As used in this chapter, unless otherwise specified, the following terms mean:
ANIMAL. Any live, vertebrate creature, domestic or wild.
ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY. The entity with which the city contracts for enforcement of this chapter.
ANIMAL SHELTER. Any facility operated by a humane society, or municipal agency, or its authorized agents for the purpose of impounding or caring for animals held under the authority of this chapter or state law.
AUCTIONS. Any place or facility where animals are regularly bought, sold or traded, except for those facilities otherwise defined in this chapter. This paragraph does not apply to individual sales of animals by owners.
COMMERCIAL ANIMAL ESTABLISHMENT. Any pet shop, grooming shop, auction, riding school or stable, zoological park, circus, performing animal exhibit or kennel.
DOG. Any canine animal, male or female, sexed or neutered.
GROOMING SHOP. A commercial establishment where animals are bathed, clipped, plucked or otherwise groomed.
HUMANE OFFICER. Any individual employed, appointed or authorized by an animal control authority with which the City is then under contract for the purpose of aiding in the enforcement of Neb. RS §§ 54-617 to 54-624 (1943), as amended, or any other law or ordinance relating to the licensure of animals, control of animals, or seizure and impoundment of animals and shall include any state or local law enforcement officer or other employee whose duties in whole or in part include assignments that involve the seizure and impoundment of any animal.
KENNEL. An entity which:
(1) Is engaged in the commercial business of buying, selling, breeding, training for a fee, care or boarding of dogs, or keeps four or more dogs over four months of age; and
(2) Does not possess a valid pet avocation permit nor a valid pet shop permit.
LICENSING AUTHORITY. The City of Bellevue, Nebraska.
OWNER. Any person, or in the case of a minor, the minor’s parent or other legal guardian; partnership; corporation or other entity owning, possessing, keeping, harboring, maintaining custody over or entrusted with safeguarding and handling at least one animal located within the city’s boundaries or within two miles thereof.
PET. Any licensed animal kept for pleasure rather than utility.
PET ANIMAL AVOCATION. The care, breeding, showing or sale of dogs or cats by a competent adult person who is registered with the animal control authority and who shall own, keep, harbor or maintain four or more dogs or cats, but no more than five dogs or five cats total and no more than six total dogs and cats six months of age or older on the lot on which he or she resides or on a contiguous lot, which lot or lots are not zoned for business.
PUBLIC NUISANCE. Any animal or animals which:
(1) Molest passers-by or passing vehicles;
(2) Attack other animals;
(3) Trespass on school grounds;
(4) Are repeatedly at large;
(5) Damage private or public property;
(6) Bark, whine or howl in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion; or
(7) Annoy, disturb, injure or endanger the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of persons or property within the city’s boundaries and within two miles thereof.
RESTRAINT. Any animal secured by a leash or lead or within the real property limits of its owners.
RIDING SCHOOL OR STABLE. Any place that has available for hire, boarding and/or riding instruction any horse, pony, donkey, mule or burro.
STRAY ANIMAL. Any unlicensed animal found roaming at large, frequenting or remaining on private or public property without the consent of the owner or tenant of said property.
VETERINARY HOSPITAL. Any establishment maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian for surgery, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of animals.
WILD ANIMAL. Any live monkey (nonhuman primate), raccoon, skunk, fox, poisonous or dangerous snake, poisonous or dangerous insect, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx or any other warm-blooded animal, which is now or historically has been found in the wild, or in the wild state, within the boundaries of the United States, its territories, or possessions. This term includes, but is not limited to, animals such as: deer, skunk, opossum, raccoon, mink, armadillo, coyote, squirrel, fox and wolf.
WILD STATE. An animal’s original, natural condition of living; not domesticated.
ZOOLOGICAL PARK. Any facility, other than a pet shop or kennel, displaying or exhibiting one or more species of non-domesticated animals operated by a person, partnership, corporation or governmental agency.
(Ord. 2162, § 1, passed 3-23-1981; Ord. 2753, § 1, passed 5-1-1993; Ord. 3199, § 1, passed 6-10-2002; Ord. 3524, § 1, passed 7-27-2009; Ord. 3679, § 1, passed 8-27-2012; Ord. 3894, § 1, passed 1-22-2018)