Pets of Martindale
Martindale loves, Loves, LOVES its pets! Whether it is a dog or cat or bird or fish or lizard or bunny or cow or llama, or whatever it might be, it’s got fans here in this small town! This page is dedicated to our pets. It provides you with the City ordinances about pet ownership and pet care, as well as helpful information and services that provide help with caring for our pets.
Leash/ Fence Law
FYI for anyone unaware, Martindale has a leash law for pet dogs.
- What our ordinances actually say, though, is that our pets can’t run free (except pet cats and fowl).
- In a yard they must be fenced, held in a person’s arms, or leashed. Sometimes people don’t know this includes a person’s front yard. If another dog were to come into your front yard, OR another dog came walking by your front yard, and your dog was unleashed & not held in your arms (or wiggled free) and ran after it, either way, if your dog was the “aggressor” in a dog fight, you might be held responsible in the Great State of Texas. Even if your dog was in your own front yard. If ya don’t know, now ya know.
- Tethering is not allowed when the dog is unattended (since 2022). There are some exceptions to allow the use of a tie-out. Violations are chargeable offenses, as misdemeanors, so know the facts. To learn the specifics, please visit A Brand New Day for Texas, which has explanations in English and en Española. https://www.thln.org/a_brand_new_day
Dogs riding in cars
Most dogs LOVE riding in cars with their people. That’s fun for all, EXCEPT if you need to run into a store or ANYPLACE where the dog will have to stay in the car with no A/C. It is absolutely astounding how quickly a human feels the heat. Try it for yourself–sit in the car with the windows up and the engine off. See how long you can stay comfortable.
Or, when its even 80 degrees outside, sit in the car with no A/C and the windows cracked for about 20 minutes or however long it usually takes you to run into a store. It is hotter and stuffier than the inside of a dryer machine within 5-10 minutes.
If you can’t lock your car doors with the engine running and A/C on (most cars don’t permit this), then you can’t take your dog with you in the car when it is over 80 degrees outside and you will have to leave them in the car alone.
And please be careful about walking on concrete, parking lot surfaces, or even just having your dog or cat jump onto your leather car seats if your car has been in the sun. (I’m not even joking, homie, your dog can get burned when you don’t even think its THAT hot out.)
Please keep aware of the heat
As spring passes and summer is quick on its way in Martindale, please remember that the asphalt is too hot for a dog’s paws even in the evening. The very early morning is about the only option for a dog to run with its owner. This is especially true for “smoosh-face” dogs like pugs. (Ask your vet for advice, please.)
When possible, walk your dog in fields, dirt paths or meadows. If your dog must cross hot surfaces, you can protect their paws from burns by rubbing Musher's Paw Wax on each pad before going out. These products create a protective barrier shielding the pad tissue from extreme temperatures while still allowing the skin to breathe. Or you can use dog booties that are designed for heat protection (some are designed for cold and will increase the heat on the paws, so read the packaging).
There is a simple test in which you can do to check whether the pavement is too hot for your pet’s paws by doing the “seven-second test.” Simply touch the pavement with the back of your hand for seven seconds. If you can’t hold out for the full seven seconds because the surface is too hot, then it’s also too hot for your dog’s paws.
Please look for signs of burns on the pads of your dog’s paws if they have to walk on hot surfaces:
Symptoms of burns
- The affected area is reddened and swollen (1st degree)
- Clear blisters are visible (2nd degree)
- The skin is charred (3rd degree)
First aid for burnt paws
If you’re worried that your dog may have burned their paws on hot pavement, you should see your veterinarian. Burns can be extremely uncomfortable, so pain medication is typically warranted, and the open skin can easily become infected.
While waiting for your appointment, you can keep your dog comfortable by following these steps:
- Rinse the paw pads with tepid water to remove any debris.
- Gently dry the paw, then place a breathable sock or loose wrap on the foot to protect the damaged pads.
- Use a dog cone to prevent them from licking or chewing the area, which can traumatize the tissues even further.
