Texas law regarding ownership of dangerous wild animals can be found at:
http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/HS/10/822/E
A synopse can be found below:
Health and Safety Code 822.101. Definitions
In this subchapter:
(4) ” Dangerous wild animal” means:
(A) a lion;
(B) a tiger;
(C) an ocelot;
(D) a cougar;
(E) a leopard;
(F) a cheetah;
(G) a jaguar;
(H) a bobcat;
(I) a lynx;
(J) a Serval;
(K) a caracal;
(L) a hyena;
(M) a bear;
(N) a coyote;
(O) a jackal;
(P) a baboon;
(Q) a chimpanzee;
(R) an orangutan;
(S) a gorilla; or
(T) any hybrid of an animal listed in this subdivision.
“Animal registration agency” is defined as “the municipal or county animal control office with authority over the area where a dangerous wild animal is kept or a county sheriff in an area that does not have an animal control office.
http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/HS/10/822/E/822.101
Health and Safety Code Section 822.103
CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION; FEES.
(a) A person may not own, harbor, or have custody or control of a
dangerous wild animal for any purpose unless the person holds a
certificate of registration for that animal issued by an animal
registration agency.
(b) A certificate of registration issued under this subchapter is not transferrable and is valid for one
year after its date of issuance or renewal unless revoked.
(c) The animal registration agency may establish and charge
reasonable fees for application, issuance, and renewal of a
certificate of registration in order to recover the costs
associated with the administration and enforcement of this
subchapter. The fee charged to an applicant may not exceed $50 for
each animal registered and may not exceed $500 for each person
registering animals, regardless of the number of animals owned by
the person. The fees collected under this section may be used only
to administer and enforce this subchapter.
Health and Safety Code Section 822.107: LIABILITY INSURANCE
An owner of a dangerous wild animal shall maintain liability insurance coverage in an amount of not less than $100,000 for each occurrence for liability for damages for destruction of or damage to property and death or bodily injury to a person caused by the dangerous wild animal.
http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/HS/10/822/E/822.107
Health and Safety Code Section 822.111:POWERS AND DUTIES OF BOARD; CAGING REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS
(a) The board by rule shall establish caging requirements and standards for the keeping and confinement of a dangerous wild animal to ensure that the animal is kept in a manner and confined in a primary enclosure that:
(1) protects and enhances the public’s health and safety;
(2) prevents escape by the animal; and
(3) provides a safe, healthy, and humane environment for the animal.
(b) An owner of a dangerous wild animal shall keep and confine the animal in accordance with the caging requirements and standards established by the board.
(c) An animal registration agency may approve a deviation from the caging requirements and standards established by the board, only if:
(1) the animal registration agency has good cause for the deviation; and
(2) the deviation:
(A) does not compromise the public’s health and safety;
(B) does not reduce the total area of the primary enclosure below that established by the board; and
(C) does not otherwise adversely affect the overall welfare of the animal involved.
http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/HS/10/822/E/822.111
Added by Acts
2001, 77th Leg., ch. 54, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
http://law.onecle.com/texas/health/822.103.00.html
“Animal registration agency” is defined as “the municipal or county animal control office with authority over the area where a dangerous wild animal is kept or a county sheriff in an area that does not have an animal control office.” Id. § 822.101(1).
§
240.002. REGULATION:
(a) The commissioners court of a county by order may prohibit or regulate the keeping of a wild animal in
the county.
(b) The order does not apply inside the limits of a municipality.
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 54, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION FOR DANGEROUS WILD ANIMALS APPLICATION
COUNTY LAWS:
Counties where hybrids are allowed with permits:
Aransas contact Ronell K. Burke in Animal Control
Bell: http://www.bellcountytx.com/county_government/sheriff/docs/DOC.PDF
Coryell requires a Class C Exhibitor’s license:
Ector: Regulations Regarding Wild Animal Ownership
Guadalupe: Requires USDA: Doug Pyatt, animalcontrol@co.guadalupe.tx.us, 830-379-1224
Harris: http://www.hcphes.org/vph/Pdfs/DangerousWildAnimalRegulations.pdf
Kaufman
Lubbock Sec. 4.06.002 Keeping dangerous wild animals:
Mason
Montgomery: http://www.mctx.org/document_center/Animal%20Control/Wild_Animals.pdf
Ward
This is a list of Texas counties that ban hybrids:
Bastrop
Bexar
Blanco
Burnet
Caldwell
Dallas
Denton
El Paso http://www.theanimalcouncil.com/files/El_Paso_TX_12_05.pdf (pg. 3, 12)
Fort Bend
Harris
Hays
Hidalgo http://www.co.hidalgo.tx.us/documentcenter/view/16119 (item 6B)
Johnson (contact: Corporal Kevin George at 817-556-6058 ext. 306)
Lampassas
Lee
Milam
Parker (contact: Tracey Curry, Parker County Animal Control Officer: tcurry@weatherfordtx.gov
Tarrant
Throckmorton
Travis
Williamson http://www.cedarparktexas.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=1000 Article 2.01 (Definitions) and Article 2.10
All other county laws related to hybrids are unknown at this time. If you have information on your county’s laws please contact Hybrid Law
12/31/13
Disclaimer: Please check all local, city, county, township, homeowners’ ordinances in your area first before acquiring any hybrid or exotic animals.