Dog servicesin Waxahachie, TX

Every dog over four months old living in Waxahachie, TX must be registered with the city and microchipped, with a current rabies vaccination record. Waxahachie Animal Services handles registration and will microchip a dog that does not already have a chip for $5, with no appointment needed. The shelter, at 191 Lions Park Road, answers at 469-309-4150 and is open for adoptions 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

If your dog gets loose inside city limits, call Animal Services first, or the after-hours non-emergency line at 469-309-4400. If you live outside city limits but in Ellis County, the city directs you to the Ellis County Sheriff's Department at 972-937-6060.

Dogs are welcome in city parks and on trails, but the parks FAQ keeps them on a leash at all times outside the designated areas of Wags-a-hachie Dog Park, which has watering and waste stations. Clean up after your dog. For storms and evacuations, Ellis County's pet preparedness page says pets other than service animals are not allowed in emergency shelters, so plan somewhere else to go and keep medicine, records and the rabies tag ready.