Lost or found a pet?

Inside Livingston city limits

• No dog may run at large or go onto someone else's property (sec. 6-142).
• Off your property, a dog must be on a leash or chain strong enough to control it, held by the owner, a family member or someone acting for them.
• At home, a dog must be fenced in, kept inside, or chained so it cannot leave the property even with the chain at full length.
• Every dog in the city must have a city license and a rabies vaccination, and must wear its city tag at all times (secs. 6-113 to 6-117). Licenses run April 1 to April 1.
• A female dog in heat may not be on the streets or in public places unless her owner is with her (sec. 6-118).
• If a loose dog comes onto your property, you may hold it and call Livingston Animal Control to pick it up (sec. 6-143).
• Impounded dogs: the owner has 3 days to claim the dog and pay the impound and daily boarding fees. After that the city may sell it or put it down (secs. 6-144, 6-145).
• Penalty: the code sets no specific fine for a loose dog, so the city's general penalty applies: generally a fine of up to $500, and each day counts as a separate offense (sec. 1-13).

Inside Onalaska city limits

• No dog or cat may run at large. Off the owner's property, it must be on a leash held by someone able to control it, or inside a closed vehicle.
• At home, it must not have access to a sidewalk or street.
• No pets at all, leashed or not, in the water park, fenced playgrounds, the basketball pavilion, or inside the fences of the baseball, softball, T-ball and football fields.
• Every dog and cat over 4 months old needs a city license and a rabies vaccination. Fees are set by the city council.
• A household may keep up to 2 dogs, or up to 4 dogs and cats combined. More than that needs a kennel license.
• Owners must pick up their pet's waste on anyone else's property.
• Barking: a nuisance complaint needs video of at least 15 minutes of continuous barking.
• Penalty: a Class C misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $500.

Inside Corrigan city limits

• All dogs and cats must be kept under restraint and may not run at large (sec. 2.211).
• Exception: a dog may be off leash while under the direct supervision of its owner or caretaker.
• Every dog and cat must have a city license by 6 months old: $25 a year, or a one-time $5 if spayed or neutered. A rabies certificate is required to get one (sec. 2.202).
• Rabies shots are due before 6 months old and at least every 3 years after. New residents have 10 days to comply (sec. 2.203).
• No more than 4 dogs and cats combined per household. Breeders, kennels and new litters are exempt (sec. 2.212).
• Impounded animals: police pick up loose dogs and cats with no tag and take them to the county shelter. To get one back before it is transferred, bring proof of rabies vaccination and a city license, and pay a $50 impound fee (secs. 2.204, 2.205).
• Nuisance animals (noise, knocked-over trash, damage) get a warning first. A repeat can mean a charge, a 72-hour impound and a $50 fee (secs. 2.502, 2.504).
• Penalty: a misdemeanor, generally with a fine of up to $500. Each day counts as a separate offense (secs. 2.600, 1.109).

The code also lists 13 breeds, among them pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds and huskies, as "dangerous dogs" that need $50,000 of liability insurance (sec. 2.210). Texas law forbids breed-specific dangerous-dog rules (Health and Safety Code sec. 822.047), so ask city hall before relying on that section.

Rest of Polk County

• All dogs and cats must be kept under restraint. The order points to the state-law definition of a stray: an animal roaming beyond its owner's property with no physical restraint. Off your property, that means a leash or other physical restraint.
• Exception: dogs may run loose when used for ranching, hunting, farming or guarding on parcels larger than 10 acres, with the landowner's permission.
• Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies.
• A dog tied out with a chain, rope, cable or trolley must have a properly fitted collar and restraint, and the owner must follow the state's tethering law (Texas Health and Safety Code secs. 821.076 to 821.079).
• The Sheriff's Office enforces the order and may pick up any stray dog or cat, tagged or not. Picked-up animals go to the Polk County Animal Shelter.
• Impounded animals: the owner has 3 business days to claim the animal and must show proof of rabies vaccination or pay to have it vaccinated.
• Fines: letting an animal run at large is $100 plus court costs, or $185 plus court costs if the animal is dangerous.
• Where the county order and a city ordinance disagree, the city ordinance wins inside that city.