For purposes of this subchapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future and the past, words in the plural include the singular, and words in the singular include the plural.
ANIMAL CONTROL AGENCY. Any agency or person, including an animal control officer, authorized by law to implement animal control laws and provide animal care and control on behalf of the municipality.
ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION. Any charitable corporation whose purpose includes promotion of animal welfare and that has been granted 501c3 nonprofit status by the Internal Revenue Service.
CAREGIVER. Any person who regularly provides food and water to a feral cat colony approved through and in compliance with the requirements of this subchapter.
EARTIP. A mark identifying a feral or stray cat as having been sterilized, specifically the removal of a quarter inch off the tip of the cat's ear in a straight line cut while the cat is anesthetized.
FEEDING STATION. A small area with an established purpose of putting out food and water for a feral cat colony.
FERAL CAT. A cat that is not socialized to humans and is not an owned cat.
FERAL CAT COLONY AND COLONY. A group of greater than 6 feral or stray cats that congregate, more or less, together as a unit and share a common food source.
FERAL CAT SANCTUARY. An enclosure designed to and which contains a feral cat colony within the bounds of the sanctuary.
NUISANCE.
(1) Conduct by feral or stray cats that:
(a) Disturbs the peace, including habitually or continually howling or making loud noises; and
(b) Destroys property;
(c) Gets into or turns over any solid waste container or trash can;
(d) Walks on, sleeps on, or scratches a vehicle or other property owned by someone or some entity other than the owner of the cat;
(e) Damages real or personal property owned someone or some entity other than the owner of the cat;
(f) Defecates and/or urinates upon property owned by someone or some entity other than the owner of the cat.
(2) It shall also constitute a nuisance to:
(a) Keep feral or stray cats in violation of this subchapter;
(b) To keep or maintain feral or stray cats in unsanitary conditions so as to be offensive to sight or smell or resulting in infestations of fleas, ticks or other vermin;
(c) Fail to confine a feral cat in estrus from other domestic cats.
OWNED CAT. A cat that is a companion to a person, is regularly fed and sheltered within that same person's habitation and carries visible indicia of ownership, including a collar, tag or microchip.
SHELTER. A structure that provides feral and stray cats with protection from cold, rain and other weather-related elements.
STERILIZE. To spay or neuter.
STRAY CAT. A cat that is socialized to humans and is not an owned cat.
TNR. The method of managing feral and stray cats known as Trap-Neuter-Return, pursuant to which feral and stray cats are trapped, sterilized, vaccinated against rabies, eartipped, and returned to the location authorized in accordance with this subchapter.
(Ord. passed 1-19-2016)