Ordinance No. 15,223 ORDINANCE NO. 15,223
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS,
AMENDING CHAPTER 14"ANIMALS,"ARTICLE I"IN GENERAL,"OF THE CODE
OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS, TO ADD SECTION 14-9
"MICROCHIP REQUIRED," TO REQUIRE THE OWNER OF ANY DOG OR CAT
KEPT WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN TO HAVE
THE ANIMAL IMPLANTED WITH A MICROCHIP AND REGISTERED WITH A
MICROCHIP REGISTRY; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; CONTAINING A
SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN,TEXAS:
Section 1: That Chapter 14 "Animals," Article I "In General," of the Code of Ordinances, City
of Baytown, Texas, is hereby amended to add Section 14-9 "Microchip required," which shall read as
follows:
CHAPTER 14. ANIMALS
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL
Sec. 14-9. Microchip required.
(a) The owner of any dog or cat kept within the corporate limits of the City of Baytown must have the
animal implanted with a microchip and registered with a microchip registry.
(b) If the dog or cat is less than four months of age, the pet owner must have the animal implanted with
a microchip and registered with a microchip registry within thirty(30)days of the animal attaining
four(4) months of age.
(c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that:
(1) the owner of the dog or cat has resided in the city for fewer than thirty (30) calendar days;
(2) the dog or cat was under four(4) months of age;
(3) the dog or cat was being held for sale by a retail pet store or for adoption by animal services
or an animal rescue organization;
(4) the dog or cat was owned by a governmental agency or veterinarian; or
(5) the dog or cat qualifies for a medical exception from a licensed veterinarian in writing.
(d) The owner of a dog or cat must keep the microchip link information current with the microchip
registration company to ensure the animal owner can be contacted in the event of an emergency.
(1) If the owner's contact information changes for the registered microchipped dog or cat, the
owner shall update the contact information, including address and telephone number, with
the microchip registration company within thirty (30) calendar days after the change in
contact information.
(2) If the ownership of the registered microchipped dog or cat changes, the initial owner shall be
responsible for ensuring the microchip is no longer registered in the initial owner's name
within thirty (30) calendar days after the change in ownership.
(3) The new owner shall be responsible for re-registering the microchip in the new owner's name,
to include the new address and telephone number, within thirty (30) calendar days after the
change in ownership.
(e) All dogs or cats that are processed through or held in the animal shelter shall be microchipped prior
to being released to an adopted owner or released to a prior owner. The cost of the microchip will
be added to the adoption fees or impoundment fees.
(f) The microchip fee is nonrefundable and may be used only for the dog or cat for which it was issued.
Section 2: All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the terms of this ordinance
are hereby repealed; provided, however, that such repeal shall be only to the extent of such inconsistency.
In all other respects, this ordinance shall be cumulative of other ordinances regulating and governing the
subject matter covered by this ordinance.
Section 3: If any provision, section, exception, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or
phrase of this ordinance or the application of same to any person or set of circumstances shall for any reason
be held unconstitutional, void, or invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining
provisions of this ordinance or their application to other persons or sets of circumstances; and to this end,
all provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable.
Section 4: This ordinance shall take effect on or after July 1, 2023. The City Clerk is hereby
directed to give notice hereof by causing the caption of this ordinance to be published in the official
newspaper of the City of Baytown at least twice within ten(10)days after passage of this ordinance.
INTRODUCED, READ and PASSED by the affirmative vote of the City Council of the City of
Baytown this the 13"day of October, 2022.
RANDON CAPETILLO Mayor
ATTEST:
5pYTOW f° �,°°
ANGELA YACKSON, y Clerk
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APPROVE AS O FO O ��P
SCOTT LE ND,City Attorney
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