For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADMINISTRATOR. A veterinarian licensed by the state and appointed by the Council.
ANIMAL. Every living creature, domestic or wild, except humans.
ANIMAL BITE. A person or animal has been seized with the teeth or jaws of another animal so that the person or animal seized has been nipped, gripped, wounded or pierced and further includes contact of saliva with any break or abrasion of the skin.
ANIMAL CONTROL WARDENS. Any person appointed by the Administrator and approved by the Council to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
ANIMAL HOSPITAL/CLINIC/VETERINARIAN CLINIC/HOSPITAL/ MEDICAL CENTER. Any business or operation wherein a licensed veterinarian is engaged in the medical care and treatment of animals for profit or non-profit.
BAIT SHOP/WORM GROWERS. Any business or operation engaged in the raising, keeping, breeding, buying, selling, live fish bait, including, but not limited to, worms or night crawlers.
BUTCHERY/SLAUGHTERHOUSE/PACKING HOUSE. Any business or operation engaged in the slaughtering, butchering, skinning, plucking, dressing or packaging of livestock, poultry or game for market or custom slaughtering for individuals, when livestock, poultry or game is processed from a live state.
CAT. As used in this chapter, a domesticated cat and excludes all other members of the family Felidae.
CONFINED. Restriction of an animal, bird or fowl, at all times, by the owner or his or her agent, to an escape-proof building, open or other enclosure, away from other animals, birds or fowl and the public.
CONTRACTS or AGREEMENTS. The Council may enter into contracts or agreements with the County Humane Society or others to provide necessary personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities or pounds so as the Administrator may carry out the provisions of this chapter.
COUNCIL. The Fairfield City Council, made up of duly elected or appointed Aldermen and Mayor, who represent the city.
DANGEROUS ANIMAL. Any elephant, giraffe, camel, lion, tiger, leopard, cougar, ocelot, jaguar, jaguarundi, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, lynx, bobcat, ape, gorilla, baboon, orangutan, monkey, kangaroo, wallaby, deer, elk, moose, gazelle, antelope, mountain goat, wild hog, wild animals or any poisonous or life-threatening snakes or reptiles including alligators and crocodiles.
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR. Any person appointed by the Administrator to aid him or her in his or her duties, who is a licensed veterinarian of the state.
DISEASED/DISEASE CARRYING ANIMALS. Any animal, bird, fowl or fish, who is known to be a carrier or promoter of contagious diseases or rabies, including, but not limited to, bats, rats, mice, rodents, skunks, barn sparrows or other infected animals.
DOG. As used in this chapter, a domesticated dog and excludes all other members of the family Canidae.
ENCLOSURE. A fence, cage or structure of sufficient width and height, with enclosed top, sides and bottom, forming an ENCLOSURE suitable to prevent the entry of other animals or humans and preventing the escape of a vicious animal from within the ENCLOSURE and may be required in conjunction with other measures such as leashing of the animal inside the ENCLOSURE. Such an ENCLOSURE shall be kept locked at all times.
EXOTIC ANIMALS/BIRDS/FISH/REPTILES. Any animal, reptile, bird or fowl, either native or foreign, wild or domestic, which does not fall into any of the other definitions, and may be considered out of the ordinary, including, but not limited to, parrots, canaries, cockatoos, cockateels, parakeets, finches, love birds, doves or salt water or fresh water tropical fish, non-poisonous reptiles, snakes, lizards, turtles, skinks, including chameleon, gecko, horned toad or lizard, iguana, water dragons, bearded dragons or hamster, gerbil, guinea pig, white mice or variations of the above.
FISH MARKET/SEAFOOD MARKET. Any business or operation engaged in the buying, selling, exchanging of live fish, turtle, crawfish, crayfish, lobster, shrimp, eel, oyster, clam or any other cetaceans, crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, batrachians, either sea or fresh water for consumption, either in a live state, or slaughtered, and processed on the premises.
FUNDING. The Council shall be empowered to utilize moneys from the General Fund to effectuate the intent of this chapter.
FUR DEALER. A person who is engaged in the business of buying or gathering, or procuring animal fur, hides, skins, feathers or carcasses for resale for a compensation or profit.
FURBEARING ANIMALS. Mink, chinchillas, ermine, sable, rabbit, otter, raccoon, opossum, muskrat, fox, weasel, ground hog, marten, marmots, skunk, beaver, porcupines, hedgehogs, gopher, woodchuck, prairie dog, ground squirrels, tree squirrels, flying squirrels or any variations of the above.
GUIDE DOGS/SUPPORT DOGS. GUIDE DOGS for the blind or hearing impaired or SUPPORT DOGS for the physically handicapped may be exempt from certain provisions of this title.
HOUSE PET. Any animal which is kept inside the residence of its owner and cannot leave of its own free will.
HUMANE SOCIETY. Any chartered, not-for-profit organization authorized to do business in this state and organized for the purpose of preventing cruelty to animals and promoting humane care and treatment of animals.
