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1. What should I do if I see a stray animal?

When calling the City of Bridge City Animal Control about a stray animal, please give a detailed description of the animal (breed, color, size, collar, tags, etc.). If you know where the stray animal belongs, let us know the address, so we can make contact with the owner. Please provide your name, phone number and / or address in case the Animal Control Officer needs to get more information from you about your complaint. Your information will be kept confidential.

2. Where do the Animal Control Officers take the animals they pick up?

Animal Control takes all dogs to the Bridge City Animal Shelter on Sewer Plant Road. Wildlife picked up by Animal Control Officers is relocated and released in accordance with state and local laws.

3. My pet has gotten loose and is missing. What can I do to find him?

Immediately call and/or go to the Bridge City Animal Shelter (our phone number is 409-735-8898) to see if your pet has been brought in. If your pet is not there, file a lost report with the Animal Control Officer. You will need to come back to the shelter every 2 to 3 days to see if your pet has been brought in. Check with your neighbors to see if they have seen your dog. You may also want to check the lost and found section of the local newspapers and place an ad there yourself.

4. I received a summons from an Animal Control Officer. How much will the fine be?

Contact the City of Bridge City Municipal Court at 409-735-2236 to determine the amount of the fine. Remember that you have ten days from the date the summons was given to you to respond to the Municipal Court.

5. When do I have to vaccinate my dog against rabies?

Local Ordinance requires that the owner or custodian (excluding animal shelters) of each domestic dog shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies before four months of age and within each subsequent 12-month interval (annually) thereafter. The vaccination must be administered by a licensed veterinarian. Failure to vaccinate your dog against rabies can result in a fine and/or summons to Municipal Court. Remember that vaccinating your pets is your family's first line of defense against rabies. Your pets are more likely to have contact with a wild animal than you.

6. What is Rabies?

Rabies is an acute viral disease that attacks the nervous system, resulting in paralysis and almost certain death once the symptoms appear. The rabies virus is present in the saliva of the rabid animal. The most common way the disease is spread is by a bite from an infected animal. Though rare, rabies also can be spread if the infected animal's saliva comes in contact with fresh scratches, open wounds or mucous membranes such as the lining of the eyelid.

7. My dog / cat got into a fight with a wild animal. What do I do?

If your dog or cat has been in contact with one of the following high-risk animals: skunk, raccoon, bat, fox or coyote, contact your Animal Control Officer immediately for guidance. If the wildlife animal is dead or can be caught then it may be shipped for testing. You are also advised to consult with your veterinarian. Your pet may need vet care for injuries, and may need to be given a booster rabies vaccination if he is currently vaccinated, or a series of vaccinations if he is not currently vaccinated.

8. Can my dog be loose as long as he stays on my property?

Your dog must be confined at all times, even on your property, by a sufficient fence and/or humanely chained in such a manner that he cannot leave your property. Failure to properly confine your dog can result in a fine and/or summons to Municipal Court.

9. There are a lot of stray cats hanging around my property. Is there a leash law for cats?

Currently, there is no leash law for cats.

10. I'm having problems with skunks, raccoons, opossums, armadillos, etc. What can I do?

If wildlife is frequenting your property, then you need to identify what is attracting them. Pet food left out during the evening hours and open garbage containers are usually the problem. If a trap is needed, contact City of Bridge City Animal Control 409-735-8898.

• If some type of wildlife is digging up your lawn, it is usually an armadillo or skunk digging for grubs, worms, etc. Treat your yard with a pesticide to kill off their food source.
• If you have crawl space under your house and/or shed that has open access holes, you are inviting wildlife to move in. Cover all areas of access with solid, sturdy material. If a critter has already set up home under your house or shed, then block all access points except one. Before dark, sprinkle flour around the front of the access hole and check periodically throughout the evening until you see tracks leading out. Cover the hole after you are sure that no wildlife will be trapped under your house and/or shed.
• If you have taken all the above steps and still have a critter problem, then trapping may be the only solution. In this case, contact the Animal Control Officer, if you need a trap or before setting your own trap.

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1. Is my utility billing information confidential?

Yes. Generally, we will only disclose your information to persons named on the account. Historically, utility customer information was subject to disclosure under the Texas Government Code, Chapter 552 (Public Information Act) unless a customer specified in writing they wanted their information to be kept confidential, however, in 2021, the Texas legislature passed H.B. 872 amending the Texas Utility Code to make utility customer information confidential by default. You do have the right to request the City disclose your information under the Public Information Act, which you can do by completing a Disclosure of Utility Information and returning the form to the Utility Billing department.

2. Why is my bill so high?

Check the Rate Chart (Inside City Limits [PDF] or Outside City Limits [PDF]). Your bill has a minimum charge for water and sewer, if you have no usage with an active account or usage up to a consumption of 2,000 gallons you will be billed the minimum bill. Check for leaks. Even a small leak can be very costly; find out using this Water Wiser Drip Calculator. Read your own meter, if the City is called out to reread your meter there will be a $15 charge added to your account.

3. How do you determine my wastewater (sewer) charge?

Your sewer usage is based on the amount of water usage. Most water runs through the sewer system.

4. Why is my wastewater (sewer) charge higher that my water charge?

We are required by the state and the TECQ to clean wastewater before returning it to the environment. The dirtier the water is, the more expensive it is to clean it.

5. Where is my meter, and when do you read it?

Your water meter is located just below the ground in the meter box located on the utility easement, normally adjacent to the street. You read the meter just like you would if you were reading the odometer on your vehicle (from left to right). Your meter registers in gallons. If you should attempt to read your meter, please be aware...your meter may be the home to spiders, snakes, frogs or fire ants!

You can check your water usage by taking your most recent utility bill and locating the “present” reading. By subtracting the current reading on your meter from the “present” reading on your most recent bill, you can determine your consumption since the meter was last read. If the current reading is less than that “resent” reading noted on your bill, a reading error or error in data entry has been made. Please call our office at 409-735-6801 for assistance in correcting this. We do try to catch these errors prior to billing, but sometimes they do slip by. For billing purposes, your meter is usually read between the 20th and 25th of each month. Keep in mind that the bill is for a month prior - you can note the “service from” and “service to” dates on your bill.

Because the ground usually stays moist here there is usually mud/dirt over your meter. If our technicians come out to read they know just where the meter dials are, so they do not always clean out where the meter is. They can move just enough mud / dirt to see the reading. The meters are normally read through a wireless system, therefore you may not see a meter reader.

Your meter can also be used to determine the presence of “problems” in your plumbing system. Your meter is equipped with a “tattle tail” triangle located on the face of the meter. To check for leaks, turn off all equipment and faucets. Watch the triangle closely, if there is any movement, this indicated that there is a problem that needs to be taken care of as quickly as possible. Take turns turning off each toilet to see if one of the toilets shows a leak. If you are unsure about this process, we can have a customer service technician assist you. Failure to get this problem fixed will result in higher consumption and a higher utility bill.

6. How much water does my shower, toilet, sink, etc. use?

Activity / Appliance	Water Usage
Shower (5 Minutes)	30 Gallons
Toilet Flushing	5 to 7 Gallons (Tap running)
Brushing Teeth	10 Gallons (Tap running)
Tub Bath	25 Gallons
Shaving	20 Gallons (Tap running)
Washing Hands	2 Gallons (Tap running)
Dishwasher	15 Gallons per load
Washing Machine	25 go 30 Gallons per day
Leaking Toilet (Some leaks you will not hear)	Up to 200 or more gallons a day
Dripping Faucet	Up to 20 Gallons per day