Adoption or fostering of animals from barc animal services; denial; appeal.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 6-141
in effectSec. 6-141. - Adoption or fostering of animals from barc animal services; denial; appeal.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any person of at least 18 years of age may submit an application to the director to adopt or foster an animal.
(b) No person who has been convicted of animal cruelty shall be permitted to adopt or foster animals from BARC animal services. If the director denies an application to adopt or foster an animal from BARC animal services due to the applicant's prior conviction of animal cruelty, the director shall give written notice by personal delivery or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the applicant at the address stated in the application. The decision of the director is final unless the applicant files a written appeal with the director not later than the fifth business day after the date the applicant received notice that the application was denied. If the applicant timely files a written appeal, the applicant shall be given notice of the date, time and place of the hearing for his appeal. A hearing officer shall conduct the hearing within ten business days of the director's receipt of the notice of appeal. The hearing shall be conducted informally and the hearing officer shall determine by a preponderance of the evidence whether grounds exist for the denial of the application. The hearing officer may consider city records used in the consideration of the application and affidavits, as well as any testimony or documentary evidence offered by the applicant. At the conclusion of the hearing, the hearing officer shall enter a written order with his findings as to whether or not the application should be denied. The written order shall be sent by personal delivery or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the applicant at the address stated in the application and shall be sent as soon after the conclusion of the hearing as practicable, but in no event more than 30 calendar days thereafter. The decision of the hearing officer shall be final.
(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_ARTVDIIMAN_S6-141ADFOANBAANSEDEAPFetched: 10/26/2026