Published: January 08, 2009 10:33 am      

Pet rules

How will new animal control ordinance affect you? Find out tonight

New rabies vaccination rules. A microchip pet ID system. A ban on parking lot pet sales.

What does it all mean?

San Marcos residents can find out tonight at the first in a series of public meetings to explain the city’s new Animal Control Ordinance.

The 7 p.m. meeting will be held at City Hall, 630 E. Hopkins.

The updated Animal Control Ordinance adopted in December will take effect on April 1. 

The city’s Animal Services Department staff will hold a series of public meetings in January and February before the new ordinance takes effect to help residents understand the new rules.

The other public meetings on the ordinance will be held Monday, Jan. 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the city council chambers, 630 E. Hopkins and Saturday, Feb. 7, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the city council chambers.

The city says the new rules are aimed at conforming with state law and promoting responsible pet ownership. 

The ordinance changes a variety of local rules:

• Requires rabies vaccinations once every three years instead of annually

• Sets up a microchip program to provide one-time registration of pets

• Bans selling or giving away animals on public property, private parking lots and flea markets

• Restricts but does not outlaw tethering of animals

• Sets up rules for managed feral cat colonies based on trap, vaccinate, alter, return and manage

• Changes dog regulations to conform with state law, including increasing penalties for dog attacks

Tonight’s public meeting will be televised live on Time Warner Channel 10 and Grande Communications Channel 16 and video-streamed on the city’s Web site.

For information about the new rules, call the San Marcos Animal Shelter at 805-2650 or visit the Animal Services page on the Web at www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us.

The ordinance was recommended by the Animal Services Advisory Board after several months of review.

The city of San Marcos contracts with Hays County and Kyle to support the San Marcos Animal Shelter, expanded last year to take in animals from across Hays County.