Source: https://www.animallaw.info/statute/tx-cruelty-chapter-821-treatment-and-disposition-animals
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 18:16:35+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 821. Treatment and Disposition of Animals.
In this subchapter, “animal” includes every living nonhuman creature.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1 (S.B. 219), § 3.1593, eff. April 2, 2015.
(a) A person who impounds or causes the impoundment of an animal under state law or municipal ordinance shall supply the animal with sufficient wholesome food and water during its confinement.
(b) If an animal impounded under Subsection (a) continues to be without necessary food and water for more than 12 successive hours, any person may enter the pound or corral as often as necessary to supply the animal with necessary food and water. That person may recover the reasonable cost of the food and water from the owner of the animal. The animal is not exempt from levy and sale on execution of a judgment issued to recover those costs.
(3) by any other person if the birds are to be closely confined.
(b) The person shall immediately place the birds in coops, crates, or cages that are made of open slats or wire on at least three sides and that are of a height so that the birds can stand upright without touching the top.
(c) The person shall keep clean water and suitable food in troughs or other receptacles in the coops, crates, or cages. The troughs or other receptacles must be easily accessible to the confined birds and must be placed so that the birds cannot defile their contents.
(d) The person shall keep the coops, crates, or cages in a clean and wholesome condition and may place in each coop, crate, or cage only the number of birds that have room to move around and to stand without crowding each other.
(e) The person may not expose the birds to undue heat or cold and shall immediately remove all injured, diseased, or dead birds from the coops, crates, or cages.
The knowledge and acts of an agent or employee of a corporation in regard to an animal transported, owned, or used by or in the custody of the corporation are the knowledge and acts of the corporation.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., ch. 1278 (H.B. 963), § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2011; Acts 2017, 85th Leg., ch. 739 (S.B. 1232), § 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2017.
In this subchapter, “magistrate” means any officer as defined in Article 2.09, Code of Criminal Procedure, except that the term does not include justices of the supreme court, judges of the court of criminal appeals, or courts of appeals, judges or associate judges of statutory probate courts, or judges or associate judges of district courts that give preference to family law matters or family district courts under Subchapter D, Chapter 24, Government Code.
Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1043, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., ch. 334, § 10, eff. Sept. 1, 2009.
(a) If a peace officer or an officer who has responsibility for animal control in a county or municipality has reason to believe that an animal has been or is being cruelly treated, the officer may apply to a justice court or magistrate in the county or to a municipal court in the municipality in which the animal is located for a warrant to seize the animal.
(b) On a showing of probable cause to believe that the animal has been or is being cruelly treated, the court or magistrate shall issue the warrant and set a time within 10 calendar days of the date of issuance for a hearing in the appropriate justice court or municipal court to determine whether the animal has been cruelly treated.
(c) The officer executing the warrant shall cause the animal to be impounded and shall give written notice to the owner of the animal of the time and place of the hearing.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 387, § 1, eff. June 7, 1991; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1043, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
(a) A finding in a court of competent jurisdiction that the owner of an animal is guilty of an offense under Section 42.09 or 42.092, Penal Code, involving the animal is prima facie evidence at a hearing authorized by Section 821.022 that the animal has been cruelly treated.
(b) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., ch. 576 (S.B. 762), § 2 and Acts 2017, 85th Leg., ch. 739 (S.B. 1232), § 8.
(c) Each interested party is entitled to an opportunity to present evidence at the hearing.
(3) order the animal humanely destroyed if the court decides that the best interests of the animal or that the public health and safety would be served by doing so.
(B) humanely destroying the animal if destruction is ordered by the court.
(f) The court may order that an animal disposed of under Subsection (d)(1) or (d)(2) be spayed or neutered at the cost of the receiving party.
(g) The court shall order the animal returned to the owner if the court does not find that the animal's owner has cruelly treated the animal.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 157, § 1, eff. Aug. 26, 1991; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, §§ 14.43, 14.44, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1043, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2007, 80th Leg., ch. 886, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2007; Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., ch. 1278 (H.B. 963), § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2011; Acts 2017, 85th Leg., ch. 576 (S.B. 762), § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2017; Acts 2017, 85th Leg., ch. 739 (S.B. 1232), §§ 7, 8, eff. Sept. 1, 2017.
(a) Notice of an auction ordered under this subchapter must be posted on a public bulletin board where other public notices are posted for the county or municipality. At the auction, a bid by the former owner of a cruelly treated animal or the owner's representative may not be accepted.
