| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to euthanasia as a last resort in a county or municipal |
|
|
animal shelter in certain counties. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 821, Health and Safety |
|
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 821.0521 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 821.0521. EUTHANASIA AS LAST RESORT. (a) This |
|
|
section applies only to a county or municipal animal shelter in a |
|
|
county having a population of more than 500,000. |
|
|
(b) A dog, cat, or other companion animal impounded in an |
|
|
animal shelter may not be euthanized if there is an empty cage, |
|
|
kennel, or other living environment in the shelter in which to |
|
|
safely place the animal or if the animal can safely share a cage, |
|
|
kennel, or other living environment in the shelter with another |
|
|
animal of the same species. |
|
|
(c) This section does not apply to: |
|
|
(1) an animal suspected of carrying and exhibiting |
|
|
signs of rabies, as determined by a licensed veterinarian; |
|
|
(2) a dog that, after severely injuring a person, has |
|
|
been determined by a court having competent jurisdiction to be a |
|
|
dangerous dog under state law; or |
|
|
(3) an animal who has a poor or grave prognosis for |
|
|
being able to live without severe, unremitting pain even with |
|
|
comprehensive, prompt, and necessary veterinary care, as |
|
|
determined by a licensed veterinarian. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |