Source: https://www.animallaw.info/statute/tx-dangerous-subchapter-e-dangerous-wild-animals
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 17:52:38+00:00

Document:
Full Statute Name: Vernon's Texas Statutes and Codes Annotated. Health and Safety Code. Title 10. Health and Safety of Animals. Chapter 822. Regulation of Animals. Subchapter E. Dangerous Wild Animals.
(1) “Animal registration agency” means the municipal or county animal control office with authority over the area where a dangerous wild animal is kept or a county sheriff in an area that does not have an animal control office.
(2) Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1 (S.B. 219), § 3.1639(119).
(C) the selling, trading, bartering, or auctioning of a dangerous wild animal or a dangerous wild animal's body parts.
(T) any hybrid of an animal listed in this subdivision.
(4-a) “Executive commissioner” means the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
(5) “Owner” means any person who owns, harbors, or has custody or control of a dangerous wild animal.
(6) “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, trust, estate, joint stock company, foundation, or association of individuals.
(7) “Primary enclosure” means any structure used to immediately restrict an animal to a limited amount of space, including a cage, pen, run, room, compartment, or hutch.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 54, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1 (S.B. 219), §§ 3.1599, 3.1639(119), eff. April 2, 2015.
(12) in a county west of the Pecos River that has a population of less than 25,000, a cougar, bobcat, or coyote in the possession, custody, or control of a person that has trapped the cougar, bobcat, or coyote as part of a predator or depredation control activity.
(b) This subchapter does not require a municipality that does not have an animal control office to create that office.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 54, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 992, § 31, eff. June 18, 2005; Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1 (S.B. 219), § 3.1600, eff. April 2, 2015.
(a) A person may not own, harbor, or have custody or control of a dangerous wild animal for any purpose unless the person holds a certificate of registration for that animal issued by an animal registration agency.
(b) A certificate of registration issued under this subchapter is not transferrable and is valid for one year after its date of issuance or renewal unless revoked.
(c) The animal registration agency may establish and charge reasonable fees for application, issuance, and renewal of a certificate of registration in order to recover the costs associated with the administration and enforcement of this subchapter. The fee charged to an applicant may not exceed $50 for each animal registered and may not exceed $500 for each person registering animals, regardless of the number of animals owned by the person. The fees collected under this section may be used only to administer and enforce this subchapter.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 54, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
(a) An applicant for an original or renewal certificate of registration for a dangerous wild animal must file an application with an animal registration agency on a form provided by the animal registration agency.
(5) any other information the animal registration agency may require.
(5) if an applicant holds a Class "A" or Class " B" dealer's license or Class "C" exhibitor's license issued by the secretary of agriculture of the United States under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2131 et seq.) and its subsequent amendments, a clear and legible photocopy of the license.
(2) finds that the care and treatment of each animal by the owner meets or exceeds the standards prescribed under this subchapter.
(a) If the animal registration agency finds that an application for an original or renewal certificate of registration under this subchapter does not meet the requirements of Section 822.104 or, after inspection, that an applicant has not complied with this subchapter, the animal registration agency shall deny the applicant a certificate of registration and give the applicant written notice of the denial and the reasons for the denial.
(b) If the animal registration agency finds, after inspection, that a registered owner provided false information in or in connection with the application or has not complied with this subchapter, the animal registration agency shall revoke the certificate of registration and give the owner written notice of the revocation and the reasons for the revocation.
(c) A person may appeal the denial of an original or renewal certificate of registration or the revocation of a certificate of registration to the justice court for the precinct in which the animal is located or the municipal court in the municipality in which the animal is located not later than the 15th day after the date the certificate of registration is denied or revoked. Either party may appeal the decision of the justice or municipal court to a county court or county court at law in the county in which the justice or municipal court is located. The decision of the county court or county court at law may not be appealed.
(d) The filing of an appeal of the denial or revocation of a certificate of registration under Subsection (c) stays the denial or revocation until the court rules on the appeal.
(a) A holder of a certificate of registration shall prominently display the certificate at the premises where each animal that is the subject of the certificate of registration is kept.
