For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AGENT. A person legally authorized to act in the place and stead of an animal owner, an enforcement agent, or law enforcement officer.
ANIMAL. Any creature belonging to the following taxonomic classes (except humans): mamalia, marsupial, ares, reptilia, and/or amphibia.
AT LARGE.
(1) Being neither confined in an enclosure nor physically restrained by a leash while on public property, or on private property that is not enclosed by a fence or other structure.
(2) Dogs in dog parks, and livestock and equine pleasure practices are specifically exempted.
CAT. Any animal of the feline genus.
CITY. The City of El Mirage.
COLLAR. A band, harness, or suitable device worn around the neck of an animal to which a license may be affixed.
COUNTY. The County of Maricopa, State of Arizona.
DANGEROUS AND AGGRESSIVE ANIMALS. Any animal that has a propensity to attack, to cause injury, or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or other animals without provocation, or that without provocation menaces, threatens, or causes injury to a human or other animal.
DEPARTMENT. The State Department of Health Services.
DOG. Any member of the canine genus.
ENFORCEMENT AGENT. A person designated by the city who is responsible for the enforcement of this chapter and regulations promulgated thereunder.
IMPOUND. The act of taking or receiving into custody by the city or its designee or authorized agent any animal for the purpose of confinement in an authorized pound in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
KENNEL. An enclosed, controlled area, inaccessible to other animals in which a person keeps, harbors, or maintains four or more dogs under controlled conditions.
LIVESTOCK. Asses, cattle, horses, mules, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, and fowl.
OWNER. Any person keeping an animal other than livestock for more than six consecutive days.
PET SHOP. Any establishment at which are kept for sale any animals generally considered to be household pets.
POULTRY. Chickens, turkeys, domesticated birds, game birds, fowl, water fowl, and exotic birds, including ostriches, rheas, and emus.
POUND. Any establishment authorized by the enforcement agent for the confinement, maintenance, safekeeping, or control of animals that come into the custody of the enforcement agent in the performance of his or her official duties.
RABIES QUARANTINE AREA. Any area in which a state of emergency has been declared to exist due to the occurrence of rabies in animals in or adjacent to the area.
RABIES VACCINATION CERTIFICATE. A method of recording and duplicating rabies information that is in compliance with the enforcement agent’s licensing system or the enforcement agent’s prescribed forms.
RODENT. A mammal of the order Rodentia, such as a mouse, squirrel, rat, or beaver characterized by large incisors adapted for gnawing or nibbling.
STRAY DOG. Any dog four months of age or older running at large that is not wearing a valid license tag.
VACCINATION. The administration of an anti-rabies vaccine to animals by a veterinarian, or in authorized pounds by employees trained by a veterinarian.
VETERINARIAN. Any doctor licensed to practice animal medicine in the State of Arizona.
VETERINARY HOSPITAL. Any establishment operated by a veterinarian licensed to practice in Arizona that provides clinical facilities and houses animals or birds for dental, medical, or surgical treatment. A VETERINARY HOSPITAL may have adjacent to it or in conjunction with it or as an integral part of it, pens, stalls, cages, or kennels for quarantine, observation, or boarding.
VICIOUS ANIMAL. Any animal that has a propensity to attack, to cause injury, or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings without provocation, after having been so declared after a hearing before a Justice of the Peace or the Municipal Court Judge.
WILD ANIMAL. Any animal of the ferae naturae or ferae bestiae or species that have not yet been domesticated or are still subject to further domestication.
(Prior Code, § 6-1-1) (Ord. O07-07-06, passed 7-12-2007; Res. R07-07-17, passed 7-12-2007; Ord. O17-04-03, passed 4-4-2017)