Texas Administrative Code › Title 16 - ECONOMIC REGULATION › Part 4 - TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION › Chapter 91 - DOG OR CAT BREEDERS PROGRAM › Section 91.102 - Standards of Care-Sheltered Housing Facilities

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) Heating, cooling, and temperature. The
				sheltered part of sheltered housing facilities for dogs and cats must be
				sufficiently heated and cooled when necessary to protect the dogs and cats from
				temperature or humidity extremes and to provide for their health and
				well-being. The ambient temperature in the sheltered part of the facility must
				not fall below 50° F (10° C) for dogs and cats not acclimated to lower
				temperatures, for those breeds that cannot tolerate lower temperatures without
				stress and discomfort (such as short-haired breeds), and for sick, aged, young,
				or infirm dogs or cats, except as approved by a veterinarian. Dry bedding,
				solid resting boards, or other methods of conserving body heat must be provided
				when temperatures are below 50° F (10° C). The ambient temperature must
				not fall below 45° F (7.2° C) for more than 2 consecutive hours when
				dogs or cats are present, and must not rise above 85° F (29.5° C) for
				more than 2 consecutive hours when dogs or cats are present. The preceding
				requirements are in addition to, not in place of, all other requirements
				pertaining to climatic conditions.
(b) Ventilation. The enclosed or sheltered
				part of sheltered housing facilities for dogs and cats must be sufficiently
				ventilated when dogs or cats are present to provide for their health and
				well-being, and to minimize odors, drafts, ammonia levels, and moisture
				condensation. Ventilation must be provided by windows, doors, vents, fans, or
				air conditioning. Auxiliary ventilation, such as fans, blowers, or
				air-conditioning, must be provided when the ambient temperature is 85° F
				(29.5° C) or higher.
(c)
				Lighting. Sheltered housing facilities for dogs and cats must be lighted well
				enough to permit routine inspection and cleaning of the facility, and
				observation of the dogs and cats. Animal areas must be provided a regular
				diurnal lighting cycle of either natural or artificial light. Lighting must be
				uniformly diffused throughout animal facilities and provide sufficient
				illumination to aid in maintaining good housekeeping practices, adequate
				cleaning, adequate inspection of animals, and for the well-being of the
				animals. Primary enclosures must be placed so as to protect the dogs and cats
				from excessive light.
(d) Shelter
				from the elements. Dogs and cats must be provided with adequate shelter from
				the elements at all times to protect their health and well-being. The shelter
				structures must be large enough to allow each animal to sit, stand, and lie in
				a normal manner without its body being in contact with at least one side of the
				shelter walls and to turn about freely.
(e) Surfaces.
(1) The following areas in sheltered housing
				facilities must be impervious to moisture:
(A)
				indoor floor areas in contact with the animals, which may consist of flooring
				that is wire or wire mesh or slatted material;
(B) outdoor floor areas in contact with the
				animals, when the floor areas are not exposed to the direct sun, or are made of
				a hard material such as wire, wood, metal, or concrete; and
(C) all walls, boxes, houses, dens, and other
				surfaces in contact with the animals.