules, such as rabies control and keeping animal quarters clean. Each day counts as a new offense (Sec. 1-10).

Who to call

Bellaire Police Department (animal control, dog registration, lost pets and the city pound).

Sources

• City of Bellaire Code of Ordinances, Secs. 6-3, 6-5, 6-6, 6-8, 6-13, 6-14, 6-15 (animals in general). library.municode.com/tx/bellaire
• City of Bellaire Code of Ordinances, Secs. 6-36 to 6-45 (keeping dogs and cats). library.municode.com/tx/bellaire
• City of Bellaire Code of Ordinances, Sec. 6-51 (small pets); Secs. 6-77, 6-79 (impoundment); Secs. 6-99, 6-100, 6-108 (rabies control). library.municode.com/tx/bellaire
• City of Bellaire Code of Ordinances, Sec. 27-96 (park and open space rules, dogs in parks) and Sec. 1-10 (continuing violations). library.municode.com/tx/bellaire
• Texas Local Government Code Sec. 54.001 (maximum municipal fines).
• City of Bellaire FAQs (dog registration, cats not registered): https://www.bellairetx.gov/843/FAQs

En español

¿Cuáles son las reglas para perros, gatos y otras mascotas en Bellaire? Los perros mayores de cuatro meses deben registrarse cada año, y el registro es gratis. Usted tiene 30 días después de la vacuna contra la rabia, o después de que el perro cumpla cuatro meses, para registrarlo. El perro debe llevar un collar con la placa de la ciudad y la placa de la vacuna. La ciudad no registra gatos, según sus preguntas frecuentes.

Puede tener hasta cuatro perros y gatos mayores de cuatro meses. Para tener más, necesita un permiso del administrador de la ciudad. Todo animal que lo requiera debe recibir la vacuna contra la rabia al menos una vez al año, de un veterinario con licencia de Texas. Si su mascota muerde o rasguña a una persona, usted debe avisar de inmediato al administrador de la ciudad y mantener al animal en cuarentena según se le indique.

Los perros no pueden andar sueltos. Fuera de su propiedad deben ir con correa, cadena, soga o cordón de no más de diez pies de largo, salvo en Lafayette Park donde esté indicado; las reglas de los parques permiten perros sin correa dentro del área cercada de Lafayette Park designada como Officer Lucy Dog Park, y con correa en los parques Paseo y Vic Driscoll. No se permite el ruido frecuente, prolongado o excesivo de un animal que se oiga en las propiedades vecinas. Cuando pasee a su perro, debe recoger los desechos en propiedad pública, en derechos de paso o en propiedad ajena, y en casa debe quitar los desechos todos los días. No se puede alimentar gatos en propiedad pública, ni en propiedad privada si no es el dueño de la propiedad o no tiene su permiso escrito. También es delito no dar a un animal comida, cuidado y refugio, o abandonarlo.

El jefe de policía puede recoger y retener animales que violen este capítulo; pregunte al Departamento de Policía qué debe llevar para recuperar el suyo. Los animales salvajes están prohibidos sin permiso del administrador de la ciudad. Las reglas de su vecindario o asociación de propietarios pueden ser más estrictas. El capítulo de animales tiene su propia multa, hasta el máximo que permite la ley: hasta $500 para la mayoría de las reglas y hasta $2,000 para reglas de salud pública y sanidad, como el control de la rabia y la limpieza; cada día cuenta como una infracción nueva. Para control de animales, registro de perros y mascotas perdidas, comuníquese con el Departamento de Policía de Bellaire.