As used in this chapter:
(1) "Animal" means any live, vertebrate creature, domestic or wild, other than humans, and including all fowl.
(2) "Animal Control Officer" means any staff person employed at the City Animal Shelter.
(3) "Animal hospital" means any facility which has the primary function of providing medical and surgical care for animals and is operated by a currently licensed veterinarian.
(4) "Animal shelter" means the facility or facilities operated by the City for the purpose of impounding or caring for animals under the authority of this chapter or the laws of the State.
(5) "Breeder" means any person who habitually lodges and/or feeds dogs within such person's house or premises for the purposes of breeding. A breeder may reside only in a U-4 Zoning District except that any breeder residing in any residential district of the City at the time of the adoption of this chapter shall be permitted to continue operation at such location, provided that the breeder is continuously licensed with the City from May 18, 1981, onward.
(6) "Cat" means any member of the Felix catus family, male or female, regardless of age.
(7) "Catterie" means any establishment where cats are kept for the purpose of breeding. Any catterie owner shall reside only in a U-4 Zoning District, except that any person operating a catterie in any residential zoning district of the City at the time of the adoption of this chapter shall be permitted to continue catterie operation at such location, provided that such catterie is continuously licensed with the City from May 18, 1981, onward.
(8) "Chief of Police" means the duly appointed, highest ranking officer in charge of the Police Department or his or her authorized representatives.
(9) "Commercial animal establishment" means any pet shop, grooming shop, guard dog service, business which keeps animals in stock for retail or wholesale trade, or any establishment performing one or more of the principal activities of the aforementioned establishments.
(10) "Dangerous or exotic animal" means any animal, reptile or fowl or other such animal whose normal habitat is some place other than northeast Ohio.
(11) "Dog" means any member of the Canis familiaris, male or female, regardless of age.
(12) "Fowl" means any animal that is included in the zoological classification Aves.
(13) "Health Officer" means the City-County Health Officer, or his or her authorized representative, including any employee of the City-County Health Department.
(14) "Household" means all persons living in the same single-family dwelling unit.
(15) "Humane live animal trap" means any cage trap that upon activation encloses an animal without placing any physical restraint upon any part of the body of such animal.
(16) "Humanely euthanize" means the proper injection of a substance that quickly and painlessly terminates the life of an animal, or any method approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association or the Humane Society of the United States.
(17) "Inhumane or cruel treatment or manner" means any treatment to any animal which deprives the animal of necessary sustenance, including sufficient and wholesome food, potable water and protection from the weather, or any treatment of any animal such as overloading, overworking, tormenting, beating, mutilating or teasing, or other abnormal treatment that causes suffering to such animal.
(18) "Kennel" or "shelter" means any premises upon which five or more cats and kittens and/or dogs and puppies are boarded, bred, trained, bought and/or sold, except for commercial animal establishments otherwise enumerated in this chapter.
(19) "Large animals" means any swine, bovine, goat, sheep, beast of burden or any other domestic or wild animal of similar or larger size.
(20) "Neutered" means any male or female cat or dog that has been permanently rendered sterile.
(21) "Owner," "keeper," "harborer," or "person in charge" means any person who feeds and/or shelters, or is in charge of, any animal for twenty-four or more consecutive hours or who professes ownership of such animal. If a minor owns an animal, then the head of any household of which such minor is a member shall be deemed the owner of such animal under this chapter and shall be responsible as the owner. If not a member of a household, such minor shall be directly subject to the provisions of this chapter.
(22) "Person" means an individual, firm, association, joint stock company, syndicate, partnership or corporation.
(23) "Pet owner" means any person, other than those defined in subsections (9) and (18) hereof, who owns dogs or cats that are habitually lodged or fed within such person's house or premises.
(24) "Premises" means any parcel of land and any structure thereon in which any animal regulated by this chapter is housed and/or confined.
(25) "Purebred animal" means bred from members of a recognized breed, strain or unmixed ancestry.
(26) "Small animal" means any animal not within the definition of "large animal," but including all dogs without reference to size.
(27) "Summons" means a violation notice requiring the violator to appear before the Municipal Judge.
(28) "Supervisor" means the Supervisor of Animal Control and any or all other Animal Control Officers and animal control personnel assigned to work under the direct control of the Supervisor of Animal Control who may act through staff to perform any duty under this chapter unless otherwise specifically stated.
(29) "Wild animal" means any animal which is predominantly free-roaming as opposed to domesticated including but not limited to feral cats and feral dogs.
(Ord. 133-1981. Passed 5-18-81; Ord. 245-1989. Passed 11-20-89; Ord. 62-2003. Passed 3-17-03.)