First, a little humor...
Steven Wright On Dogs -
I had a dog once. I spilled spot remover on him, and now he's gone.
---
Did you hear about the cowboy
who got himself a dachshund?
Everyone kept telling him to get a long, little doggie.
---
I went to the cinema the other day and in the front row was an old man and with him was his dog. It was a sad funny kind of film, you know the type. In the sad part, the dog cried his eyes out, and in the funny part, the dog laughed its head off. This happened all the way through the film. After the film had ended, I decided to go and speak to the man.
"That's the
most amazing thing I've seen," I said. "That dog really seemed to enjoy
the film."
The man turned to me and said, "Yeah, it is. He hated
the book."
---
A guy and
his dog walk into a bar. The guy says, "I'll bet you a round of drinks
that my dog can talk."
Bartender says, "Yeah! Sure...go ahead."
Guy asks the dog, "What covers a house?"
Dog says, "Roof!"
Guy asks the dog, "How does sandpaper feel?"
Dog says, "Rough!"
Guy asks the dog, "Who was the greatest ball player of all time?"
Dog says, "Ruth!"
Guy tells the bartender, "Pay up. I told you he could talk."
Bartender throws both of them out the door. Sitting on the
sidewalk, the dog looks at the guy and says, "Gehrig???"
---
Second, we have big backyards, plenty of trees and fire hydrants, friendly neighbors -- what a great neighborhood for a dog! However, here are a few rules you and your dog should take note of:
All dogs are required to be secured within your home or yard, or on leash when off property. Strays may be picked up by Animal Control.
Barking dogs are unlawful when disturbing others at any hour of the day or night. Violations are enforceable by the Austin Police Department.
Residents who walk their dogs must remove any feces left on others property. Remember—your dog’s business is YOUR BUSINESS!!!
Third, Some Doggone Helpful Links~
LOST or FOUND a pet? - check here http://www.austinlostpets.com or post a message on the Yahoo group. Also, the Austin American Statesman will run "Found Dog" notices free of charge.
Also check out http://www.lostadog.com or http://www.foundadog.com
Other pet resources -- http://wonderpuppy.net/canwehelp/
Austin Leash Free Areas -- http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/dogparks.htm
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Austin, Texas Codes of Ordinances
Volume I
Title III: Animals, Bees and Fowl
Chapter 3-3 DOGS AND CATS
Article I. General Provisions
§ 3-3-1 DEFINITIONS.
For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
OWNER means any person owning, feeding, keeping, maintaining or harboring a dog or cat. Harboring shall include knowingly allowing a dog or cat to remain on the owner's premises.
RUNNING AT LARGE means not under the direct physical control of the owner or handler by leash, cord, chain or similar direct physical control of a maximum length of six feet, and not being kept physically restrained from leaving the premises of the owner. The wearing of a muzzle by a dog shall not be regarded as control under this definition. Running at large does not include allowing a dog to be without direct physical control in certain areas as designated by the City Council, provided that in such designated areas, the dog is under the immediate personal supervision and command of its owner or handler.
REGISTRATION FEE means the annual administrative fee charged by the city or its designee for the registration of each dog or cat. This fee does not include vaccination fees.
VETERINARIAN means a doctor of veterinary medicine who holds a valid license to practice his profession.
VICIOUS DOG means that a determination that a dog is a vicious dog may be found upon the filing of appropriate affidavits with the Health Authority by affected or interested persons and the attending physician or veterinarian, where appropriate, attesting to the occurrence of the following acts:
(1) That on at least three separate occasions, a dog has bitten or scratched a person in the city,
(2) That on at least one occasion, a dog has bitten or scratched a person to an extent that the attending physician has presented a signed affidavit to the health Authority stating that the person’s life may have been endangered by such dog, or
(3) That on at least one occasion, a dog, while running at large, has killed another dog, cat, or other domestic pet, fowl or livestock or has seriously injured another such animal to an extent that the attending veterinarian has presented a signed affidavit to the Health Authority stating that the injured animal's life was seriously endangered or taken by such dog, or that such dog caused a significant permanent impairment of the injured animal's basic bodily functions or mobility; provided, however, that when the incident occurred, the killed or injured animal was not in violation of any provisions of Chapters 3-1, 3-2 or 3-3 of this Code of Ordinances concerning the confinement or physical control of dogs, fowl, livestock or other animals in the city.
