For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY. Any entity authorized to enforce the animal control laws of a city.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. Any individual employed, appointed or authorized by an animal control authority for the purpose of aiding in the enforcement of this act or any other law or ordinance relating to the licensing of animals, control of animals or seizure and impoundment of animals and shall include any state or local law enforcement or other employee whose duties in whole or in part include assignments that involve the seizure and impoundment of any animal.
DANGEROUS DOG. Any dog that, according to the records of an animal control authority:
(1) Has killed or inflicted severe injury on a human being on public or private property;
(2) Has killed a domestic animal without provocation while the dog was off the owner’s property; or
(3) Has been previously determined to be a potentially dangerous dog by an animal control authority and the owner has received notice of the determination and the dog again aggressively bites, attacks or endangers the safety of humans or domestic animals. A dog shall not be defined as a DANGEROUS DOG if the threat, any injury that is not a severe injury, or damage was sustained by a person who, at the time, was committing a willful trespass as defined in Neb. RS 20-203, 28-520 or 28-521 or any other tort upon the property of the owner of the dog, who was tormenting, abusing or assaulting the dog, who has, in the past, been observed or reported to have tormented, abused or assaulted the dog, or who was committing or attempting to commit a crime.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL. A cat, a dog or livestock.
OWNER. Any person, firm, corporation, organization, political subdivision or department possessing, harboring, keeping or having control or custody of a dog.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG.
(1) Any dog that, when unprovoked:
(a) Inflicts a non-severe injury on a human or injures a domestic animal either on public or private property; or
(b) Chases or approaches a person upon streets, sidewalks or any public grounds in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack.
(2) Any specific dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack when unprovoked, to cause injury or to threaten the safety of humans or domestic animals; and severe injury shall mean any physical injury that results in disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery or one or more broken bones or that creates a potential danger to the life or health of the victim.
(Prior Code, § 6-118) (Ord. 4-95, passed 11-6-1995)