El Cenizo Animal Control Department

In partnership with the City of Rio Bravo, every Wednesday the animal control department is actively patrolling the streets to enforce City Ordinances and keep stray dogs and cats off the streets.  Any issues related to Animal Control should be directed to the Rio Bravo City Hall at 956-790-9500.

As per City Ordinance all dogs and cats must be registered with the City. 

ORDINANCE NO. 004-2005

AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE KEEPING OF DOGS IN THE, CITY OF EL CENIZO; PROVIDING FOR A LICENSE AND FEE FOR SAME; PROVIDING FOR THE VACCINATION OF DOGS; PROVIDING FOR THE MAINTENANCE POSTING OF RECORDS; setting forth regulations for control of dogs and cats within the city of el cenizo and providing penalties for violation of said ordinance.

WHEREAS,   there exists no regulation for the keeping and the control of animals within the city limits of City of El Cenizo, Texas; and, 

WHEREAS,   it is determined that it would be in the best interest of the citizens and for the purpose of promoting the general health, safety and welfare of the City of El Cenizo to promote ordinances and regulations for the control and keeping of animals within the City of El Cenizo and providing penalties therefore;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CENIZO, TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Definitions.
a. Dogs shall mean male and female animals of the canine kind.

b. Cats shall mean both male and female animals of the feline kind.

c. Owner or possessor shall mean any person or persons, firm, association, partnership or corporation owning, keeping or harboring any animal or animals of the canine or feline kind.

d. At large shall mean a dog or cat or other animal, including fowl, that is not confined inside the owner’s or possessor’s house or to the premises of the owner or possessor by suitable fence of significant strength and height to prevent the dog from escaping there from or secured on such premises by a lease of sufficient strength to prevent the dog from escaping the premises and so arranged that the dog will remain upon the premises when the leash is stretched a full length in any direction; provided, however, that the dog shall not be considered at large when held and controlled by some person, owner or possessor or by means of a leash or chain of a proper strength and length to control the action of the dog or confined within a vehicle.  Further, any dog or cat not licensed and vaccinated and carrying the appropriate licensing tag will be considered at large.

SECTION 2. That there is hereby levied and assessed upon each dog, male or female, kept or owned within the City of El Cenizo, Texas, an annual fee of $1.00 which is to be due and payable on the first of November of each year and it is hereby made the duty of the owner or keeper of any dog, male or female, to pay over to the City Secretary or his/her duly authorized agent the said fee on or before the first day of November of each year.

SECTION 3. The City Secretary shall collect or have collected under his/her supervision all dog fees, and he/she shall be responsible to the City of El Cenizo, Texas for all moneys collected under this ordinance and shall make monthly reports as money is collected under this ordinance to the City Council and shall deposit all monies to the City’s Account.

SECTION 4. Upon the payment of said fee, the City Secretary or his duly authorized agent shall furnish the owner or keeper of said dog or dogs with a tag on which is stamped the number of registration with the year for which fee is paid, which tag the owner or keeper shall attach to a collar securely fastened around the neck of such dog, male or female, and no dog shall be allowed to run at large without the proper tag attached to the collar around the neck of said dogs. In no event shall the City Secretary or his/her duly authorized agent issue a license tag to any owner or keeper of a dog, male or female, unless and until such owner or keeper shall furnish a vaccination certificate issued by a licensed Veterinarian stating that said dog has been vaccinated against rabies by him, and stating the description of said dog and the date of such vaccination.

SECTION 5. All dogs within the City of El Cenizo, Texas, are hereby required to be vaccinated against rabies by some licensed Veterinarian on or before the first day of November, and each year thereafter and it is further provided herein that every Veterinarian who vaccinates any such dog, either male or female, shall issue a certificate of vaccination to such owner, stating the name of the owner, a brief description of the dog and the date of vaccination.

Whenever any person has complied with the provisions of the preceding sections and the said dog tag is lost or otherwise destroyed, it shall be the duty of said owner or keeper of said dog to procure another tag from the City Secretary by again paying the annual fee.

SECTION 6. The City Secretary shall maintain a record of all dog tags issued, and shall furnish such information to any resident or other concerned party upon their request; furthermore, the list of individuals to whom dog tags have been issued, as well as those individuals thought to be delinquent in securing said tags, will be posted or published from time to time in such manner as may be determined by the City Council.

SECTION 7. No owner or possessor of any dog shall permit it to run at large within the corporate limits of the City of El Cenizo.  No dog or cat of fierce, dangerous or vicious propensity nor a female dog or cat in heat shall be allowed upon any public place in the City of El Cenizo whether or not said dog or cat is under control by means of a leash, chain, or otherwise.

SECTION 8. Any animal at large may be captured and detained by the duly appointed City Animal Control Warden.  Said detention will be for a minimum of seventy-two (72) hours; after such time the animal is to be disposed of in the proper manner.  Any person owning or having possession of said animal prior to its detention or impoundment, is liable to the City for all costs of detention and disposal.

SECTION 9. Upon satisfactory proof of ownership; any owner may redeem the animal upon payment of all necessary detention fees.  Animals detained and unclaimed after seventy-two (72) hours may be adopted from the kennel, by paying the detention fees for boarding and rabies vaccination.

SECTION 10. Any person, firm, possessor, owner, association or corporation violating any provision of this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon final conviction thereof fined in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). Each and every day any such violation continues or is allowed to exist shall constitute a separate violation and shall be punishable hereunder.

PASSED AND APPROVED this the 12th day of May, 2005.

For original executed copy of the Ordinance please contact the City Secretary's Office at 956-712-9107.

El Cenizo Parks and Recreation Department

The Parks and Recreation Department was opened in 2008 following the construction of the El Cenizo Municipal Park.  Park hours are from 7:00am-10:00pm yearly.  Residents are encouraged to report any vandalism or areas of concern to City Hall at 956-725-6399.