Pharr, TX Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Vicious animal means any animal:

(1) With a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack without provocation, to cause injury or to otherwise threaten the safety of human beings or domestic animals;

(2) Which, without provocation, has attacked or injured a human being or domestic animal;

(3) Owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of fighting, or any animal trained for fighting;

(4) Which, without provocation, chases or approaches a person upon the streets, sidewalks or any public or private property in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack; or

(5) Which has behaved in such a manner that the owner thereof knows or should reasonably know that the animal is possessed of tendencies to attack or to bite human beings or other animals.

(b) If an animal control officer or designee has cause to believe that an animal is vicious as defined in subsection (a) hereof, the animal control officer or designee shall so find and declare that animal a vicious animal.

(c) No animal may be declared vicious for injury or damage sustained by a person who was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises of the animal's owner.

(d) No animal may be declared vicious for injury or damage sustained by a person who was teasing, tormenting, abusing or assaulting the animal.

(Ord. No. O-2015-23, § 11, 4-21-15; Ord. No. O-2017-12, § 11, 4-3-17; Ord. No. O-2019-34,