- Keep your dog off their feet by carrying them outside for potty breaks until your vet gives you further instructions.
THANKS Y’ALL! I appreciate you! 😊 And so will your pet dogs!
Dudes and Dudettes, we already don’t deserve dogs. They freakin love us and only want us to love them (as long as love equals an occasional bite of human food). Give them the benefit of the doubt when it is hot outside.
- No dogs sitting in the car “just for a minute,”
- Throw some extra ice cubes in their outside water,
- Don’t run with them on concrete or asphalt after 9AM, in the MORNING, (but especially during the afternoon or evening) unless they are wearing heat protectant booties and you have checked with your vet about your dog’s breed.
According to Caldwell County:
3 mo
CURRENTLY VACCINATED means: Vaccinated and satisfying the following criteria:
a) The animal must have been vaccinated at three (3) months of age or before 4 months as prescribed by the Texas Department of Health.
b) At least thirty (30) days have elapsed since the initial vaccination.
c) Not more than 3 years have elapsed since the most recent vaccination. People who move to Texas must have their dog or cat vaccinated within 10 days of arrival.
3 days
All dogs and cats impounded by the Animal Control Department or brought to the animal
shelter…shall be held for 3 days during which time period the owner may present proof of ownership at the shelter. After paying all applicable fees, that owner may reclaim the dog/cat.
In the event that the dog/cat is not claimed after 3 days in the shelter, that dog/cat shall become the property of Caldwell County Animal Shelter. It may be adopted out or euthanized.
50%
Of dogs at the Lockhart Animal Shelter are euthanized. 30% of cats are adopted, the rest are euthanized. If you are looking to adopt, please start at the Lockhart Shelter.
Care Requirements
(A) No owner shall fail to provide his animals with sufficient wholesome and nutritious food, water in sufficient quantities, adequate ventilation, shelter space and protection from the weather, veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering, and humane care and treatment.
(B) No person shall beat, cruelly treat, torment, overload, overwork, otherwise abuse an animal, or cause, instigate, or permit any instigated cockfight, bullfight, or other combat between animals or between animals and humans.
(C) No owner of an animal shall abandon such animal.
PAY ATTENTION HERE: The shelter will make the pet available for adoption to someone else after the 3-day or 7-day hold if you don’t get over to the pet jail and bail ’em out.
(D) It is hereby prohibited and shall be unlawful for any person to willfully abandon any animal or to withhold food or water from any animal such that its health is endangered or to treat the animal in such a way that it suffers unduly.
Vaccinations Required
All Martindale pet dogs and pet cats over 4 months old are required to have proof of rabies vaccinations.
Every owner of a dog or cat immunized against rabies as required must keep a copy of the a rabies vaccination certificate from the veterinarian administering the vaccine. Such certificates shall contain the following information:
- Owner’s name, address, and telephone number;
- The species, sex, age, weight, predominant breed, and color of the animal;
- The vaccine used, manufacturer and serial number;
- Date vaccinated;
- Rabies tag number*; and
- Veterinarian’s signature and license number.
Note to the reader: I recently learned from personal experience that some nonprofit groups that do low-cost vaccinations do not provide an actual rabies tag. I thought that’s how dog pounds knew if the dog had been vaccinated (for example, if it bit somebody). But turns out, dog pounds ONLY rely on the vaccination record and receipt you get when your dog gets vaccinated. So don’t lose it!! Keep it someplace you can find it in the unlikely situation it goes to “dog jail.”
The Texas State Library has a whole section of online resources to learn about pet health and other pet laws in Texas. (That’s the library for the State of Texas, not the library at Texas State University, by the way.) Its great information to learn the answers to any questions you might have. https://guides.sll.texas.gov/animal-law/pets
It even includes what a “regular” person can do if they suspect animal abuse or animal fighting rings. It also addresses service animals, in case you have ever wondered what the requirements are for a service dog (or how it is different from an emotional support pet). And you can learn what the requirements are for animal shelters in Texas, too. The more you know… you’re welcome.