HUMANELY TERMINATED. The painless administration of a lethal dose of an agent which shall cause the painless death of an animal as prescribed in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, January 15, 1993. This method shall not destroy brain tissue necessary for laboratory examination for rabies.
IMPOUNDED. When an animal is taken into custody of a pound approved by the Administrator.
INOCULATION. The injection into an animal of an anti-rabies vaccine approved by the Department of Agriculture of the state and administered by a licensed veterinarian.
KENNELS/BREEDERS/DEALERS/CATTERY. Any business, operation or anyone engaged in breeding, raising, buying, selling, dealing in or exchanging dogs or cats for a fee or compensation.
LABORATORY. A laboratory operated by the State Department of Agriculture, the State Department of Public Health, any land grant university or other laboratories approved by the State Department of Public Health.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. Any police officer which has been certified by the state to enforce the laws of the state.
LEASH/RESTRAINT/RUN LINE. A cord, rope, strap, chain or other device which shall be securely fastened to the collar or harness of an animal, bird or fowl, or any other instrument designed for the physical restraint thereof, and shall be of sufficient strength to restrict or limit the physical movements or actions thereof so as the restrainer has complete control of the animal, bird or fowl at all times.
LICENSED VETERINARIAN. A veterinarian licensed by the state in which he or she engages in the practice of veterinary medicine.
LIVESTOCK. Any bison, cattle, oxen, swine, sheep, goats, equidae, including horses, mules, jacks, donkeys and burros. It also includes ostriches, emus, peacocks, cassowary, llamas or any variations of all of the above.
LIVESTOCK FACILITY/STOCK YARD/AUCTION BARN. Any business or operation engaged in the buying, selling, dealing, grading or exchanging of livestock in which livestock is physically housed, enclosed or confined for any length of time on the premises.
LIVESTOCK/POULTRY TRANSPORTER/CARRIER/TRUCKER/SHIPPER. Anyone who is engaged in the transporting, hauling, shipping, moving or herding of livestock, poultry or other live animals.
MUZZLE. A device designed to fit tightly around an animal’s head and jaws so as to prevent the animal from being physically able to bite, nip or chew another animal or human.
OWNER. Any person having a right of property in a dog, cat or any other animal, bird, fowl or fish, or anyone who keeps or harbors, has in his or her care, acts as custodian or knowingly permits these creatures to remain on or about any premises occupied by him or her.
PERSON. Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, society, association or other legal entity, any political subdivision of the state, or any other business unit.
PET SHOP. Any business or operation engaged in the buying, selling, exchanging, holding, housing, exhibiting for sale, dogs, cats, exotic animals, birds, fish or reptiles, as pets for a fee or compensation.
POLICE DOG/FIRE DOG; POLICE OR FIRE AGENCY OWNED DOGS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY TRAINED IN CERTAIN AREAS SUCH AS DRUG DETECT/WATCH DOGS. Dogs that are trained to protect property and deter or deny trespassers, burglars or thieves from entry upon property.
POULTRY. Any domestic fowl including chickens, bantams, turkeys, guineas, ducks, geese, swans, herons, cranes, quail or grouse, pheasant, partridge, pigeon, woodcock or any variation of the above.
POULTRY DEALER/HATCHERY. Any business or operation engaged in the buying, selling, breeding, hatching, grading or exchanging of live poultry or fertile poultry eggs and poultry or eggs are physically housed, enclosed or confined for any length of time on the premises.
POUND. Any facility approved by the Administrator for the purpose of enforcing this chapter and used as a shelter for seized, stray, homeless, abandoned or unwanted dogs, cats or other animals, birds or fowl.
RABIES CERTIFICATE. A certificate showing the date an animal has been inoculated and the expiration date of the inoculation which is issued by a licensed veterinarian and is to be kept by the owner of the animal to show proof of inoculation or vaccination.
RABIES TAG. A metal or plastic tag issued by a licensed veterinarian and showing the dates an animal was inoculated and the expiration date of that inoculation or vaccination and is to be worn on the collar or harness of the animal at all times.
STRAY. An animal not on the premises of the owner and not confined or under control by a leash or restraint.
TAXIDERMIST. A person who is practicing the profession of taxidermy, preparing, preserving, stuffing or mounting dead animals or birds in a lifelike manner.
TRAINERS/BOARDERS/GROOMERS. Any business, operation or anyone else, engaged in training, boarding, watching over, caring for, grooming or trimming house pets or other animals for a fee or compensation.
TRAPPER. Any person who is engaged in the setting of traps of any kind for the catching of animals or birds for whatever use.
VICIOUS ANIMALS. Any animal that without provocation attacks, bites or attempts to attack or bite a human being or another animal either on public or private property. Also included is any animal which, after examination by the Administrator or an animal control warden, has been declared a VICIOUS ANIMAL in writing. No animal shall be deemed a VICIOUS ANIMAL if it attacks or bites and unauthorized trespasser on the property of its owner and that trespasser has tormented or abused the animal. A VICIOUS ANIMAL shall not be classified in a manner that is specific as to breed.
(1986 Code, § 6.04.020) (Ord. 1514, passed - -1999)