When rabies vaccination required; evidence.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 6-94
in effectSec. 6-94. - When rabies vaccination required; evidence.
(a) No person shall own, possess or have control over any dog or cat that is four months of age or older unless the dog or cat has a current rabies vaccination.
(b) In any prosecution under this section, the burden shall be upon the defendant to prove that the animal is not required to be vaccinated because:
(1) The animal is less than four months of age;
(2) The animal was in fact vaccinated and such vaccination is not expired; or
(3) The vaccination against rabies is medically inadvisable for the animal.
A certificate duly signed by a veterinarian attesting either that he administered the vaccination required by this section, bearing the date and type of vaccine or that the vaccination against rabies is medically inadvisable shall be accepted as valid proof, provided that the certificate contains the identification of the dog or cat by breed, color, and sex, the vaccination tag number, if applicable, and the name and address of the owner.
(Ord. No. 2022-44, § 2(Exh. A), 1-19-2022)
Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH6ANFO_ARTIVDOCA_DIV2MIVA_S6-94WHRAVAREEVFetched: 10/26/2026