Statute in Full:
823.001. Definitions
In this chapter:
(1) "Animal shelter" means a facility that keeps or legally impounds stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted animals.
(2) "Board" means the Texas Board of Health.
(3) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of health.
(4) "Department" means the Texas Department of Health.
CREDIT(S)
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
823.002. Exemption for Certain Counties, Clinics, and Facilities
This chapter does not apply to:
(1) a county having a population of less than 75,000;
(2) a veterinary medicine clinic; or
(3) a livestock commission facility.
CREDIT(S)
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 14, § 280, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.
823.003. Standards for Animal Shelters; Criminal Penalty
(a) Each animal shelter operated in this state shall comply with the standards for:
(1) housing and sanitation existing on September 1, 1982, and adopted under Chapter 826; and (2) animal control officer training adopted under Chapter 829. (b) An animal shelter shall separate animals in its custody at all times by species, by sex (if known), and if the animals are not related to one another, by size.
(c) An animal shelter may not confine healthy animals with sick, injured, or diseased animals.
(d) Each person who operates an animal shelter shall employ a veterinarian at least once a year to inspect the shelter to determine whether it complies with the requirements of this chapter and Chapter 829. The veterinarian shall file copies of the veterinarian's report with the person operating the shelter and with the department on forms prescribed by the department.
(e) The board may require each person operating an animal shelter to keep records of the date and disposition of animals in its custody, to maintain the records on the business premises of the animal shelter, and to make the records available for inspection at reasonable times.
(f) A person commits an offense if the person substantially violates this section. An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor.
CREDIT(S)
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., ch. 1331, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2007.
823.004. Personnel Training
The board shall prescribe standards and charge reasonable fees for training animal shelter personnel in animal health and disease control, humane care and treatment of animals, control of animals in an animal shelter, and the transportation of animals.
CREDIT(S)
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
823.005. Advisory Committee
(a) The governing body of a county or municipality in which an animal shelter is located shall appoint an advisory committee to assist in complying with the requirements of this chapter.
(b) The advisory committee must be composed of at least one licensed veterinarian, one county or municipal official, one person whose duties include the daily operation of an animal shelter, and one representative from an animal welfare organization.
(c) The advisory committee shall meet at least three times a year.
CREDIT(S)
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
§ 823.006. Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 30, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003
823.007. Injunction
A court of competent jurisdiction may, on the petition of any person, prohibit by injunction the substantial violation of this chapter.
CREDIT(S)
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
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