Dallas County has no dedicated cat ordinance. Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 826 mandates rabies vaccination for cats over four months. Dallas County HHS oversees rabies control; cities run licensing, TNR, and nuisance enforcement.
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 826 and Texas Administrative Code Title 25 Chapter 169, every cat over four months must carry a current rabies vaccination administered by a licensed veterinarian. Dallas County Health and Human Services serves as the local rabies control authority, coordinating bite reports, quarantines, and rabies testing through the state lab. Counties cannot impose stricter pet rules in incorporated areas, so cat licensing, leash exemptions, trap-neuter-return programs, and nuisance feeding rules vary by city. Dallas, Irving, Garland, and Mesquite each operate distinct cat policies, including community-cat TNR partnerships with rescue groups.
Unvaccinated cats trigger Class C misdemeanor citations under Chapter 826, with fines up to five hundred dollars. Bite incidents force ten-day quarantine at owner expense; chronic noncompliance can lead to impound and additional municipal penalties.
Dallas County, TX
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See how Dallas County's cat rules rules stack up against other locations.
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