For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMAL. Any horse, mule, donkey, pony, cow, sheep, goat, hog, pig, dog, cat, rabbit, chicken, goose, duck, turkey, or other animal or fowl.
AT LARGE. An animal not securely confined on the premises.
DANGEROUS ANIMAL. An animal that, without provocation, has chased or approached in either a menacing fashion or in an apparent attitude of attack, or has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger any person or other animal while the animal alleged to be dangerous is off the premises of the owner or while the animal is not physically restrained or confined on the premises. DANGEROUS ANIMAL does not include a police dog while the police dog is being used to assist law enforcement officers in the performance of their duty.
DISEASED ANIMAL. An animal believed to be infected with a dangerous or communicable disease.
MENACING FASHION. An animal would cause any person observing the animal to reasonably believe that the animal will cause physical injury to persons or other animals.
NEUTER. To render a male dog or cat unable to reproduce.
NEW OWNER or OWNER. A person legally competent to enter into a contract acquiring a dog or cat.
OWNER. The owner of an animal and every other person having the care or custody of or harboring, keeping, or maintaining any animal.
SPAY. To remove the ovaries of a female dog or cat in order to render said animal unable to reproduce.
STERILIZATION. To spay or neuter a dog or cat.
VICIOUS ANIMAL. An animal that, without provocation, has killed or caused physical injury to any person or has killed or caused physical injury to another animal. VICIOUS ANIMAL does not include a police dog while the police dog is being used to
assist law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties and where any injury inflicted by the police dog was reasonably related to the duties being performed.
WITHOUT PROVOCATION. An animal was not teased, tormented, or abused, and also means where the animal was not protecting its owner or owner’s property from criminal activity by a perpetrator of the crime.
(Prior Code, § 96.001) (Ord. 1419, passed 12-9-2003; Ord. 1762, passed 7-14-2015)
Statutory reference:
Regulation of animals, see 11 O.S. § 22-115