City of Bishop Animal Control Services

06/12/2026

CITY OF BISHOP, TEXAS
Code Enforcement Division
Bishop Police Department
Bishop, Texas

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC REGARDING EASEMENT MAINTENANCE
Ordinance 10-9-90

Dear Residents and Property Owners,

The City of Bishop would like to remind all property owners of their responsibilities regarding the maintenance of easement areas adjacent to public streets as required by Ordinance 10-9-90, adopted on October 9, 1990.

What Is an Easement?

An easement is a portion of private property reserved for a specific public purpose, such as utility access, drainage, roadway maintenance, or other municipal services. While the property owner retains ownership of the land, the City and authorized entities may have the legal right to access and use the easement area when necessary.

Easement Maintenance Requirements

Under Ordinance 10-9-90, the City reserves an easement covering the first ten (10) to fifteen (15) feet of each lot adjacent to a street. Property owners are responsible for maintaining these areas and ensuring they remain free from conditions that may create hazards or interfere with public use.

Property owners must:

* Cut, mow, and trim vegetation within the easement area.
* Prevent grass, weeds, and shrubs from growing more than two (2) feet in height.
* Keep easement areas free of conditions that may obstruct access or create safety concerns.
* Understand that walls, trees, fences, buildings, and other permanent structures located within an easement may be required to be removed at the property owner’s expense if they interfere with the purpose of the easement.

Enforcement

Failure to properly maintain easement areas may result in the City taking corrective action when necessary to protect public health and safety. In such cases, the City may perform mowing or abatement services and seek reimbursement from the property owner in accordance with Ordinance 10-9-90. Costs assessed may be up to Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).

Working Together for a Better Community

Proper maintenance of easement areas helps ensure safe access for utility providers, supports drainage systems, improves neighborhood appearance, and promotes the health and safety of all residents. The City appreciates the cooperation of all property owners in keeping Bishop clean, safe, and accessible.

If you have questions regarding easements or property maintenance requirements, please contact the City of Bishop Code Enforcement Division.

Respectfully,

Bradford J. Shelton
Code Enforcement Officer
Bishop Police Department
Bishop, Texas

“Working together to maintain a safe, clean, and attractive community.”

04/18/2026

Vaccine event happening right now at the city park in Bishop.

04/14/2026

Reminder👇👇👇

03/20/2026

03/19/2026

IMPORTANT NOTICE: PLEASE DO NOT PICK UP ANIMALS UNLESS YOU ARE
PREPARED TO CARE FOR THEM
If you come across a puppy, dog, kitten, or cat, do not pick them up unless you have a safe place to keep them and are willing to take responsibility for their care.
When you pick up an animal, you are assuming ownership. Removing them from their familiar area can do more harm than good:
They may lose the scent trail back home, making it harder for them to return.
Mother cats may reject kittens that have been handled by humans.
Outdoor cats often have established territories and routines, and removing them can lead to confusion and danger.
We understand the urge to help out of concern, but taking an animal without a plan can actually put them at greater risk.
PLEASE NOTE: The animal shelter receives daily calls and is often at full capacity. We cannot guarantee space for animals brought in without notice.
If you're unsure what to do, call the shelter or local animal control for guidance before intervening. Let's work together to protect animals the right way.

03/02/2026

Anyone willing to rehome or foster this little guy?

01/20/2026

Bishop Animal Control Services is closely monitoring the potential for extreme cold, freezing temperatures, and possible winter weather in our area. Even short periods of cold weather can be dangerous, or deadly, for pets.

Now is the time to prepare and protect your animals.

🐾 COLD WEATHER PET SAFETY TIPS

✔️ Bring pets indoors whenever possible
✔️ Provide warm, dry shelter that protects from wind, rain, and freezing temperatures
✔️ Ensure pets have clean, unfrozen water at all times
✔️ Increase food intake slightly(pets burn more energy trying to stay warm)
✔️ Keep pets dry and off cold concrete or metal surfaces
✔️ Check on pets frequently, especially overnight

🚫 Puppies, kittens, senior pets, and short haired breeds are especially vulnerable.

❄️ OUTDOOR PETS
IF your pet must remain outdoors:
• Shelter must be insulated, weatherproof, and elevated
• Bedding should be dry straw or blankets
• Shelter openings should face away from wind
• Water bowls must be checked often to ensure they are not frozen

⚖️ TEXAS LAW – EXTREME WEATHER & PETS
Under Texas Penal Code §42.092 (Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animals), it is a criminal offense to fail to provide necessary care for an animal.

This includes:
• Failing to provide adequate shelter from extreme weather
• Failing to provide drinkable water
• Leaving an animal exposed to dangerous temperatures that could cause suffering, injury, or death

👉 You do NOT have to intend harm for a crime to occur.

👉 Simply failing to act can meet the elements of the offense.

Violations may result in criminal charges.
** Bishop Police patrol officers will be monitoring the city during routine patrols for hazardous conditions, INCLUDING potential animal welfare issues related to extreme cold and freezing temperatures.**

🐶 OUR GOAL
Our goal is education, prevention, and keeping pets safe! not punishment. We ask our community to plan ahead, act responsibly, and look out for animals who cannot protect themselves!

📢 If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them.

Thank you for helping keep Bishop’s pets safe!

For Animal Control, call the main line at
(361) 584-2443 and press 3.

ACO Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

FOR AN EMERGENCY DIAL 911 ☎️

11/13/2025

Anyone know who this guy belongs to?

11/10/2025

This dog is too clean and too healthy to be a stray, which leads me to believe someone is either letting him out in the morning or feeding him. He is causing property damage as well as agitating your neighbors who responsibly restrain their pets. It is not my goal to impound someone’s pet as it’s not the dogs fault, he’s just being a dog, however, this cannot continue. If this is your dog, or you know who he belongs to, let’s please correct this issue.