For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMAL. Any mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, or fish, except humans.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. Any person or persons duly appointed to the position by the City Council, or an employee of the Sioux Falls Humane Society, responsible for the animal control within the city.
ANIMAL SHELTER. Facility designated for the care of animals impounded, whether maintained by the city or a contracted agency.
AT LARGE. An animal which is not under the control of the owner, possessor, keeper, agent, servant, or a member of his or her immediate family by a leash, lead, being tied to a sturdy stake or tree, or is not within an area which is fenced.
EXOTIC ANIMALS. Any animal which is ordinarily found in an unconfined state and is usually not kept as a household pet, including, but not limited to: lions; tigers; cheetahs; panthers; leopards; cougars; mountain lions; ocelots; any wild members of the genus felis; lynx; bobcats; foxes; minks; skunks; raccoons; bears; nonhuman primates; wolves; and coyotes. EXOTIC ANIMAL shall not include domestic ferrets (Mustelia Furo), livestock, or household pets as defined herein. Alleged domestication of any EXOTIC ANIMALS shall not affect its status under this definition.
FENCE. A FENCE may be visible or invisible. FENCES meant to contain an unleashed or untied animal must be constructed of materials and in a manner designed to achieve the purpose of containment of the animal intended to be kept within the area fenced. An animal which is able to breach the FENCES may be considered to be at large and may be impounded.
HOUSEHOLD PET. An animal customarily permitted to be kept in a yard or dwelling for company or pleasure, including but not limited to: dogs; cats; gerbils; hamsters; tropical fish; or common house birds; provided that such animals are not kept to supplement food supplies or for any commercial purpose.
IMPOUND. The act by an authorized person of taking up and confining an animal within an animal control facility or shelter.
LEASH. A cord, thong, or chain not more than ten feet in length by which an animal is controlled by the person accompanying it off the caretaker’s property.
LIVESTOCK. Includes but is not limited to: horses; mules; cattle; bison; burros; llamas; alpacas; swine; sheep and goats; poultry, which includes but is not limited to: turkeys; game birds; and ostriches.
OWNER. A person owning, keeping, or harboring an animal; the occupant of any premises to which a dog an animal customarily returns is presumed to be the OWNER.
PREMISES. The dwelling house and out buildings and the lot or tract of land on which the same are situated and shall include an automobile or other vehicle in which the owner of the animal shall be an occupant or of which he or she shall have control, or in which the animal shall be situated with the consent of the owner of the vehicle.
VACCINATION. The injection by a licensed veterinarian of vaccine.
VETERINARIAN. Any licensed practitioner of veterinary medicine licensed to practice such profession in the state.
VICIOUS ANIMAL. One that bites or attempts to bite any person, bites another animal, or in a vicious and terrorizing manner approaches any person in an apparent attitude of attack, whether or not the attack is consummated.
(Ord. 627, passed 9-12-2016; Ord. 674, passed 12-13-2021)
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see SDCL § 9-29-3, 9-29-12