03/19/2026
Good morning. Last week and this week, Officer Mike has been trapping cats on a property that are reported as being a public nuisance. The homeowner states thses cats cause damage to his property.
Damaging property can mean but not limited to: digging up the yard, going through trash cans, scratching up vehicles and defecating in a flower bed.
2 of 3 cats have now been identified as owned cats. Even though indoor/ outdoor cats like to roam, there is a ordinance in Shiner regarding animal (dogs and cats) running at large and being a public nuisance.
§ 2.02.005 Impoundment.
(a) Generally. Animals owned or harbored in violation of this chapter or any other ordinance or law of the state shall be taken into custody by an animal control officer or other designated official and impounded. Stray animals shall be similarly impounded.
(b) Running at-large. Any nuisance animal (see section 2.02.008) found running at-large on the streets, sidewalks, or other public places, and not under the direct physical, visual, or verbal control of its owner or keeper, may be captured and picked up by the local police department or animal services officers and impounded.
§ 2.02.008 Nuisance animals.
Any animal that unreasonably annoys humans, endangers the life or health of persons or other animals, or substantially interferes with the rights of citizens, to enjoyment of life or property. The term "public nuisance animal" shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Any animal that is found running at-large unidentifiable by the animal services officer, tag, collar, microchip or other means.
(2) Cats who congregate on property other than that of the person who owns/harbors them.
(3) Any animal that damages, soils, defiles, or defecates on any property other than that of its owner or unless allowed by the property owner.
(4) Any animal that makes disturbing noises, including but not limited to continued and repeated howling, barking, whining, or other utterances causing unreasonable annoyance, disturbance, or discomfort to neighbors or others near the premises where the animal is kept or harbored. An animal shall be presumed to be a nuisance under this section if the animal's owner has been notified by the person's neighbors, the animal control officer, or any police officer of the disturbance and shall have refused for a period of 24 hours to correct the disturbance and prevent its recurrence.
(5) Any animal in heat that is not confined so as to prevent attraction or contact with other animals.
(6) Any animal, whether or not it is on the property of its owner, that, without provocation, molests, attacks, or otherwise interferes with the freedom of movement of persons in a public right-of-way.
(7) Any animal that attacks a domestic animal.
(8) The owner or keeper of an outdoor cat or keeper of a cat colony shall take all steps necessary to prevent a wildlife or pest feeding nuisance. The owner or keeper of an outdoor cat or caretaker of a cat colony shall be responsible for having outdoor cat(s) under his or her care, possession, control, or custody and shall comply with local and state rabies vaccine requirements.
(A) Feeding species-specific food in a feeding dish that is non disposable and facilitates the removal of uneaten food.
(B) Not to provide food that is left outside in a "free feed" environment (must feed in fenced in area).
(C) Not to feed in excess.
(Ordinance 2023-009 adopted 5/2/2023)
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