For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly requires a different meaning.
ANIMAL. Any living creature, wild or domestic, except for human beings.
ANIMAL WILD BY NATURE. Any animal which is not generally considered to be domesticated or a pet or which is usually considered by ordinary persons to be dangerous, or an animal which does not live ordinarily with human beings.
AT-LARGE. An animal is:
(1) Off the premises of its owner and not securely and physically restrained by means of a chain, cord, harness, leash, rope or other device required to restrain such animal; or
(2) On the premises of the owner and not securely confined on the premises.
CONFINED ON THE PREMISES. When an animal is securely and physically restrained on and within the premises of the owner by means of chains, fences, leashes, ropes, walls or other devices required to prevent the animal from leaving the premises.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. A person willfully or maliciously:
(1) Tortures, cruelly beats, injures, maims, disfigures, wounds, maltreats or unjustly destroys or kills any animal belonging to himself, herself or another;
(2) Unnecessarily confines or deprives any animal of proper food, drink or shelter or unjustly leaves an animal confined anywhere for more than six hours at a time, day or night, exposed to inclement weather or without proper feeding, watering and caring for the same;
(3) Abandons an animal to die;
(4) Unjustly administers any poison or noxious drug or substance to any animal; or
(5) Causes any other person to do any of the above items.
FOWL. Includes chickens, geese, ducks, doves, guineas, turkeys and other such domestic fowl.
HARBORING OR KEEPING AN ANIMAL. An animal is allowed to remain or to customarily return during a period of ten days or more on the premises of any person.
LIVESTOCK. Horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other such animals commonly known as LIVESTOCK.
NUISANCE. An animal that:
(1) Congregates in a group of three or more on private property without the consent of the owner, and in so doing, annoys the owner;
(2) Habitually prowls around, on or over any premises not the property of its owner to the frequent annoyance of the owner or occupant of the premises;
(3) Scratches or digs into or tramps on or over any flower bed, garden, tilled soil, vines, shrubbery or small plants, and in so doing, injures them;
(4) Overturns any garbage can or other container of waste products, or scatters the contents of the same;
(5) Chases or kills any domesticated animals or domesticated birds;
(6) Habitually chases motor vehicles or self-propelled vehicles, bicycles or pedestrians; or
(7) Annoys or disturbs any person by loud and frequent barking, howling, yelping or other noise.
OWNER. Any person who possesses legal title to an animal or who, possessing no legal title, keeps or harbors the animal.
SHELTER. The animal control shelter where impounded animals are kept before the disposal of the same, including the actual premises where such animals are regularly kept.
VICIOUS ANIMAL. An animal that:
(1) Has bitten or attempted to bite any person without due provocation; or
(2) Attacks or barks or growls at any person and acts as if it intends to attack or bite a person when not duly provoked.
(Prior Code, § 4-101)