Ord 2024-4017_Revising Keeping of Animals

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ORDINANCE NO.2024-4017 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS, BY REVISING REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE KEEPING OF ANIMALS; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; CONTAINING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING THAT ANY PERSON VIOLATING THE TERMS OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE DEEMED GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND UPON CONVICTION SHALL BE FINED IN A SUM NOT TO EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS; PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE CAPTION HEREOF; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW; AND PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE: Section 1. Chapter 14, "Animals," Article I "In General", Section 14-1 "Definitions" of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte, Texas, is hereby adding and/or amending the following definitions, which definitions shall hereinafter read as follows: "Sec. 14-1. Definitions "Animal shall mean any living creature other than a Homo sapiens. Unless indicated otherwise, the term shall include livestock, fowl, reptiles, amphibians, and wildlife, as well as dogs, cats and other creatures commonly owned as pets. Animal foster home means a residential dwelling that accepts the responsibility for stewardship of animals through an affiliation with a public or private animal shelter or animal welfare organization. Cat means all domestic species or varieties of the genus Felis catus, male or female. Dog means all domestic species or varieties of the genus canis familiaris, male or female. Kennel means any lot, enclosure, premises, structure or building where five or more dogs and/or cats over the age of four months are kept or maintained for any purpose whatever and licensed in accordance with regulations established in Chapter 22 of this Code, except a veterinary hospital operated by a graduate veterinarian duly licensed by the state board of veterinary examiners, or the impound facility operated by the city. Livestock shall include, regardless of age, sex, or breed, horses and all equine species, including mules, donkeys, and jackasses; cows and all bovine species; sheep and all bovine species; llamas; goats and all caprine species; poultry; and pigs and all porcine species, and other hoofed animals, including miniature breeds. Premises means the area owned, leased, or controlled as a distinct portion of real estate. All owned and/or leased properties in the city shall each be defined as a "premise." -