For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED DOG. Any dog left without proper food and water for a period of over 24 hours, or any barking dog without supervision for over a period of over 24 hours.
AT LARGE. A dog or other animal inside the corporate limits of the city, off the premises of the owner and not under complete control by adequate leash. Excepted from this definition are dogs in obedience or field training exercises under the direct supervision of a handler in areas designated and posted by the city.
BARKING DOG. A dog which persistently barks or howls and thereby unreasonably deprives a person of peace and quiet.
COMMERCIAL DOG KENNEL. A place of business for the care of dogs, including, but not limited to, the boarding, grooming, breeding, training or selling of dogs. The term is not intended to include an animal hospital or a non-commercial kennel.
DANGEROUS ANIMAL. Any animal, other than a dog, which has the propensity to bite or attack any person without provocation and the capacity to inflict serious harm on that person. It shall be presumed that any animal, other than a dog, which has injured a human being on two occasions without provocation is a dangerous animal.
DOG CONTROL AUTHORITY. The dog control enforcement authority appointed by the county. A dog control officer is an officer of the DOG CONTROL AUTHORITY.
DOG OWNER. Any person, firm, association or corporation who is the licensed owner of a dog, or who has a right of property in a dog, or who harbors a dog or who has it in his or her care, possession, custody or control, or who knowingly permits a dog to remain on any premises occupied by him or her. Except for purposes of §§ 90.21, 90.22, 90.24 and 90.29, OWNER does not include veterinarians or commercial kennel operators temporarily maintaining on their premises for a period of not more than 30 days dogs owned by other persons. Any person, except a veterinarian or commercial kennel operator, who resides where a dog is kept, harbored or cared for shall be presumed to be the OWNER of that dog. This presumption may be rebutted by proof that such person has no property right in the dog, is not the licensed owner and is neither harboring nor caring for the dog.
LEASH. Any humane device constructed of rope, leather strap, chain or other sturdy material not exceeding eight feet in length, being held in the hand of a person capable of controlling the animal to which it is attached.
LIVESTOCK. Cattle, sheep, horses, goats, swine, fowl, poultry and any fur-bearing animal bred and maintained commercially or otherwise within pens, cages and hutches.
VICIOUS DOG. Any dog which has the propensity to bite or attack any person without provocation and the capacity to inflict serious harm on that person shall be regarded as VICIOUS. It shall be presumed that any dog which has bitten a human being on two occasions without provocation is a VICIOUS DOG.
WATCHDOG. A vicious dog confined at a business or commercial establishment to protect merchandise, inventory or equipment.
(Prior Code, § 90.15) (Ord. 259, passed 5-8-1979)