FAQ

Q: Is there a leash law for dogs and cats?
A: The City of Amarillo does have a leash law for dogs and cats. The City ordinance requires that an animal must be restrained and confined on the premises of the owner. An animal is deemed restrained if it is within a fenced enclosure capable of confining the animal, fastened or picketed by a lead, rope or chain, on a leash, within a vehicle being driven or parked.

Q: How many animals can you have?
A: In the city limits of Amarillo, you may have four (4) animals over the age of three (3) months. Animals, not wild, livestock, or estray are permitted. Litters may be kept until the age of three (3) months at which time they will be considered adult animals and in violation of City ordinance. Any combination of dogs and/or cats make up the total number of four (4).

Q: What vaccinations do my animals need to comply with City and State law?
A: A rabies vaccination is the only vaccination required by State law. Other vaccinations are available and suggested for the protection of your pets. Contact a local veterinarian for the appropriate vaccines for your pet/s.

Q: Does my animal have to wear a tag?
A. Yes. Dogs and cats must wear their metallic rabies vaccination tag at all times. These tags also double as a back up identification in the even you are separated from your pet.

Q: Does the City of Amarillo have a pet-licensing program?
A: No. The City of Amarillo has no licensing program for pets.

Q: Can you have a wolf or wolf / hybrid dog in the City of Amarillo?
A: No. wolves or wolf / hybrid dogs are not permitted in the City of Amarillo. Wolves, or wolf / hybrid dogs are c considered wild animals and are strictly prohibited.

Q: Is there an ordinance on barking dogs?
A: Yes. Permitting an animal to bark, whine, howl, crow, cackle or make any other noise which causes annoyance or interference with the reasonable use and enjoyment of a premise is prohibited. Any person violating this may be issued a citation or a complaint can be filed in municipal court.

Q: Why do I have to file with the court on a barking dog?
A: If Animal Control goes to the address given for the barking dog and does not hear barking, a citation cannot be issued. You are the one that hears the barking and can testify to the violation. Filing a complaint in the court against the owner of the animal brings the owner before the judge. All attempts will be made to prevent this action if at all possible.

Q: Does the City provide traps for trapping of stray animals?
A: Yes. A trap may be checked out at the Animal Control Department for a period of two weeks. These traps may be used for the trapping of any stray or unwanted nuisance animals. Animal Control personnel will advise you on the proper use of traps when you check them out. Traps may only be used inside the City limits if checked out from the Animal Control Department.

If you are unable to come to the shelter to check out a trap, you may call 378-3092 to have one delivered.

Q: Do all animal bites need to be reported?
A: Yes. All bites must be reported to the Animal Control Department at 378-3092 or the Police Department at 378-3038 as soon as possible. Any animal bite / scratch which breaks the skin is a possible site for severe or deadly infection. All animal bites / scratches must be investigated by the Animal Control Department and the biting animal secured and possibly quarantined for a period of ten (10) days. The quarantine period is necessary to determine if the animal is free of the rabies virus and may be returned to the owner.

Q: Can I keep chickens at my house?
A: Yes. No more than twelve (12) fowl or poultry, may be kept in an area of one-half acre or less. They must be kept in sanitary conditions and adhere to the noise ordinance pertaining to nuisance animals such as barking dogs. Chickens must be confined to property at all times.

Q: Can I keep swine at my house?
A: No. It is prohibited to keep swine inside the limits of the City. Miniature pigs may be permitted under strict guidelines. Contact the Animal Control Department or see city ordinance Sec. 8-2-5 (b) for more information.

Q: Can I keep a wild animal at my house?
A: No wild animal may be kept at a residence.

Q: How much does it cost if Animal Control picks up my animal?
First Impoundment $15.00
Second Impoundment $30.00
Third Impoundment and thereafter $40.00
Daily care fees $ 5.00
Rabies Vaccination Voucher $10.00
Rabies Quarantine $70.00
Dangerous Animal Registration $100.00

Q: How much do citations cost?
A: Citations issued by Animal Control Officers are Class C Misdemeanors and the Municipal Court assesses the fines. Fines may sometimes increase for repeat offenses.

