Development News for Watauga, Texas

Watauga City Council Approves Sweeping Animal Services Ordinance Updates

The City Council of Watauga considered and approved amendments to Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances related to animal services. These revisions aimed to update definitions, clarify ownership responsibilities, establish new medical and vaccination standards, redefine dangerous/aggressive animals, enhance animal services authority and enforcement, and improve administrative clarity for shelter, adoption, and rescue operations. Key changes include defining feral cats, updating requirements for fenced yards, mandating microchipping for dogs and cats over four months of age (with exemptions), prohibiting the feeding of feral cats and wildlife, implementing stricter standards for animal confinement and outdoor shelter during extreme weather, and addressing excessive noise and unsanitary conditions. New ordinances were introduced to penalize abandoning animals at the municipal shelter outside business hours and to prohibit specific trapping methods. The vote to approve these comprehensive amendments passed three to zero.