UPDATE August 16, 2013: The change to the zoning ordinance concerning livestock is still scheduled to go before the Planning and Zoning Commission on August 22nd.   However, the date that both proposed ordinances will be considered by the City Council will be determined at a later time.

UPDATE August 13, 2013: Following the August 12, 2013 SPIN  meeting, staff will recommend to the City Council that the existing provision, regarding the total amount of dogs and cats on private property remain the same.  The ordinance allows for a combine total of four (4) dogs and cats on properties less than one acre and six (6) on properties larger than one acre.

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Southlake residents may experience minor changes in the City’s Animal Control Ordinance by the end of September.

A SPIN meeting on the proposed ordinance changes is scheduled for Monday, August 12th at 6:00 PM in the Town Hall meeting rooms.

Last year Southlake’s Department of Public Safety joined with the City of Colleyville to move all Animal Control Services to the City of Keller. Since this move there have been no reported customer service issues regarding the animal control matters.

The benefits to this plan are numerous and it is cost effective for the City and its citizens. “Southlake DPS is committed to providing excellent City services to our residents.  This multi-city agreement will add convenience and improved services to the citizens of Southlake whether it is help in finding a lost family pet or providing assistance with an animal control problem especially during nights and weekends,” said Police Chief Stephen Mylett.

Part of the consolidation plan is to streamline animal control city ordinances to apply to all three partnered cities. The City of Keller has taken the lead on putting together this ordinance, with input provided by both Southlake and Colleyville.

Registration Fees

Currently, the City of Southlake does not require a registration of pets, however, the proposed ordinance introduces the yearly registration of dogs and cats in order to ensure up to date rabies vaccinations. The fee for a fixed/altered animal is $5 per year and the fee for an unfixed/unaltered animal is $20 per year.

The ordinance introduces a fee schedule that outlines the costs of animal adoptions, impound fees, micro chipping, quarantining, dangerous animal registration, exotic animal registration, pick up fees, surrender fees, and dead animal removal. The collection of fees is used to help fund the Regional Animal Control Facility in Keller.

In addition to these fees, the City of Southlake has proposed changes to both its animal control and zoning ordinances regarding livestock, wildlife, and domestic animals. The following provides key points of the proposed changes to the ordinances:

• Livestock—Changes to zoning ordinance (section 34) will require the minimum space area in which grazing animals are enclosed, to be no less than fifteen thousand continuous square feet per grazing animal over five hundred pounds and no less than five thousand square feet for other grazing animals.  Portions of the continuous area may be partitioned off for a corral or to separate animals for temporary periods.

• Fowl—Residents may keep up to twelve hens per quarter acre of residential property. Any fowl other than hens—including roosters, ducks, turkeys, geese, etc. must be kept at least 150 feet from the property line.

• Dogs and cats— Staff will recommend the ordinance stay the same with four (4) dogs and cats on properties less than one acre and six (6) on properties larger than one acre. (updated 8/13/2013)

Feral Hogs

Residents will not experience a change in how the City handles feral hogs. For more information about feral hogs or to get assistance in removing a feral hog or other wild animals, please contact 817-743-8627 or visit our feral hog webpage.

The change to the zoning ordinance (concerning livestock) is scheduled to be heard by the Planning and Zoning Commission on August 22nd.  City Council is scheduled to consider the changes in the fall.

More information regarding these and other proposed changes will be posted to www.CityofSouthlake.com in the coming days.