Q: When is the Animal Shelter open?
A: Amarillo Animal Control Office and Shelter
Monday – Friday 10 am to 7 pm
 

Animal Control Officers are on duty at 8 am Monday – Friday and on call after 7 pm on weekdays, Saturday, Sunday and Holidays.

For assistance during regular hours call 378-3092
After hours, call the Amarillo Police Department 378-3038

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT RABIES

Rabies is a disease caused by a virus carried by infected animals. Wild animals such as skunks, bats, raccoons, foxes and coyotes are the most high risk carriers of the rabies virus. Wild animals may infect a domestic pet with rabies; therefore, care should be taken to avoid situations where your pet and a wild animal may come in contact. Low risk wild animals are squirrels, opossums, and other small mammals.

All dogs, cats, and ferrets in the City of Amarillo are required by State law to be vaccinated against rabies. Vaccination is the best prevention against rabies. Adults should caution children to use care when approaching household pets and avoid contact with any wild animal.

Do not leave food for household pets outside. This may provide an opportunity for wild animals to seek out a food source and unnecessarily expose your domestic pets or family members to rabies. Also, pet doors are an easy tool for wild animals to gain entrance to a residence and possibly expose pets or humans.

The Animal Control Department can provide any additional information pertaining to rabies at 378-3092.


ANIMAL ADOPTION
The Amarillo-Panhandle Humane Society and Amarillo Animal Control / Shelter seek to bring deserving dogs and cats together with loving responsible owners while reducing the number of animals which are needlessly destroyed each year due to unavailable homes. We hope your visit to our site will both inform and encourage you to visit the Shelter and give that “special” dog or cat a place in your heart and home.

Location:

Amarillo-Panhandle Humane Society
www.amarillohumanesociety.com
3501 South Osage
Amarillo, TX 79103
(806) 373-1716

Amarillo Animal Control
3501 South Osage
Amarillo, TX 79103
(806) 378-3092

Pet Express
Westgate Mall between Cattle Call Restaurant / Sears
Saturdays Only 12:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.

The adoption process requires prospective owners to visit the shelter to view the animals available for adoption. Once you have made your selection, there are some basic requirements set forth by law which must be followed before your new friend can go home with you. As required by Texas State Law, all dogs and cats adopted from an animal shelter must be sterilized. This service is included as part of the adoption fees and is a mandatory part of the adoption process.

We always have a wonderful selection of dogs and cats available at the facility and look forward to helping you bring the joy of a new pet into your life and home.

The City of Amarillo makes no warranty regarding the availability of animals currently up for adoption. To inquire about the availability of any animals, please contact the Amarillo-Panhandle Humane Society at 373-1716.


LOST OR FOUND ANIMALS
If you have lost or found an animal in Amarillo, there are several steps that should be taken for the safety of the animal as well as the public.

To report a lost or found animal, contact the Amarillo-Panhandle Humane Society at 806-373-1716 to file a lost or found report.
Call Amarillo Globe News at 376-5221 to place a free ad pertaining to lost or found animal.
Place posters in neighborhood of lost or found animal with a description of animal, location, and phone number, of how to locate the animal. Also, the Animal Control Department offers a space for lost or found pet posters in the lobby of the Office.
Animal owners are liable for their pet’s actions. You can prevent your animal from causing injury to someone else if it is confined to your property, or leashed and controlled as required by law. The animal’s actions must be restricted and regulated when not on the owner’s property. Failure to comply with animal control laws could result in legal action.


TIPS ON CARING FOR YOUR CAT
An Inside Cat is a Safe Cat!

