ABANDON. Any animal left more than 48 hours without a person checking on the condition of the animal(s) and/or providing food and water. Any animal left on private property without the owner's consent or deserted or dumped on public property or roadways.
ANIMAL. Any live vertebrate creature, specifically including, but not limited to, a dog or cat.
ANIMAL CONTROL. The Kenton County Dog Authority which is an authority made up of cities in Kenton County to control animals within city boundaries.
ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN. The person elected by the Kenton County Dog Authority to over see its daily operation.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. Any person designated by the Kenton County Dog Authority who is qualified to perform the duties under the laws and ordinances of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the designated city. An ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER shall be a law enforcement officer for the purposes of this chapter only.
ANIMAL SHELTER. Any premises operated or approved for operation by the Kenton County Fiscal Court for the purpose of impounding and caring for animals held under the authority of this chapter.
CAT. Any member of the feline family, six months of age or over, male or female.
COMMERCIAL ANIMAL ESTABLISH-MENT. Any pet shop, boarding or breeding kennel, grooming facility, auction, petting zoo, zoological park, circus, performing animal exhibit or person engaged in the business of breeding, buying or selling at retail or wholesale, any species of animal for profit.
DAY. For the purposes of this chapter, a 24-hour period shall constitute a day.
DOG. Any member of the canine family, six months of age or over, male or female.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL. Animals that are habituated to live in or about the habitations of human beings, and which are kept, cared for, sheltered, fed or harbored for use as a pet or as a source of food, raw materials or income.
EXOTIC ANIMAL. Any animal not indigenous to the United States.
HUMANE SOCIETY. Any person or organization operating from a fixed site and taking in or accepting stray or unwanted animals.
IMPOUNDED. Having been received into the custody of Kenton County Dog Authority or any authorized representative thereof.
LARGE WILD ANIMAL. Any normally undomesticated animal in excess of 50 pounds, not ordinarily tame and which is, by nature, an animal that lives apart from human beings.
LIVESTOCK. Cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses or any other animals of the bovine, ovine, porcine, caprine or equine species.
OWNER. Any person(s), corporation or other entity owning, keeping, harboring or sheltering one or more animals.
PERSON. Includes all natural persons, corporations, partnerships, firms, associations, governmental bodies, agencies and other entities.
PET. Domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility.
PUBLIC NUISANCE. Any animal(s) which:
(1) Molests passers-by or passing vehicles;
(2) Attacks people or other animals;
(3) Damages public or private property,
(4) Is repeatedly at large;
(5) Makes noise in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion;
(6) Repeatedly urinates or defecates on property not belonging to the animal's owner or creates unsanitary conditions; and/or
(7) Disturbs the peace, comfort or health of persons in any other manner.
RESTRAINED. Enclosed in an area by a form of fencing (including invisible fencing) designed to control the movement of the animal or secured by a leash or chain. An animal shall be deemed to be RESTRAINED if it remains on the premises of its owner or if it is accompanied by a responsible person and is under that person's control.
RUNNING AT LARGE. Any animal that is off the property of the owner, custodian, possessor or harborer and is not restrained. Except that a hound or other hunting dog which has been released from restraint for hunting purposes shall be deemed to be under reasonable control of its owner or handler while engaged in or returning from hunting, and, if the hunting dog becomes temporarily lost from a pack or wanders from actual control or sight of its owner or handler it shall not be deemed to be a violation.
STRAY. Any animal running at large.
VETERINARIAN. Any establishment maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian for surgery, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of animals.
VICIOUS ANIMAL.
(1) Any animal which constitutes a physical threat to human beings or domestic animals due to a known propensity to endanger life by an unprovoked assault or bite which result in serious bodily harm;
(2) Any animal which when unprovoked, approaches in a terrorizing manner any person in an attitude of attack upon streets, sidewalks or any public grounds or places or private property;
(3) Any animal with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to unprovoked attacks which cause injury or endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals;
(4) Any animal which bites multiple times or to the extent of causing severe injury, and assaults or otherwise attacks human beings or domestic animals;
(5) Any animal owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of fighting;
(6) Any animal which has bitten human beings twice; it shall be prima facie evidence that an animal is vicious if the animal bites a human being or domestic animal more than once in the same attack; and
(7) An animal shall not be deemed vicious solely because:
(a) It bites, attacks or menaces any person assaulting its owner or any person or animal who has tormented or abused it; or
(b) It is otherwise acting in defense of any attack from a person or other animal upon itself, its owner or another person; or
(c) Any Police Canine unit in the performance of their duties.
(Ord. 1995-16, passed 12-4-95)