(b) Not later than the 10th day after the date a person receives a certificate of registration, the person shall file a clear and legible copy of the certificate of registration with the Department of State Health Services. The executive commissioner shall establish a procedure for filing a certificate of registration and by rule shall establish a reasonable fee to be collected by the department in an amount sufficient to recover the cost associated with filing a certificate of registration under this subsection.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 54, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1 (S.B. 219), § 3.1601, eff. April 2, 2015.
An owner of a dangerous wild animal shall maintain liability insurance coverage in an amount of not less than $100,000 for each occurrence for liability for damages for destruction of or damage to property and death or bodily injury to a person caused by the dangerous wild animal.
An owner of a dangerous wild animal, at all reasonable times, shall allow the animal registration agency, its staff, its agents, or a designated licensed veterinarian to enter the premises where the animal is kept and to inspect the animal, the primary enclosure for the animal, and the owner's records relating to the animal to ensure compliance with this subchapter.
(a) An owner of a dangerous wild animal may not permanently relocate the animal unless the owner first notifies the animal registration agency in writing of the exact location to which the animal will be relocated and provides the animal registration agency, with respect to the new location, the information required by Section 822.104.
(b) Within 10 days after the death, sale, or other disposition of the animal, the owner of the animal shall notify the animal registration agency in writing of the death, sale, or other disposition.
(a) An owner of a dangerous wild animal shall notify the animal registration agency of any attack of a human by the animal within 48 hours of the attack.
(b) An owner of a dangerous wild animal shall immediately notify the animal registration agency and the local law enforcement agency of any escape of the animal.
(c) An owner of a dangerous wild animal that escapes is liable for all costs incurred in apprehending and confining the animal.
(d) An animal registration agency, a law enforcement agency, or an employee of an animal registration agency or law enforcement agency is not liable to an owner of a dangerous wild animal for damages arising in connection with the escape of a dangerous wild animal, including liability for damage, injury, or death caused by the animal during or after the animal's escape, or for injury to or death of the animal as a result of apprehension or confinement of the animal after escape.
(3) provides a safe, healthy, and humane environment for the animal.
(b) An owner of a dangerous wild animal shall keep and confine the animal in accordance with the caging requirements and standards established by the executive commissioner .
(C) does not otherwise adversely affect the overall welfare of the animal involved.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 54, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1 (S.B. 219), § 3.1602, eff. April 2, 2015.
(4) provide the name of the attending veterinarian, if applicable.
(c) When transporting a dangerous wild animal, the owner of the animal, or a designated carrier or intermediate handler of the animal, shall comply with all transportation standards that apply to that animal under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2131 et seq.) and its subsequent amendments or the regulations adopted under that Act.
(d) A person is exempt from the requirements of this section if the person is caring for, treating, or transporting an animal for which the person holds a Class "A" or Class "B" dealer's license or a Class " C" exhibitor's license issued by the secretary of agriculture of the United States under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2131 et seq.) and its subsequent amendments.
(a) A person commits an offense if the person violates Section 822.103(a), Section 822.106, or Section 822.110(a) or (b). Each animal with respect to which there is a violation and each day that a violation continues is a separate offense.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly sells or otherwise transfers ownership of a dangerous wild animal to a person who does not have a certificate of registration for that animal as required by this subchapter.
(a) A person who violates Section 822.103(a) is liable for a civil penalty of not less than $200 and not more than $2,000 for each animal with respect to which there is a violation and for each day the violation continues.
(b) The county or municipality in which the violation occurs may sue to collect a civil penalty. A civil penalty collected under this subsection may be retained by the county or municipality.
(c) The county or municipality in which the violation occurs may also recover the reasonable costs of investigation, reasonable attorney's fees, and reasonable expert witness fees incurred by the animal registration agency in the civil action. Costs or fees recovered under this subsection shall be credited to the operating account from which payment for the animal registration agency's expenditures was made.
Any person who is directly harmed or threatened with harm by a violation of this subchapter or a failure to enforce this subchapter may sue an owner of a dangerous wild animal to enjoin a violation of this subchapter or to enforce this subchapter.
(a) This subchapter does not affect the applicability of any other law, rule, order, ordinance, or other legal requirement of this state or a political subdivision of this state.
(b) This subchapter does not prevent a municipality or county from prohibiting or regulating by ordinance or order the ownership, possession, confinement, or care of a dangerous wild animal.

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