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 Dallas Animal Services is responsible for the enforcement of the Texas Rabies Control Act and Chapter 7 (Animals) of the Dallas City Code.
Call the City Services Dispatch at 3-1-1 (or (214) 670-5111 when dialing from outside the city limits) to report violations and call the Dallas Animal Services at (214) 670-8226 for other questions or assistance.
Animal Services urges caution against dog bites
Did You Know...?
Animal Services does these activities too:
- Leash Law Violations - impound loose stray animals from City streets for prevention of rabies.
- Humane Traps - provide humane traps for capture of wildlife and feral cats.
- Respond to Confined Animals Request - impoundment of dogs, cats, wildlife, etc.
- Animal Quarantine - respond to and investigate animal bites.
- Disturbance by Animals - respond to complaints of noisy animals.
- Animal Redemption - care of animals until redeemed by owners.
- Adoption of Dogs and Cats - adoption offered for unclaimed dogs and cats.
- Enforce Dangerous Dog laws, City and State.
- Euthanasia - humanely destroy sick, injured and unadoptable animals.
- Prohibited Animals - respond to prohibited animal complaints (exotic animals not allowed as pets).
- Animal Cruelty - Enforces State laws and City code regarding the human treatment of all animals within the jurisdictional limits of the City of Dallas.
- Unsanitary Conditions - Investigates and resolves animal related unsanitary conditions to protect human and animal health and safety.
- Rabies Vaccination and City of Dallas Registration - enforce state law and City Code requiring all dogs and cats three months of age to be vaccinated for rabies and four months of age to be registered with the City of Dallas annually.
- Enforces Dallas City Ordinances regarding dogs defecating on public and private property (also known as the Pooper Scooper Law).
Did You Know About . . . ?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 any and all dead animals from streets, roadways, and private property, call 3-1-1.
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).
Manure
Manure must be collected daily, stored in fly proof containers, and removed from the property once a week.
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.
Pens, etc.
Pens, stables and enclosures must not be erected within 20 feet of the adjacent property line.
Animal Shelters
Call the City's animal shelters to find out if your animal has been impounded. Call the Forney Road Animal Shelter, (214) 670-8389, or the Oak Cliff Shelter, (214) 670-1965.
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
8414 Forney Road
Dallas, TX 75227
214-671-0106
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.
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.
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