Texarkana, Arkansas

Sec. 5-11. – License fee; tags.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to own, keep or harbor a dog or cat within the corporate limits of the city without first having paid to the city an annual license fee of:

(1) Ten dollars ($10.00) for each spayed or neutered dog or cat of six (6) months of age or older; or

(2) Thirty dollars ($30.00) for each unspayed or unneutered dog or cat of six (6) months of age or older (except as set forth in section 5-24 of this chapter).

The license fee required by this section shall be due and payable as soon as the dog or cat attains six (6) months of age.

Sec. 5-23. – Sterilization.

(a) Pursuant to A.C.A., § 20-19-103. It shall be unlawful for any pound, shelter, humane organization, or animal rescue group to release any dog or cat which has not been sterilized to a new owner except as provided in subsection (b) of this section.

(b)

(1) An animal which in the opinion of a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state is medically compromised to the extent that it cannot withstand immediate sterilization may be temporarily released pursuant to a foster care agreement until such time as it can safely be sterilized or until two (2) veterinarians licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state certify that it is unlikely that the animal will ever recover to the extent that it can be safely sterilized.

(2) At that time, ownership of the animal may be transferred to an owner who certifies that the animal will not be used for breeding.

(c) Any person owning, keeping, harboring, or having custody of any dog or cat six (6) months of age or older is required to spay or neuter said animal unless said person holds an unaltered animal permit issued by the city or any successor agency authorized by the city to issue said permit, except:

(1) Persons who own, keep, harbor, or have custody of registered service dogs or working police dogs;

(2) Individuals who are non-residents of the city and reside temporarily therein for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days within a twelve (12) month period; and

(3) Animal shelter, retail pet stores, or veterinary hospitals who are holding said animals.

(d) In addition to any other fine or punishment for violation of city ordinances, violations of subsection (a) above are declared to be misdemeanors pursuant to A.C.A., § 20-19-103 punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00).

Sec. 5-24. – Breeding and selling.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate as a breeder without:

(1) Obtaining a breeders maintenance permit from the city; and

(2) Being issued a valid breeder permit from ACAC as provided below.

(b) A person who wishes to operate as a commercial breeder may apply to the ACAC director for a breeder permit. Such application shall include:

(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the applicant;

(2) The name, address, and telephone number of the location where the breeding will be conducted;

(3) A description of the types of animals to be bred; and

(4) Any other information deemed reasonably necessary by the ACAC director.

(c) The ACAC director shall issue a breeder permit if the applicant meets the qualifications to obtain such permit. A breeder permit shall be denied if the applicant fails to:

(1) Complete the application for a breeder permit;

(2) Properly restrain the dogs and cats in his care and custody;

(3) Adequately care for and protect the dogs and cats in his care and custody;

(4) Meet all requirements specified on the breeder permit;

(5) If applicable, comply with subsection 28-52(b) of this Code; or

(6) Pay all required fees pertaining to the breeder permit.

(d) The annual fee for a breeder permit shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00). A permit shall expire one (1) year from the date of issuance and must be renewed prior to its expiration. Failure to timely renew a permit will result in the assessment of a late fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) against the permit holder.

(e) In addition to the one hundred dollar ($100.00) breeder permit fee, applicants must apply for permits with the city for each unaltered animal used for breeding. The fee for an unaltered animal used for breeding shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) per city-registered animal. The permit is nontransferable to other animals or other parties and is good only for the lifetime of the registered animal.

(f) If the ACAC director denies an application for a breeder permit or a request for renewal or revokes an existing permit, the director shall provide notice of the denial or revocation to the application in writing not later than the tenth (10th) business day after the determination to deny an application or renewal or to revoke a permit. The notice of denial or revocation shall be sent to the permit holder or applicant by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the permit holder or applicant. A person may appeal the denial or revocation of a permit by delivering a written request for an appeal to the city manager not more than ten (10) days after the first date of mailing written notice of denial or revocation. The determination of the city manager shall be final.