ORDER TEMPORARILY ESTABLISHING A 10 DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR
THE IMPOUNDMENT OF STRAY OR ABANDONED ANIMALS, INCLUDING
DOMESTIC OR EXOTIC ANIMALS, REPTILES AND MARINE LIFE

ORDERED BY
THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON

WHEREAS, due to __________________________which has created widespread and severe damage of such severity and magnitude in the City of Galveston, the City must take continued action to save lives, prevent injuries, protect property, public health, the environment and public safety; and,

WHEREAS, the Mayor of the City of Galveston has determined that extraordinary measures must be taken to alleviate the suffering of people and to protect or rehabilitate property for the public health, safety, and welfare and has declared a local state of emergency and local state of disaster currently in effect; and

WHEREAS, due to mandatory evacuation orders animals have become separated from their owners and have been impounded as strays or abandoned animals for safety and for public health reasons; and,

WHEREAS, many owners have had been unable to find or retrieve their animals some of which have been transferred out of Galveston; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON, TEXAS;

SECTION 1. Pursuant to the Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code, and the Charter of the City of Galveston, the three-day period of impoundment for stray dogs and cats found in the Code of the City of Galveston Section 7-14(d) is hereby suspended.

SECTION 2. Effective immediately, the following Order is in effect:

Stray animals or animals, including domestic or exotic animals, reptiles and marine life, abandoned by their owners are declared to be a public nuisance. Such shall be impounded for a period of ten (10) days after which time the animal shelter may make humane disposition of each such unclaimed animal including domestic or exotic animals, reptiles or marine life. The ten (10) day period begins on the first day of posting regarding the subject animal on Houston’s SPCA website found at www.houstonspca.org or www.hspca.org. Information regarding retrieval is available on the website.

	SECTION 3.  This Order, and the suspension of Section 7-14(d) of the Code of the City of Galveston shall remain in effect until altered, changed, or lifted by otder of the Mayor, or her designee, or the City Council of the City of Galveston.

	SO DECLARED AND ORDERED this the ____ day of _____________. 20__.

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

______________________________		______________________________
City Attorney						MAYOR, CITY OF GALVESTON

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