Henderson County will be cracking down on the owners of domestic animals who allow them to run loose.

The Commissioners Court added fines to its nine-year-old animal control ordinance on May 17. Henderson County Humane Society spokeswoman Norma Lambert praised the action, saying it would help animals and provide a better environment for residents of the county.

If a pet owner allows it to run loose, fails to shelter it or abandons it, they will incur a fine of up to $500.

If a pet owner fails to obtain a rabies vaccination for the animal and attaches the metal tag to a collar, they will incur a fine of up to $500.

If a pet owner fails to provide food and fresh water daily, they will incur a fine of up to $500.

The ordinance already prohibited pet owners from allowing domestic animals to run loose to "worry or kill domestic animals, fowls or livestock" under penalty of a fine up to $500. The revision imposes tighter restrictions on Henderson County residents.

The animal control ordinance is designed to protect domestic animals and the public at large, according to county officials.