No limit on the number of dogs or cats (Austin: apartment, rental)

[verybadgnome]

I was wondering the answer to this question since one of my neighbors raises 6 or more dogs for what I assume is breeding. Everyone hates this neighbor since the dogs get into howling/barking fits that can go on for awhile. Looks like in Austin you can have as many dogs/cats as you like as long as you don't break any codes as far as the treatment of those animals is concerned. I would like to see a limit on the number of pets within the city. Many other jurisdictions have these:

- Terrierman's Daily Dose -

I think Seattle has the best code regarding this:

"Seattle, Wash. - 3 dogs on lots of less than 20,000 sq. ft. , 5 dogs for 20,000 to 35,000 sq. ft., with an additional 2 per acre for lots over 35,000 sq. ft. to a maximum of 20, unless a special permit is granted."

Of course if you are in an HOA, apartment, or home rental your limits will vary; I was more concerned about non-HOA, owner-occupied single family homes.

[TexasHorseLady]

Austin used to have a limit, I think it was four. But it's been a while since I've needed to look it up, perhaps it's changed.

[loves2read]

what about the noise they create--surely that is against public nuisance rules--
just tape their howling/barking with video camera on a clock--

in my former town--dogs barking (even inside the house) for more than 20 min at a time could get you a visit from the animal control officer--and second visit could bring a ticket to appear in court where you could present your side to judge
the first call could come without the complainant giving a name/address but the second complaint had to be made in person--by filling out complaint form--that was to stop people doing it as a nuisance themselves...

[MasterOfPuppets]

Originally Posted by verybadgnome

I was wondering the answer to this question since one of my neighbors raises 6 or more dogs for what I assume is breeding. Everyone hates this neighbor since the dogs get into howling/barking fits that can go on for awhile. Looks like in Austin you can have as many dogs/cats as you like as long as you don't break any codes as far as the treatment of those animals is concerned. I would like to see a limit on the number of pets within the city. Many other jurisdictions have these:

- Terrierman's Daily Dose -

I think Seattle has the best code regarding this:

"Seattle, Wash. - 3 dogs on lots of less than 20,000 sq. ft. , 5 dogs for 20,000 to 35,000 sq. ft., with an additional 2 per acre for lots over 35,000 sq. ft. to a maximum of 20, unless a special permit is granted."

Of course if you are in an HOA, apartment, or home rental your limits will vary; I was more concerned about non-HOA, owner-occupied single family homes.

If you don't like your neighbors, then move. Or better yet move to Seattle.

But don't selfishly advocate a public policy that will restrict the individual freedoms of everyone to accommodate your own personal lifestyle.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets

If you don't like your neighbors, then move. Or better yet move to Seattle.

But don't selfishly advocate a public policy that will restrict the individual freedoms of everyone to accommodate your own personal lifestyle.

I think its the property owner with the excessive number of noisy dogs who is being selfish here and infringing on the individual freedoms of their neighbors with his animals excessive noise. The law agrees with me.

You can often find prohibitions on the number and type of animals that can be kept in the subdivision regulations for a property, even for areas that do not have an HOA.

You have every right to expect your neighbors to control their animals. Their noise infringes on your rights as a property owner.

Noisy Animal Complaints

http://www.amlegal.com/austin_nxt/gateway.dll/Texas/austin/title3animalregulation/chapter3-2restrictionsonanimals?f=templates$fn=default.htm$ 3.0$vid=amlegal:austin_tx$anc=JD_3-2-5

§ 3-2-2 NOISY ANIMALS.

An owner or handler may not keep an animal that makes frequent or long, continued noise that is disturbing to a person of normal sensibilities.

Source: 1992 Code Section 3-3-6; Ord. 031009-9; Ord. 031211-11.

[theanimalslove]

where can dogs complain against testings on the animals which h u r t and are much more painful than barking which is the same than us talking!If people do not understand nature ,the animals, and their needs,why ,damned it,do they abuse them all the time,breed more and more instead of getting it at by now that humans are not u p to the noble animals who save lifes when idiotic humans leave their mines in fields,trying to kill each other,and the brave dogs saving thousands of lifes of children playing in the fields with the mines tearing their little bodies up i f there was not the d o g helping.There are dogs tearing out human bodies of avalanches and under broken down houses after earth quakes.There are dogs which help the blind and deaf people.
There are therapy dogs helping children which have cancer and old people who are left alone by humans,and cheer them up paying visits and get stoked themselves.Time to feel ashamed for your mean complaints,just l o v e the animals,and h a t e the owner who does not walk them enough and the ones who breed instead of getting people to save lifes of the animals as well and fetch them from the rescue centers.Have a great day all of you and start to think and feel and love,not only thinking of yourselves.Bye,thanks,Lore

[tfresca]

You can't have a rational conversation about dog ownership in Austin. In Austin your dog can go anywhere and do anything, leashed or unleashed. Good luck with that,. Your only real hope would e if the HOA has some rule against it.

[ImOnFiya]

Is the issue really with the number of dogs or is it with the type of dogs you own? Not every type of dog is a barker or even a whiner..sometimes the problem is with the owner and sometimes the problem is with you. I hope you are the type of person who can distinguish between the two...

[sezzam]

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets

...
But don't selfishly advocate a public policy that will restrict the individual freedoms of everyone to accommodate your own personal lifestyle.

True. This also applies to the neighbor with a large number of dogs?

[FalconheadWest]

I don't think it's about the number of dogs, but you have every right to call animal control for the excessive barking going on. Home owners are given a couple of chances to teach their dogs how not to make so much noise and then they can be taken away if complaints continue. Dogs, just like anything else that makes noises, are not allowed to be a nuisance to others around them.