BARC ANIMAL SHELTER AND ADOPTIONS

Declaring a Dog as Nuisance

Public Nuisance dog (Chapter 6, Article VI, Section 151) means any dog that meets one of the following conditions:

1. Substantially interferes with the right to enjoyment of life or property by persons other than the owner by acts including, but not limited to, frequent, long, or continued barking or howling, repeated defecation on property other than that of the owner, or damaging property other than that of the owner;
2. Attacks domestic animals;
3. Is documented by Animal Enforcement, a police officer, a neighborhood protection official or a member of the public to be running at large three or more times in a 12-month period; or
4. Is one of a number of dogs or other animals maintained on the property owned or controlled by its owner so as to be dangerous to the public health, safety or welfare.

For purposes of this section, if a dog is documented to be at large three or more times in a 12-month period by a member of the public, such documentation must consist of photographic evidence with a date and time stamp on the printed photo the dog mustbe clearly identifiable on the photo.

How to Declare a Dog as a Nuisance

In order to open a Nuisance Dog case, an original, signed notarized affidavit is required from the person making the complaint. Emailed, or other electronic statements are not accepted for this procedure.

A statement form may be found here.

The affidavit must contain a description of the events, with the dates and beginning to end times of the incidents that caused the person making the complaint to believe the dog in question to be a Public Nuisance dog as defined above.

For questions please call 311 to contact the City of Houston Animal Control Managers.