Can you keep an unlimited number of cats and dogs at home in Texas? It’s complicated
Most Texans have dogs or cats running around their house, but is there a limit to how many they can legally have indoors?
Just over two years ago, The Human Society of North Texas Cruelty Department rescued over 50 dogs from a residence with the help of the Hill County Sheriff’s Department. Later that year, over 200 animals were recovered from a separate Hill Country property by the same organizations.
There is nothing in Texas law that limits the number of animals a household can keep. That responsibility falls on local governments to write the ordinances. Here’s what we know about pet laws in Fort Worth:
How many dogs and cats can you legally have per household in Fort Worth?
Fort Worth only allows three dogs and three cats per household.
The three dog and three cats law applies to animals over the age of eight weeks, according to city ordinance 6-11. This means that if a dog or cat has babies, their offspring are protected from the limit until they age past the eight-week mark.
However, residents can apply for a multi-pet permit to house additional animals. Here’s how the steps work:
- An application is filed with the animal care and control authority.
- An inspection of the property by an animal control officer is conducted.
- After the inspection, the animal control director will determine whether or not to approve the permit.
