Animal Ordinances in Harris County, TX (2026)

Texas Agriculture Code Sec. 161.001, 161.003 (Definitions and County Cooperation — Texas Animal Health Commission)

Sec. 161.001. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this chapter: (1) "Animal" includes livestock, exotic livestock, domestic fowl, and exotic fowl. (2) "Commission" means the Texas Animal Health Commission. ... (4) "Exotic livestock" means grass-eating or plant-eating, single-hooved or cloven-hooved mammals that are not indigenous to this state and are known as ungulates, including animals from the swine, horse...

Texas Health and Safety Code Sec. 822.042 (Requirements for Owner of Dangerous Dog — Leash and Secure Enclosure)

Sec. 822.042. REQUIREMENTS FOR OWNER OF DANGEROUS DOG. (a) Not later than the 30th day after a person learns that the person is the owner of a dangerous dog, the person shall: (1) register the dangerous dog with the animal control authority for the area in which the dog is kept; (2) restrain the dangerous dog at all times on a leash in the immediate control of a person or in a secure enclosure;...

Texas Health & Safety Code Sec. 822.047 (Local Regulation of Dangerous Dogs)

Sec. 822.047. LOCAL REGULATION OF DANGEROUS DOGS. A county or municipality may place additional requirements or restrictions on dangerous dogs if the requirements or restrictions:(1) are not specific to one breed or several breeds of dogs; and(2) are more stringent than restrictions provided by this subchapter. Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 916, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. SUBCHAPTER E. DA...

Texas Health and Safety Code Sec. 822.101 (Dangerous Wild Animals — Definitions)

Sec. 822.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: ... (4) "Dangerous wild animal" means: (A) a lion; (B) a tiger; (C) an ocelot; (D) a cougar; (E) a leopard; (F) a cheetah; (G) a jaguar; (H) a bobcat; (I) a lynx; (J) a serval; (K) a caracal; (L) a hyena; (M) a bear; (N) a coyote; (O) a jackal; (P) a baboon; (Q) a chimpanzee; (R) an orangutan; (S) a gorilla; or (T) any hybrid of an animal listed in...

Tex. Penal Code Ch. 42 (Disorderly Conduct and Related Offenses)

Sec. 42.092. CRUELTY TO NONLIVESTOCK ANIMALS. (a) In this section:(1) "Abandon" includes abandoning an animal in the person's custody without making reasonable arrangements for assumption of custody by another person.(2) "Animal" means a domesticated living creature, including any stray or feral cat or dog, and a wild living creature previously captured.

Texas Health & Safety Code Sec. 826.022 (Restraint and Vaccination of Dogs and Cats)

Sec. 826.022. VACCINATION; CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person commits an offense if the person fails or refuses to have each dog or cat owned by the person vaccinated against rabies and the animal is required to be vaccinated under:(1) Section 826.021 and department rules; or(2) ordinances or rules adopted under this chapter by a county or municipality within whose jurisdiction the act occurs.(b) A...

Texas Health & Safety Code Sec. 828.003 (Sterilization Required)

Sec. 828.003. STERILIZATION AGREEMENT. (a) The sterilization agreement used by a releasing agency must contain:(1) the date of the agreement;(2) the names, addresses, and signatures of the releasing agency and the new owner;(3) a description of the animal to be adopted;(4) the sterilization completion date; and(5) a statement, printed in conspicuous, bold print, that sterilization of the animal...

Harris County Code of Ordinances, Ch. 5, Subchapter 5A, Sec 5.2

5.2 In order to be licensed by HCPH VPH, the custodian must provide the identification number of the dog or cat's implanted microchip, a physical description of the animal, and proof that the animal is currently vaccinated against rabies.

Tex. Parks and Wildlife Code Sec. 64.002 (Protection of Nongame Birds)

Sec. 64.002. PROTECTION OF NONGAME BIRDS. (a) Except as provided by this code, no person may:(1) catch, kill, injure, pursue, or possess, dead or alive, or purchase, sell, expose for sale, transport, ship, or receive or deliver for transportation, a bird that is not a game bird;(2) possess any part of the plumage, skin, or body of a bird that is not a game bird; or(3) disturb or destroy ...