RAYMONDVILLE — Animal lovers won’t be keeping exotic pets like rattlesnakes, alligators and poisonous frogs in town.
Lions, tigers, bears and even elephants are banned, too. So are bobcats, kangaroos and anteaters.
But they can start keeping roosters, chickens and pot-bellied pigs.
At City Hall, officials drafted a new animal control ordinance to try to cut down on the number of stray dogs in the streets, Mayor Gilbert Gonzales said yesterday.
The ordinance prohibits residents from keeping more than four dogs and cats.
“The stray animal population is out of control,” Gonzales said. “There are people complaining. We had to do something about it. The best thing to do is control the number of dogs people can have.”
Pot-bellied pigs are new pets in town, Hector Tijerina, the city’s animal control officer, said.
But the ordinance limits residents to two pot-bellied pigs.
“I guess it’s a new trend coming in,” Tijerina said. “There have been a number of people who asked if they can keep them. They’re considered pets.”
Like a state law effective yesterday, the ordinance also allows residents to keep roosters and chickens.
But the number of roosters or chickens is limited to six.
The ordinance prohibits residents from endangering their pets.
Residents are prohibited from carrying dogs in the back of their pickup trucks anymore unless the animals are held in kennels or secured with rope or chain to prevent them from falling or jumping off the truck.
The ordinance also prohibits residents from holding pets in parked vehicles or enclosed trailers for prolonged periods.
The ordinance also cracks down on so-called dangerous exotic pets.
“We’re just trying to cover everything in general,” Tijerina said.
“We just want to prevent anything from happening in the city if something escapes. We don’t want to risk anyone getting bit.”
Violators face fines of $25 to $500.
Ordinance limits total number of dogs, cats and pot-bellied pigs to four
Prohibits carrying unsecured dogs in pickup beds
What can happen if you are caught violating this ordinance?
Violators face fines of $25 to $500
These animals can’t be kept as pets
Rattlesnakes
Coral snakes
Cobras
Mambas
Alligators
Crocodiles
Lions
Tigers
Bobcats
Jaguars
Leopards
Cougars
Weasels
Skunks
Martins
Minks
Badgers
Otters
Raccoons
Coati
Bears
Kangaroos
Opossums
Koala bears
Wallabies
Bats
Sloths
Anteaters
Armadillos
Monkeys
Chimpanzees
Orangutans
Baboons
Gorillas
Beavers
Porcupines
