As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
ANIMAL: | Dogs, cats, goats, cattle, swine, sheep, horses, mules and other species of livestock, domestic fowl, pigeons or rabbits and all other animals, fowl or fish, domestic or wild. |
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER: | Any duly appointed animal control officer and law enforcement officers. |
AT LARGE: | Off the premises of the owner, and not under the control of the owner or member of his immediate family either by leash, cord, chain, halter shank or otherwise. |
ATTITUDE OF ATTACK: | Behavior of a dog that leads a reasonable person to believe the dog is going to inflict injury upon the person or another, which behavior may include growling, barking, baring of teeth, tense or stiff posture, raised hackles, lunging, or nipping. |
BITE: | Any abrasion, scratch, puncture, laceration, bruise, tear or piercing of the skin caused by the teeth of an animal. |
CONTINUOUSLY: | Any noise that is repeated with less than one (1) minute of silence between the noises. |
DOG: | Includes both male and female. |
DOMESTIC ANIMAL: | All animals which, by habit or association, live in association with humans, and includes dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, canaries, parrots, parakeets, turtles and tropical fish (except piranha). |
OWNER: | Any person or persons, firm, association or corporation owning, keeping or harboring an animal. |
POUND: | The place provided by the city and customarily maintained by the animal control officer for the impounding of animals. |
PUBLIC PROPERTY: | Any place to which the public or any substantial group thereof has access. |
RESPONSIBLE PERSON: | A person over the age of eighteen (18) who possesses an animal or the parent or guardian of a person under the age of eighteen (18) who possesses an animal, irrespective of whether the person is an owner. |
RESTRAINT: | Controlled by a leash or halter shank not longer than ten feet (10'), or under control of a rein by a competent person or at "heel" and obedient to that person's commands, within a vehicle or trailer with permission of the owner, or within property limits of the owner or other person consenting thereto. |
TEMPORARILY: | Persons within the city limits for less than sixty (60) consecutive days. |
VACCINATION: | The inoculation of dogs with an antirabies vaccine which shall be administered under the direction of the health officer by any licensed veterinarian, the cost of said vaccination to be borne by the owner of the dog. The dog shall wear a collar with tag attached thereto at all times revealing an up to date vaccination. |
WILD ANIMALS: | Any animal that is not normally found other than in the state of nature, i.e., ferae naturae, and are generally of a wild nature or disposition and must generally be tamed by art, industry or education, or else must be kept in confinement. (1976 Code § 6-2-1; amd. Ord. 356, 4-21-1997; 2015 Code; Ord. 417, 2-16-2021, eff. 3-18-2021) |