(b) Proceeds from the sale of the animal shall be applied first to any costs owed by the former owner under Section 821.023(e). The officer conducting the auction shall pay any excess proceeds to the justice or municipal court ordering the auction. The court shall return the excess proceeds to the former owner of the animal.
(c) If the officer is unable to sell the animal at auction, the officer may cause the animal to be humanely destroyed or may give the animal to a municipal or county animal shelter or a nonprofit animal welfare organization .
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 387, § 2, eff. June 7, 1991; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1043, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., ch. 1278 (H.B. 963), § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2011.
(a) An owner divested of ownership of an animal under Section 821.023 may appeal the order to a county court or county court at law in the county in which the justice or municipal court is located.
(b) As a condition of perfecting an appeal, not later than the 10th calendar day after the date the order is issued, the owner must file a notice of appeal and a cash bond or surety bond in an amount set by the court under Section 821.023(e-2) .
(c) Not later than the fifth calendar day after the date the notice of appeal and bond is filed, the court from which the appeal is taken shall deliver a copy of the clerk's record to the clerk of the county court or county court at law to which the appeal is made.
(d) Not later than the 10th calendar day after the date the county court or county court at law, as appropriate, receives a copy of the clerk's record , the court shall consider the matter de novo and dispose of the appeal. A party to the appeal is entitled to a jury trial on request.
(e) The decision of the county court or county court at law under this section is final and may not be further appealed.
(f) Notwithstanding Section 30.00014, Government Code, or any other law, a person filing an appeal from a municipal court under Subsection (a) is not required to file a motion for a new trial to perfect an appeal.
(g) Notwithstanding any other law, a county court or a county court at law has jurisdiction to hear an appeal filed under this section.
(2) destroyed, except under circumstances which would require the humane destruction of the animal to prevent undue pain to or suffering of the animal.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1043, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2009, 81st Leg., ch. 1351, § 11(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2009; Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., ch. 1278 (H.B. 963), § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2011.
Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., ch. 1278 (H.B. 963), § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2011.
(1) “Animal” has the meaning assigned by Section 821. 001.
(2) “Animal shelter” means a facility that collects, impounds, or keeps stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted animals.
(3) Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1 (S.B. 219), § 3.1639(118).
(5) “Executive commissioner” means the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 30, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., ch. 23 (S.B. 360), § 1, eff. May 10, 2013; Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1 (S.B. 219), § 3.1639(118), eff. April 2, 2015.
(a) A person may euthanize a dog or cat in the custody of an animal shelter only by administering sodium pentobarbital.
(b) A person may euthanize all other animals in the custody of an animal shelter, including birds and reptiles, only in accordance with the applicable methods, recommendations, and procedures set forth in the edition of the American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals that is approved by the executive commissioner .
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 30, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., ch. 23 (S.B. 360), § 2, eff. May 10, 2013; Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1 (S.B. 219), § 3.1594, eff. April 2, 2015.
(a) The executive commissioner by rule shall establish the requirements and procedures for administering sodium pentobarbital to euthanize an animal in the custody of an animal shelter.
(b) A person may administer sodium pentobarbital to euthanize an animal in the custody of an animal shelter only in accordance with the requirements and procedures established by department rule.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 30, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005. Amended by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1 (S.B. 219), § 3.1595, eff. April 2, 2015.
(2) requirements and procedures for administering commercially compressed carbon monoxide to euthanize an animal to which Section 821.052(b) applies.
(2) may administer the commercially compressed carbon monoxide only in accordance with the requirements and procedures established by department rule.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 30, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005. Amended by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., ch. 23 (S.B. 360), § 3, eff. May 10, 2013.
(7) the proper disposal of a euthanized animal.
(b) The department must approve the sponsors and curriculum of the training course required by this section.
(c) This section does not apply to a person licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state.
(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), an employee of an animal shelter is not required to have successfully completed the training course before the 120th day following the date of initial employment.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 30, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005.
(a) A person commits an offense if the person violates this subchapter or a rule adopted under this subchapter.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 30, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1 (S.B. 219), § 3.1596, eff. April 2, 2015.
A court of competent jurisdiction, on the petition of any person, may prohibit by injunction the substantial violation of this subchapter or a rule adopted under this subchapter.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 30, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., ch. 1 (S.B. 219), § 3.1597, eff. April 2, 2015.

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