Memphis, Texas

§ 3.01.005 Restraint of animals.

(a) It shall be unlawful for an owner or person in control of an animal to fail to keep the animal under restraint in a securely enclosed or confined area and in a manner that will isolate the animal from the public and other animals except for animals owned or under the control of the owner.

(b) It shall be unlawful for an owner to fail or refuse to exercise diligent care and control of his or her animal to prevent such animal from becoming a public nuisance.

(c) It shall be unlawful for a person having charge, care or ownership of a cat to fail to keep the cat from roaming beyond the boundaries of the person’s premises.

(d) It shall be unlawful for a person to use a chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or other device to attach a dog to a stationary object or trolley system.

(e) It is an affirmative defense to a violation of subsection (d) that the dog tethering:

(1) Is during a lawful animal event, veterinary treatment, grooming, training, or law enforcement activity;

(2) Is required to protect the safety or welfare of a person or the dog, and the dog’s owner maintains direct physical control of the dog;

(3) Occurs in the direct physical control of the owner in a designated city dog park; or

(4) Occurs on the owner’s premises; and:

(A) While the dog is within the owner’s direct physical control; and

(B) Prevents the dog from advancing to within fifteen (15) feet of the edge of any public street.

(f) The affirmative defenses provide in subsection (e) are only available if the following specifications are met:

(1) The chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or other device is attached to a properly fitted collar or harness worn by the dog;

(2) The chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or other device is not placed directly around the dog’s neck;

(3) The chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or other device does not exceed 1/20th of the dog’s body weight;

(4) The chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or other device, by design and placement, allows the dog a reasonable and unobstructed range of motion without entanglement; and

(5) The dog has access to adequate shelter and clean and wholesome water.

(g) A person commits an offense if the person fails to comply with this section.

(1) An offense under this section is a class C misdemeanor. If a person fails to comply with this section with respect to more than one (1) dog, the person’s conduct with respect to each dog constitutes a separate offense.

(2) An offense under this section is punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00).