If your pet goes missing…
The awful worry if your pet goes missing isn’t something anyone wants to feel.
Keep these considerations in mind, just in case it happens to you.
- Make sure your pet is microchipped, and has a name tag on with your current contact information!
- FYI, our local animal shelter is NOT San Marcos. Martindale is in Caldwell County so ours is LOCKHART ANIMAL SHELTER. https://www.lockhart-tx.org/page/animal_services_shelter
- Any animal running free or at large, with no physical or verbal restraint beyond the premises of an animal’s owner or keeper is considered a “stray” and may be “arrested” (impounded) by the police or animal control and thrown in the “doggie slammer.” You’ll have to pay fines to the City and to the Shelter to “bail them out.”
- If your pet dog or pet cat isn’t located at the shelter, try looking for it on social media. The Martindale Community Facebook page is a good place to post a couple of photos. Hint: take 2 clear photos, up close, so people can see it’s unique features, its face, and size/coloring. You’d be surprised how many people don’t have any “good” ones when they need it. Nextdoor is another app with many Martindale neighbors who may have seen your pup.
If you find a stray pet
Unfortunately, sometimes people “dump” their pets in or around Martindale. We don’t really know why but some folks say its because we are pretty rural and very kindly. They figure they won’t get caught dumping it but someone will rescue it.
If you find a stray dog, try these tips:
- Check on the Martindale Community Facebook page, and Martindale Nextdoor apps to see if someone is missing the pet.
- Take two pics of the pet and post the pictures of the pet, where it was last seen, and if you remove the pet from that location, post how you’d like to be contacted. Consider your own personal information on the internet and maybe ask for a direct message using the app’s message system. Other people don’t mind posting their phone number. Its your choice.
- Call the police or Lockhart shelter for help if you need it. Some dogs or cats are friendly and run up for petting, others are scared, hungry and pretty hangry from being dumped or lost. Don’t approach the pet if you can’t tell how it might react.
- Take the dog to a vet’s office or any shelter to get it scanned for a microchip. If it is chipped, and if the owner has updated the contact information responsibly, you’ll get a name, phone number and/or email address to contact to return the pet home safely.
- Ms Kelly Arthur runs the Facebook page Lost and Found Pets of Hays County. We can’t post lost pets on her page, but she has ALLLLLL the knowledge about how to either find the owners or find a good home for the pet. You can message her privately on either NextDoor app or Facebook app, just search for her by name.
Pet resources
If you need help with your pet’s care, there are nonprofits in the area who are there to help with free or sliding fees for vet care and vaccinations.
Emancipet has a mobile clinic to cover Central Texas. It posts a calendar of low cost visits where pets can receive everything from spay/neuter services to vaccinations to nail trims. Their prices are available on their website.
Prevent a Litter (PALS) of Central Texas The mission of Pet Prevent a Litter (PALS) of Central Texas, a non-profit organization, is to help end pet overpopulation and pet homelessness. PALS is dedicated to promoting responsible pet care through community education and spay/neuter programs for those in need. PALS provides a human service by assisting economically challenged people to extend their limited resources to their families, rather than caring for and feeding unwanted pets. We provide spay/neuter services to stop litters of unwanted surplus pets which would likely end up in shelters to be destroyed. PALS also offers vaccination clinics and preventative medications for fleas, ticks and heartworms.
PALS endorses and supports “catch, spay and release” for feral cats. If you are trying to help the feral cats in your neighborhood by volunteering to bring them in to be spayed, then released back into their neighborhood, contact PALS to learn more. They may be able to help with traps and planning.
Prevent a Litter (PALS) of Central Texas Also offers a pet food pantry if you need a helping hand because you can’t afford to feed your pet properly. Click the link to learn more about how to access it.
Access the full monthly calendar for PALS events (vet services, spay/neuter, food pantry) HERE
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