('81 Code, § 3-3-1) (Ord. 860703-Q; Am. Ord. 900419-C; Am. Ord. 920528-F)
§ 3-3-2 DOGS RUNNING AT LARGE PROHIBITED; IMPOUNDMENT AUTHORIZED.
(A)Every owner of a dog and any person having charge, care, custody or control of any dog shall restrain such dog from running at large. ('81 Code, § 3-3-2)
(B)Employees of the city, as designated by the City Manager, are hereby authorized and empowered to enter upon any land, premises or public place and to take up and impound any dog which is observed by such employee to be running at large. No employees of the city shall enter a private residence for purpose of impounding any dog without first receiving permission from a lawful adult occupant of such residence. ('81 Code, § 3-3-6)
Penalty, see §3-3-999
§ 3-3-3 AREAS WHERE DIRECT PHYSICAL CONTROL NOT REQUIRED.
In the following designated areas dog owners and handlers may allow their dogs to be without direct physical control as required by this chapter provided that such dogs, while in the designated areas, shall remain under the immediate personal supervision and command of their owner or handler while within the designated areas:
(A)Auditorium Shores from South First Street west to Bouldin Creek.
(B)Zilker Park (that portion bounded by Stratford Drive, Barton Springs Road and Park River Road).
(C)Far West Boulevard right-of-way located between Great Northern Boulevard and Shoal Creek Boulevard.
(D)Surplus Robert Mueller Municipal Airport land (that portion bounded by Old Manor Road, Manor Road, the airport fence and Lovell Drive).
(E)Red Bud Isle, located east of Red Bud Trail.
(F)Onion Creek District Park (that portion south of Chunn Road).
(G)Northeast District Park (that portion bounded by Lake Long Road, Crystal Brook Drive and Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad right-of-way).
(H)Walnut Creek District Park (that portion bounded by Cedar Bend Drive, Walnut Creek and park fences on west and east sides).
(I)Lake Austin Metropolitan Park (that portion bounded by Park Drive, park fence on west side, Turkey Creek and top ridge of bluff line which overlooks Lake Austin).
(J)Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail from 24th Street to 29th Street.
(K)In such areas as the Director of the Parks and Recreation may determine.
('81 Code, § 3-3-3) (Am. Ord. 930930-G)
§ 3-3-4 FEMALE DOGS AND CATS IN HEAT.
(A)It shall be unlawful for the owner or person in control of any unspayed female dog, while such dog is in heat, to allow the same to be upon the streets and in public places of the city.
(B)It shall be unlawful for the owner or person in control of any unspayed female cat, while such cat is in heat, to allow the same to be outside a secure building or enclosure unless it is in the direct physical control of the owner or person in control of it.
('81 Code, § 3-3-4) (Ord. 920528-F) Penalty, see §3-3-999
§ 3-3-5 VICIOUS DOGS.
(A)Private property. Reasonable measures shall be taken by the owners, handlers, or keepers of any dog kept on private property to protect the public from accidental contact with any dog which, by its very nature or by training, has propensities to be a vicious dog, as defined in this chapter.
(B)Public places. It shall be unlawful for any owner or person in control of any vicious dog to keep or permit the same in and about any public house, public place, street or alley in the city.
(C)Revocation of dog registration. The Health Authority shall have the authority to revoke the dog registration of an owner of a dog which is determined to be vicious after a hearing, as authorized by this Code of Ordinances.
('81 Code, § 3-3-5) (Ord. 860703-Q) Penalty, see §3-3-999
§ 3-3-6 NOISY DOGS.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor any dog which makes frequent or long, continued noise which is disturbing to persons in the neighborhood who have normal nervous sensibilities.
('81 Code, § 3-3-9) Penalty, see §3-3-999
§ 3-3-7 DEFECATION BY DOGS OR CATS.
It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to promptly remove and dispose of, in a sanitary manner, feces left by a dog or cat being handled by that person on property, public or private, other than the premises of the owner or handler of such dog or cat.
('81 Code, § 3-3-10) Penalty, see §3-3-999
§ 3-3-999 PENALTY, and § 1-1-99 OFFENSES; GENERAL PENALTY.
Paraphrased: The offense is punishable by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $500 except an offense that is a violation of public health and sanitation which is punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000.