The City of Arlington Neighborhood Services Department is working to maintain the quality of life in neighborhoods with the support of the City Attorney’s Office and County Court.

"The City of Arlington Neighborhood Services Department takes seriously all quality of life issues that impact our residents," said Animal Services Manager Mike Bass. "The actions of the City Attorney’s Office in taking injunctive action recently in County Court support our commitment to livable neighborhoods."

According to the Neighborhood Services Department, between October 2002 and July 2004, the Arlington Animal Services Division issued at least 84 criminal citations to the owner of the home-based dog breeding business. A Tarrant County civil court ordered him to refrain from breeding or selling pit bulls from his home, disposing of waste in the storm drainage system and owning more than two dogs at a time. The city removed the dogs from the business owner’s property last July. The actions stemmed from odor, noise and unsanitary condition complaints from neighbors, said Bass.

The goal of the Animal Services Division is to encourage and promote responsible pet ownership in the city. It is the duty of the Animal Services Manager and deputies to administer and enforce all state and city health and safety laws pertaining to animals.