If you want your cat to live a long and healthy life, keep him / her inside. If you allow your cat to roam on their own, without supervision, they are susceptible to any of the following tragedies:

Becoming hit by a car.
Ingesting a deadly poison like antifreeze or a pesticide.
Becoming trapped by an unhappy neighbor.
Being attacked by a roaming dog, cat or wild animal.
Contracting a disease from another animal.
Becoming lost and unable to find their way home.
Being stolen.
Encountering an adult or child with cruel intentions.
Reasons to Keep Your Cat Indoors:

· Indoor cats are less likely to be hit by a car when crossing the living room than when crossing the street.

· Indoor cats and their owners are less apt to have fleas, fungus (ringworm infection), or rabies.

· Indoor cats are less likely to be exposed to stray cats or other animals who can transmit diseases such as feline leukemia (FeLV), feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), rabies, and many others.

· Less chance of getting caught in a humane live trap.

· It will be more difficult for people to steal an indoor cat.

Helpful advice:
Keep your kitten indoors – he / she will not miss the outdoors if they have never been outside. Your kitten will grow up to be a cat who does not scratch at the door at all hours of the day and night to go outside.

Play Time:
Playing with an indoor cat easily satisfies the animal’s stalking instinct and keeps the cat stimulated and healthy through exercise. In fact, the indoor cat who gets a lot of attention and playtime is happier than the indoor-outdoor cat who is generally ignored by human companions. Cat owners can easily create feline-friendly homes that meet all of their cats’ needs. Many innovative and fun toys can help make the indoor life a great but safe adventure. Cats are healthier and happier when safely confined.

House-training Your Puppy or Dog
Proper house-training of a puppy (or adult dog) is essential if he / she is to be a welcome member of the family. Fortunately, dogs have instincts that make it easy to teach them proper habits if we are consistent and patient with them. Because dogs are den animals they prefer not to soil their sleeping area. This is the basis of house-training.

Major Points to Follow for Successful House-training:

• Keep your puppy or dog confined when not directly supervised.
  Crates are an excellent way to confine your pet. A crate should be large enough for the puppy or dog to stand, turn and lie down comfortably, but not so large as to give the animal the impression that it can use part of the crate as a toilet. Young puppies should not be left in a crate for more than two hours at a time. As your dog gets older, you may need to crate him while you are at work, but make sure he is out with you as much as possible and gets plenty of exercise. To teach the puppy or dog to stay in the crate, line it with a soft towel or mat; put in a few toys and maybe a snack for the puppy. You might also want to feed the puppy in the crate so that it learns that the crate is a good place. Initially, leave the door open and let your pet go in and out. Next, close the door for a few minutes at a time. If you put the puppy or dog in the crate after playing with him, he will most likely go to sleep right away. If used correctly, dogs learn rapidly that the crate is a good place to be. If you do not have a crate, keep your pet where you can keep an eye on him - and confined in a small, safe area when you cannot. Baby gates are ideal for both keeping a puppy near you and creating an area for him to stay in while you are gone. Block off the kitchen or laundry room, put papers down on the floor, and put his bed and toys in there with him. Unlike a solid door which isolates and upsets him or her, a pet gate allows your puppy to see, hear and smell its family.
• Take your puppy or dog out frequently.
  This is the most important point of house-training: You must take your pet out frequently! This means after waking up, after eating and after playing. Take the puppy out to the same spot in your yard each time and when the puppy does the right thing, praise him! Learn to recognize his "pre-potty pattern," such as walking around, circling and sniffing the floor.
• Do not punish your puppy for accidents in the house.
  If you do not catch him doing it, do not punish him for it! If you catch your pet in the act while in the house, tell him "No!" Pick him up and take him right out to his spot in the yard. Praise him when he goes in the right spot. Never hit your puppy or dog; a stern "No!" is enough to stop him when needed. If you find a place in the house where the puppy has had an accident, do not take him there, rub his nose in it, or punish him. It is too late by the time you find it to correct the problem (the animal will not understand what it is being punished for) and you will only succeed in making him afraid of you. Just clean up the mess, use a commercial pet deodorizer to remove the smell and plan to watch him more closely.