Keller staff propose rewriting animal-control rules on trapping, protective custody and dangerous dogs

City public-safety staff and the animal-services lead presented proposed changes to Keller nimal-control ordinances at a March 18 work session, saying the updates are needed to align local rules with state law, improve enforceability and reflect current animal-welfare practices.

"There's been inefficient operations. There's been lack of clarity for staff and the public because there's no established statutory authority to do certain things," the presenter told council as staff introduced the proposals. City leaders credited Karina Hicks, the animal-control lead, with identifying the compliance gaps and drafting updates.

Nut graf: The revisions cover three broad areas: regulation of trapping and removal of wildlife, clear authority and holding periods for animals placed in protective custody, and an adjustment to the "dangerous dog" standard so attacks on other animals must cause "serious bodily injury" before a dog can be designated dangerous under the city code.

What staff recommended - Trapping: Convert current informal trapping practices (shelter trap loans and public distribution of traps) into an enforceable ordinance that makes it unlawful to tamper with traps placed by animal-services personnel, and bans traps designed to kill or injure. Staff cited state wildlife rules that limit relocation and licensing requirements for fur-bearing species and noted public-health concerns when untrained members of the public relocate or handle potentially rabid animals. - Protective custody: Add a city ordinance that establishes a 10-day hold period for animals seized for reasons such as owner arrest, medical emergency, fires or disasters, with no fee for impounds tied to medical or disaster events but a boarding fee assessed after 24 hours when animals are held following an arrest. Staff said the new language clarifies disposition authority when owners do not retrieve animals in a timely way. - Dangerous dogs: Amend the dangerous-dog definition to require "serious bodily injury" to another animal (a term defined in the Texas Health and Safety Code) instead of the broader concept of "bodily injury." Staff said the change aims to improve consistency and avoid designating dogs as dangerous in cases of minor bites or nips that commonly occur between animals.

Staff rationale and procedures: Staff said modern trapping and wildlife rules require certified handlers, prohibit relocation of certain species and restrict removal of euthanasia solution from animal-service facilities. The proposed trapping ordinance would discourage loaning traps to the general public and shift trapping of wildlife requiring special handling to licensed contractors or exempt handlers.

Council discussion and next steps: Councilmembers asked how the proposals would operate in specific places such as dog parks and whether the changes would limit staff discretion; staff said the dog-park environment is excluded from the dangerous-dog designation unless attacks occur outside such enclosed locations. Staff indicated the draft ordinance would be returned as a formal ordinance on a future consent agenda for council consideration.

Ending: Council thanked animal-services staff for the review and asked staff to prepare the formal ordinance language for a future meeting so the city can adopt the clarified rules formally.