Animal Services

Pet Photos with Santa 

Is your pet on the Naughty or Nice List? Not sure? Bring your pet to meet and have a professional photo taken with Santa! 

Photos will be accessible through a Flikr link (provided at the event).

All pets must be leashed.

Where: The Old Town Christmas Festival (by the Christmas tree)
               100 N. Brushy St, Leander, TX 

When: December 2nd

Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Fee: Donation Based (Benefiting WCRAS, TXHH, CTXSPCA, Blue Santa) 

We’re accepting donations for Blue Santa, The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter(WCRAS), Texas Humane Heroes(TXHH), and The Central TX SPCA(CTXSPCA). You have the option to bring your donation to the event or to use the QR code of your favorite charity to donate, please see the donation lists below. 

WCRAS:

• Dog treats 
• Cat treats
• Benebones
• Kongs
• Giggleballs
• Raised dog beds
• Cat toys
• Kick toys
• Canned cat food
• Canned dog food
• Pill pockets for cats
• Pill pockets for dogs
• Blankets
• Kong filler

TXHH: Amazon wish list

CTXSPCA:

• Bleach - always a top need
• Blankets
• Wet dog food
• Wet cat food
• Dry puppy food
• Dry kitten food
• Dog beds
• Cat beds
• Cat towers
• Treats

• Dogs must be physically restrained and on a leash if they are outside of a fenced yard. Violations of this requirement are titled "running at large".
• Cats do not have to be on a leash, but they are required to wear their rabies tag unless they are part of a feral cat organization and have been ear-tipped.
• Dogs are required to wear their rabies tag.
• Pets making noise outside could be in violation of the animal control ordinance or the noise nuisance ordinance.
• Your pet is required by law to be vaccinated at the interval set by the Health and Safety Board Rules.
• Having your pet spayed or neutered can prevent overpopulation as well as health and behavioral problems.
• Always be cautious when encountering an unknown animal. Don't try to catch it or pick it up!

Did you lose a pet in the city of Leander? Did you find a pet in Leander and currently have it in your possession? Please report it by completing either the Lost Pet or Found Pet Form so that Animal Services can help reunite lost pets with their owners.

Please do not report animals running loose on this form. If you see an animal loose in the city, please call 512-528-2800, ext. 1, and report it. These form fields are not monitored 24/7 and are not to be used for reporting loose animals or requesting a response from Animal Services.

Lost & Found Pet Forms

• Lost Pet Form
• Found Pet Form

Animals such as chickens and rabbits can not be kept within 50 feet of any residence, excluding the residence of the person keeping or harboring animals. All chickens or rabbits are required to be kept in a hutch or coop. A fenced yard shall not qualify as a coop. If the animals kept are chickens they must be limited to no more than 10. A rooster is prohibited from a backyard coop on a property of less than 3 acres. Sec 2.03.008

Roosters must be kept in a coop and are further restricted to 200 feet of any business or commercial establishment, dwelling, residence, or structure used for human occupancy (other than the livestock owner's dwelling or residence). Sec 2.03.011(c) (3).

Animals picked up within the city are taken to the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter. For more information about the shelter, locating lost pets, or adopting a pet, please visit the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter website.

City ordinance requires registration of animal businesses within the city. This includes but is not limited to temporary events, kennel facilities, pet shops, riding stables, animal auctions, performing animal exhibitions, animal training services, grooming shops, petting zoos, aviaries, or any similar entrepreneurial relationship regarding animals.

These businesses must apply for a permit. Please download and complete the Application for Temporary or Commercial Enterprise Permit (PDF). An inspection of the business or area where the event will be held is required for the issue of the permit. The permit is valid for one year. The temporary permit is valid for the length of the event. Business owners must update animal service if changes occur.

City Ordinances limit the number of animals in a household to five total cats and dogs, exceptions apply.

Modified Registration

Registration for animals that are microchipped and spayed or neutered. All animals four months of age or older that are kept, harbored, or maintained within the corporate limits of the city shall be microchipped. To be eligible for this modified registration, the owner's name, microchip number, current address, and current phone number must be on file with the Leander Police Department. The registration information includes the pet vaccination facility and date, breed, color, name, and sex of the animal. There is no fee for this modified registration. Dangerous dogs are not eligible for modified registration.

Tags

No-tag and no registration fee are required for a neutered or spayed animal with a microchip. Owners desiring a registration tag instead of a microchip must present current rabies vaccination documentation and must renew the registration every year. Owners of dangerous dogs requiring registration must apply for a tag. Upon payment of the license fee, where applicable, the city shall issue to the owner a license certificate and metal tag having stamped thereon the number corresponding with the number of the certificate. Such a tag shall at all times be securely attached to a collar or harness around the neck of the animal. In case a tag is lost, a duplicate will be issued by the animal services officer or his agent upon presentation of the receipt showing the payment of the license fee for the current 12-month registration. Tags shall not be transferable from one animal to another, and no refunds shall be made.

The Animal Services Officers register dogs and cats within the city, as required by the Leander Code of City Ordinances.

• Modified registration - proof of current rabies vaccination, spay or neuter, and microchip are required.
• Tag registration - proof of rabies vaccination is required.

Per-Annum Fees

• Tag registration - $15
• Modified registration - no fee

Registration Details

• Registration is done at the Leander Police Department. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
• Registration is valid for one year from the date of issuance or when rabies has expired or whichever comes first.

When calling to report an animal that is running loose, please give a basic description of the animal, where it was last seen, and any other information that may be helpful. Please call in loose animals at 512-528-2800.

All animal bites or scratches of a human resulting in broken skin must be reported to Animal Services per the Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 826.041. Observation or testing for rabies will be required. Pets will be required to be admitted into bite quarantine at a veterinary facility of the owners's choice. 

In some instances, dogs or cats may be eligible for home quarantine. Home quarantine will be determined by an Animal Services Officer and may require multiple visits from Animal Services to verify the animal is not displaying any signs of rabies; a final health exam by a veterinarian will be required to release the pet from home quarantine. The quarantine period is for a minimum of 10 days following the bite.