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- Register and vaccinate your pets<\/li>\n
- Spay or neuter your pets<\/li>\n
- Walk your pets on a leash at all times<\/li>\n
- Properly confine your pets<\/li>\n
- Limit your number of pets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n
Keep your pets and families safe by:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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- Reporting loose dogs and dangerous dogs to 311<\/li>\n
- Report the illegal sale of puppies and kittens <\/a>to 311 and 911<\/li>\n
- Report dog fighting, abuse, neglect, and puppy mill abuse to 311, the SPCA<\/a>, and 911<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Education and intervention are the first steps to making great neighbors and great neighborhoods for ourselves and for our pets. Please share our resources with your neighbors and let\u2019s move forward\u00a0a spay and neuter culture and a culture of compliance for animal laws. This will turn around animal issues in our communities and make safe places for us to live and thrive.\u00a0Where should we start?<\/p>\n
There are three areas of focus YOU can help with:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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- Education<\/li>\n
- Intervention<\/li>\n
- Enforcement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If any of your neighbors are having trouble complying with animal laws due to lack of resources, please reach out to Dallas Animal Services<\/a> (DAS) and the Dallas Animal Companion Project<\/a> (DCAP). DAS and DCAP have programs that can help with everything on this list down to help fixing a fence. We have also included links to low and no cost resources to share with your neighbors.<\/p>\n
The 2014 Dallas Animal Services\u2019 budget has been restored. That is not to say that the DAS budget is not still tight, it is. But public safety should be a high priority and a base\u00a0service of Animal Services. Your tax dollars allow you to expect help and cooperation from DAS with compliance and loose animals issues. Picking up loose dogs is the first step to stopping the breeding cycle that makes more loose unwanted dogs. Loose dogs are a major safety concern for our city council. If you are not getting the support and response you need from DAS in regard to loose animals, contact your city council representative<\/a>.
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<\/a><\/p>\nTo help support proactive conversations with your neighbors, your neighborhood associations, organizations, churches, PTAs, schools, etc. we have posted several flyers\u00a0you can print and share:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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- Straight Talk About Nuts<\/a><\/li>\n
- Your Pets Your Responsibilities <\/a>(also listed below) The flyer is in Spanish and English<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If trying to educate your neighbors to the spirit of the law and letting them know about available resources doesn’t encourage them to get in compliance with the law, you can request a DAS officer visit to do the same. If an educational intervention from DAS doesn\u2019t work, then the DAS officer has the option to write tickets or seize animals if they are in danger. We are the animals’ voices \u2013 we should not hesitate to help them.<\/p>\n
Here are The Specifics Of The Law<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
Vaccination and Registration<\/strong> \u2013 Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies and wear a City of Dallas registration tag. Dallas Animal Services<\/a> (DAS) will issue your pet’s tag when you provide the vaccination certificate from your veterinarian. You can do this online<\/a> or at DAS. The annual registration fee is $7 for spayed or neutered animals, and $30 for unaltered animals. Senior citizens may register up to three (3) altered animals at no charge. It is recommended best practices for your pet to receive additional vaccinations on an annual basis. This is not the law, but again, will protect your pet and your family further. These vaccinations guard against deadly animal diseases like parvo, distemper, lepto etc.<\/p>\n
Low cost vaccinations are available at the SPCA<\/a>, DAS, and at many locations throughout the city. With a large population of stray and loose animals, it is especially important to vaccinate your animals annually. Here is a link to many available low cost resources\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n
Spaying and Neutering<\/strong> \u2013 Dogs and cats six (6) months or older must be spayed or neutered, with certain exceptions as outlined in Chapter 7. A special Intact Animal Permit may be purchased and must be updated YEARLY to qualify for an exception. Low cost \u00a0spay and neuter resources are available through: the SPCA<\/a>,\u00a0the Spay Neuter Network, and other resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Did you know that chained, unneutered males top the list of dogs most likely to attack? Unneutered males are right behind them and are statistically more likely\u00a0to\u00a0bite family members. Keep your family and your neighborhood safe. Promote a spay and neuter culture in the city and expect compliance from your neighbors. Read more about the advantages of spay and neutering your pets on our link to Straight Talk About Nuts<\/a>.<\/p>\n
