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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 18-036ORDINANCE NO. 18-036 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 4.09 AND ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 4.10 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS TO MAKE CHANGES RELATING TO TRAP -NEUTER -RETURN OF FERAL CATS AND ANIMAL CARE FEES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL; AND PROVIDING A PENALTY. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT: Section 1. THAT Chapter 4, Article 4.09 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Beaumont, be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: ARTICLE 4.09 TRAP -NEUTER -RETURN Sec 4.09.001 Definitions Ear Tipped shall mean a surgical process performed on a cat during sterilization as part of a trap, neuter, return (TNR) program in which a diagonal cut is made on the left ear to remove the point of a cat's ear. Feral Cat shall mean any homeless, wild or untamed cat. Feral Cat Caretaker shall mean a person who participates in a trap, neuter, return (TNR) program by providing care, including food, shelter, and/or medical care to feral cats. Feral Cat Colony shall mean a concentrated group or population of feral cats having a common food source. Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) shall mean a program in which feral cats are trapped, vaccinated, sterilized, and ear tipped (for identification purposes) and returned to the location where they were originally trapped. Sec 4.09.002 Feral Cat Colony Registration (a) A Feral Cat Caretaker who manages a feral cat colony with nine (9) or more cats shall be required to register the colony with the Animal Care Manager, but shall not be required to obtain a commercial kennel permit or a dog and cat fancier permit. This registration will serve as a clearinghouse for information on current caretakers, education for new caretakers, and assistance with abating nuisance complaints. Sec 4.09.003 At -Large and Abandoned Cats (a) Any cat(s) participating in a TNR program shall not be considered to be at - large and shall not be impounded, unless they are causing a nuisance as defined in Section 4.01.003 or are dangerous as defined in Section 4.05.001. Feral cats impounded on a nuisance complaint may be relocated to another feral cat colony, transferred to a barn cat program, returned to a feral cat caretaker, humanely euthanized, or the nuisance may be abated by some other manner as determined by the Animal Care Manager. (b) A Feral Cat Caretaker who returns a feral cat to its original location as part of a TNR program is not deemed to have abandoned or dumped the animal as those terms are used in Section 4.02.003. Sec. 4.09.004 Feral Cat Ownership A Feral Cat Caretaker who manages cats as part of a TNR program shall not be considered the owner, harborer, keeper, holder, or possessor of such cats. Section 2. THAT Chapter 4, Article 4 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Beaumont, be and the same is hereby amended by adding a new Chapter 4, Article 4.10 to read as follows: ARTICLE 4.10 ANIMAL CARE FEES Sec. 4.10 Fees (a) Animal services: (1) Reclaim fee: $45.00 per occurrence. (b) Rabies vaccination fees: $15.00. (c) Preventative health vaccination: $15.00. (d) FIV/feline leukemia virus test: $15.00 (e) Heartworm test: $15.00 (f) Boarding: $15.00 per day. (g) Dead animal removal fee for veterinarians (1) Trip fee: $20.00 for one (1) animal. (2) Trip fee: $5.00 per animal in excess of one (1). (h) Kennel permit fee: $50.00 per year. (i) Dog and cat fanciers permit: (1) New permit: $200.00. (2) Renewal permit: $50.00. Q) Trap Rental Fee (shall consist of an administrative fee & refundable usage fee): (1) Administrative Fee: $10.00 (2) Refundable Usage Fee: $89.95 Special Rates: The City Manager may waive trap rental fees as circumstances warrant. (k) Adoption fees: (1) Unaltered adult animals: (A) Cats: $90.00. (B) Dogs: $120.00. (2) Altered or underage animals: (A) Cats: $30.00. (B) Dogs: $50.00. (3) The Adoption fees may be waived or modified at the discretion of the city manager. (1) Microchipping: $25.00 per animal. (m) Animal surrender fees (city residents only): (1) Cats: $15.00. (2) Dogs: $20.00. (n) Dangerous animal registration: $50.00 per year. (o) Owner requested euthanasia fee: (1) Cats: $15.00. (2) Dogs: $20.00. (p) Animal exhibition permit fee: $50.00. Section 3. That if any section, subsection, sentence, clause of phrase of this ordinance, or the application of same to a particular set of persons or circumstances, should for any reason be held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions of this ordinance, and to such end, the various portions and provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable. Section 4. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are repealed to the extent of the conflict only. Section 5. That any person who violates any provision of this ordinance shall, upon conviction, be punished, as provided in Section 1.01.009 of the Code or Ordinance of Beaumont, Texas. The meeting at which this ordinance was approved was in all things conducted in strict compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the 3rd day of July, 2018.