Dallas Animal Services is responsible for the enforcement of the Texas Rabies Control Act and Chapter 7 of the Dallas City Code.

Pet Registration Notice

Animal Bites
Animal Noise
Animal Production
Animal in Your Yard
Animal Shelter
Dead Animal Pickup
Dog and Cat Registration
Horses
Leash Law
Manure
Number of Animals
Pens
Pooper Scooper Law
Vicious Dog

Animal Bites
A person bitten/scratched by an animal should report the incident by calling 3-1-1. Dallas Animal Services will investigate the incident and quarantine the animal if the attack caused broken skin. (Back to Top)

Animal Noise
Noise made by any animal is considered unreasonable if it continues for more than 15 minutes or exceeds the sound pressure level allowed in a residential district. A person who is disturbed by an animal who unreasonably barks, howls, crows, or makes other unreasonable noise may file a disturbance complaint with Dallas Animal Services, who will mail a notice to the owner. If the disturbance continues, the complainant may file a civil complaint with the City Attorney's Office at 2014 Main Street, Room 206, or call (214) 670-4439. (Back to Top)

Animal Production
An area used for the raising of animals (including fish) and the development of animal products on a commercial basis may not be on a site of less than three acres. Violators may be reported to by calling
3-1-1. (Back to Top)

Animal in Your Yard
A resident who finds an animal on their property may confine the animal in a humane manner. The resident must notify Dallas Animal Services within 72 hours by calling 3-1-1 to have the animal impounded. The impounded animal must be claimed within three days, after which it may be adopted, sold, or euthanized. Traps designed to harm or kill an animal are forbidden, unless the trap is designed to kill common rodents and is not placed where other domestic animals may be endangered. (Back to Top)

Animal Shelter
Dallas Animal Services new location is at 1818 N. Westmoreland. Call 214-671-0315 to find out if your animal has been impounded. Call
214-671-0249 for adoption information only. The Forney Road Animal Shelter and the Oak Cliff Shelter are now closed. (Back to Top)

Dead Animal Pickup

It is illegal for a person to leave the body of a dead animal, which belonged to him/her, on or in any public or private premises. For the removal of dead animals from streets, roadways, and private property, call 3-1-1. (Back to Top)

Dog and Cat Registration
The owner or harborer of a dog or cat must have the animal vaccinated either annually or tri-annually for rabies, present a certificate of vaccination, and pay an annual registration fee to Dallas Animal Services to obtain a registration tag for the animal.

For more information, call

Dallas Animal Registration
1818 N. Westmoreland
Dallas, TX 75212
214-671-0106

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Horses
Horses, for the private use of the property owner, may be kept within the City on a lot or tract of sufficient square footage for the number of horses kept (15,000 square feet for one horse).   (Back to Top)

Leash Law
All animals, including cats, must be confined at all times. This means that any animal must be restrained at all times in a fenced yard, in an enclosed pen or structure, or by a tether or leash.
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Manure
Manure must be collected daily, stored in fly proof containers, and removed from the property once a week  . (Back to Top)

Number of Animals

Only four dogs, cats, or any combination of dogs or cats are allowed on the premises of a dwelling unit that shares a common wall with another dwelling unit. The City does not limit the number of pets in detached houses.   (Back to Top)

Pens, etc.
Pens, stables and enclosures must not be erected within 20 feet of the adjacent property line.   (Back to Top)

Pooper Scooper Law
Chapter 7 of the Dallas City Ordinance, Section 7-4.8 requires the owner, harborer, or a person having care, custody, or control of a dog, to remove in an immediate, and sanitary manner, any feces created by their dog on public property, or any private property not owned, leased, or controlled by them. It further requires those individuals to have in their possession a device for the safe and sanitary removal and disposal of dog feces. Violators may be reported to the City by calling 3-1-1, and they are also subject to citation and possible fine if observed by city officers at any time. (Back to Top)

Vicious Dog
Dangerous dogs fall under provisions of state law as well as city ordinance. The Texas Health and Safety Code defines a dangerous dog as one who, in a place other than a dog's enclosure, makes an unprovoked attack that causes bodily injury, or causes a reasonable person to believe that the dog will attack. In addition to the normal requirements for dog ownership, the owner or harborer of a dangerous dog must register the dog as a dangerous dog, restrain the dog at all times on a leash or in a secure enclosure, and obtain liability insurance of at least $100,000.
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