When should you fix your pet?<\/strong> You can \u201cFix at Four<\/a>\u201d months old. Consult with your veterinarian to know what is the right time for your pet. There are many advantages of spaying and neutering your pets – read our link to “Straight talk about nuts<\/a>”<\/p>\n
Confining Your Pet<\/strong> \u2013 Animals must be confined to their owner\u2019s property<\/a>. If your dog is confined outside, even for just a short time, it must have a fenced yard or other structure that will prevent it from escaping. Within this area, each adult dog must have at least 150 square feet of space. Also, each dog must have access to food, shelter and water. It is against the law to chain or tether an unsupervised dog (see chapter 7)<\/a><\/p>\n
If you see a loose pet, please report it to 3-1-1 via phone or the 311 app<\/a>. Or call 214-670-5111. Loose dogs can be hit by cars, fight with other dogs, chase bikers, kill cats, and attack children. Please be diligent about reporting loose dogs. Feel free to use this handout to talk to your neighbors about confining their dogs \u2013 it is a safety and quality of life issues for pets and people alike.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/yellowdog-poster-english-212x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Click to Enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n
Walking With Your Dog<\/strong> \u2013 When you\u2019re walking your dog, always have it on a leash \u2013 even in a public park. It\u2019s AGAINST THE LAW to walk your dog off-leash unless you\u2019re at a designated dog park. Many dogs do not like other dogs approaching them. Don\u2019t be the guy that runs after their dog yelling, \u201cmy dog is friendly<\/a>\u201d as your dog runs up on a leashed dog. Some dogs are old, or less social, fearful, blind \u2013 you don\u2019t know, so be considerate and follow the law. And some dogs will become frightened or aggressive when the see you running and hear you yelling after your dog when it will not come back on command. It should be a dog owner’s choice to interact with another dog. Check out DINOS<\/a> and The Yellow Dog Project<\/a> to understand more about why everyone does not want to say hello to your \u00a0loose dog. Here’s an awesome handout called Should I leash my dog<\/a> – you can print it and share.<\/p>\n
![\"shouldileash-final-website\"](\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/shouldileash-final-website-1-233x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Click to Enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n
Riding With Your Dog in a\u00a0Truck Bed\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0– It is also against the law to carry an animal in a flat bed or pick-truck unless the animal is in a carrier that is secured as outline in Chapter 7<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Dog Poop<\/strong> – When walking remember your doggie poop bags. It is against the law to leave your dog poop<\/a> on the ground. Dog poop on the ground is more than just annoying and smelly when it gets on your shoes, it gets in the storm water that ends up in our waterways an lakes, so pick up the poop! Dog poop\u00a0is the #3 polluter of our great nation\u2019s lakes, rivers and streams, and is full of harmful bacteria \u2013 some of which can spread disease to humans. So pick up the poop and throw it in the trash!<\/p>\n
Selling or Auctioning Animals<\/strong> \u2013 We are making a readers digest type statement here, but it is generally \u00a0against the law to sell unvaccinated unregistered animals<\/a>\u00a0or raffle or auction an animal as a prize. This includes ROADSIDE SALES OF PUPPIES, kittens and other animals, as well as any type of raffle, drawing or other fundraising event.<\/p>\n
If you witness the illegal sale of animals on the side of the road, PLEASE REPORT<\/a> the sale by call both 3-1-1 and 9-1-1. \u00a0Refer to city code 7-72.<\/a> These people are not legitimate breeders and they are breaking a law and subject to being ticketed or arrested. Generally, road side puppies have not been properly vetted and vaccinated and are at risk of dying from common disease like parvo and distemper (after you buy them). Please intervene on the puppy\u2019s behalf. You could be saving a puppy from a horrible unnecessary death.<\/p>\n
Animal Cruelty<\/strong> \u2013 Animal cruelty is A FELONY in Texas. Dallas Animal Services <\/a>enforces state statutes as well as city laws against animal abuse, neglect, abandonment and cruelty. If you suspect cruelty or neglect \u2013 please report it to 3-1-1 or 214.770-5111 or to the SPCA. If you witness animal abuse, report it to 9-1-1. Need an incentive? The Human Society offers a $5,000 reward for tips that lead to an arrest for dog fighting<\/a> and or puppy mill abuse<\/a>.<\/p>\n
- Your Pets Your Responsibilities <\/a>(also listed below) The flyer is in Spanish and English<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Straight Talk About Nuts<\/a><\/li>\n
- Report dog fighting, abuse, neglect, and puppy mill abuse to 311, the SPCA<\/a>, and 911<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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