PROPER CARE OF ANIMALS.
Austin City Code § 3-2-5
in effect§ 3-2-5 - PROPER CARE OF ANIMALS.
(A) An animal's owner shall keep the animal in a clean, sanitary, and healthy condition.
(B) An animal's owner or handler shall provide for the animal:
(1) regular and adequate amounts of nutritious food that is appropriate for the species and that maintains the animal in good health;
(2) a constant and adequate supply of clean, fresh, potable water that keeps the animal hydrated for environmental conditions; and
(3) care and medical treatment for injuries, parasites, and diseases that is sufficient to maintain the animal in good health and minimize suffering.
(C) An animal's owner shall provide the animal with shelter that:
(1) is large enough for the animal to enter, stand, turn around, and lie down in a natural manner;
(2) keeps the animal dry;
(3) provides the animal with natural or artificial shade from direct sunlight;
(4) protects the animal from excessive heat and cold and other adverse weather conditions; and
(5) is adequately ventilated.
(D) An animal's owner may not confine the animal to the extent that it is forced to stand, sit, or lie in its own excrement.
(E) An animal's owner shall regularly maintain the animal and its shelter to prevent odor or a health or sanitation problem.
(F) An animal's owner shall provide the animal with exercise space that is large enough to prevent injury and keep the animal in good condition.
(G) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the animal's treatment was as directed by a licensed veterinarian.
(H) Microchipping.
(1) This subsection applies to animals at least four months of age that are not wildlife or livestock.
(2) In this subsection, MICROCHIPPED ANIMAL means an animal implanted with a registered identification microchip.
(3) The owner of an animal is responsible for having each animal in their possession microchipped and for maintaining a current registration with a microchip registration company.
(4) The owner of a microchipped animal shall update contact information, including a new address or telephone number, with the microchip registration company within 30 days of the date of the change in contact information.
(5) When the ownership of a microchipped animal changes:
(a) the previous owner is responsible for ensuring that the microchip is no longer registered in the previous owner's name within 30 days from the date ownership changes; and
(b) the new owner is responsible for re-registering the microchip and providing the new owner's address and telephone number within 30 days from the date ownership changes.
(6) In the event that the health authority determines that an owner has not complied with this subsection, the health authority will provide the owner with educational materials on microchipping.
(7) Failure to comply with this subsection is not an offense under this title.
Source: Ord. 20061005-007; Ord. No. 20240926-002, Pt. 1, 10-7-24.
Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT3ANRE_CH3-2REAN_ART1GERE_S3-2-5PRCAANFetched: 10/27/2026