Carrollton, TX Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

044(A)(4) requires a person adopting a pet older than four months to submit proof, within 30 days of the adoption date, that the pet is vaccinated for rabies and spayed or neutered. 044(B) covers younger animals: adopters of pets under four months old must instead sign a contract specifying the dates by which the animal will be spayed or neutered and vaccinated, and failing to meet those contract terms is itself a violation of the section. 044(C) lets the DCO refuse to release an adopted animal still at the shelter if the adopter has not complied with these terms.

042(B)(3) creates a separate mandatory-sterilization trigger for repeat strays: once an owner's animal is impounded a third time within any 12-month period, the owner must submit proof of sterilization within 30 days of release, using a certification form signed by the sterilizing veterinarian; an owner who instead has the animal sterilized by animal services before redemption can have the impound fee waived but must pay a sterilization fee. A fourth impoundment in 12 months allows animal services to sterilize the animal before redemption outright, unless the animal was at large due to a natural disaster, fire, or the criminal act of a third party.

042(B)(3)(c) for animals registered with a national breed or sporting club, professionally trained service or police animals, and animals at large due to those same exigent circumstances.