For the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
(a) “Animal Control Authority” means a department known as the Animal Control Department, created for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this article.
(b) “Animal shelter” means any premises designed as the shelter of, and operated under the supervision of, the Animal Control Department.
(c) “Animal Warden” means the person employed by the Animal Control Authority.
(d) “At large” means any dog which is off or away from the premises of its owner or keeper thereof, unless such dog is:
(1) Restrained by means of a leash or chain not over six feet in length; or
(2) Under such effective direction, supervision or command of a competent person as to be in fact restrained.
(e) “Harboring” means any person sheltering and feeding a dog for fifteen days or more.
(f) “Kennel” means the commercial business of breeding, buying, selling or boarding dogs.
(g) “Owner” means any person owning, keeping or harboring a dog.
(h) “Restraint” means any dog at “heel” or on a leash beside a competent person or within a vehicle.
(i) “Dangerous animal” means and includes the following:
(1) Any mammal, amphibian, fish, reptile or fowl which, due to size, vicious nature or other characteristics would constitute a danger to human life, physical well being, or property, including but not limited to, lions, tigers, leopards, bears, wolves, apes, gorillas, monkeys of a species whose average adult weight is twenty pounds or more, foxes, elephants, alligators and snakes which are venomous or otherwise present a risk of serious makeup including, but not limited to, boa constrictors, Madagascar ground boas, green and yellow anacondas, Cuban boas, Indian pythons, reticulated pythons, African rock pythons, Amethystine pythons, Boelen’s pythons and all members of the family pythonidac that exceed six feet in length.
(2) Any dog or cat having a disposition or propensity to attack or bite any person or animal without provocation is hereby defined as a “dangerous animal.” For the purpose of this chapter, where the official records of the Chief Animal Control Officer or Recorder indicate a dog or cat has bitten any person or persons, it shall be prima facie evidence that said dog or cat is a dangerous animal.
(3) “Pit Bull Dog” is defined to mean any and all of the following dogs:
A. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed of dogs;
B. The American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dogs;
C. The American Pit Bull Terrier breed of dogs;
D. Dogs which have the appearance and characteristics of being predominately of the breeds of dogs known as Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, or American Staffordshire Terrier.
The registration of a dog at the time in any jurisdiction as a Pit Bull or any of the dogs listed above shall constitute prima facie evidence the animal is prohibited by this section.
(4) Any domesticated dog that has in its known genetic history and/or formal pedigree crossbreeding with the wolf species to include but not be limited to, animals referred to as wolf-hybrids or wolf mixed breeds or the breed known as Tundra Shepherds. The registration of an animal at any time in any jurisdiction as a wolf-hybrid, wolf mix or Tundra Shepherd shall constitute prima facie evidence the animal is prohibited by this section. For the purpose of this section, all references to animals described herein shall be to wolf-hybrids. (Ord. 2006-06. Passed 8-15-06.)