For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section unless otherwise specified herein:
ANIMAL: Any and all types of animals, including all biped and quadruped organisms other than humans, both domesticated and wild, male and female, singular and plural.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER: Any law enforcement officer, the administrator, director, deputies, or agents of the Woodford County animal control department, or any person designated by the village president to either enforce this chapter or take action pursuant to the same.
AT LARGE: Off the premises of the owner and not under the immediate control of either the owner or a person the owner has designated to be in control. However, if an animal under the control of a village official or veterinarian escapes and runs loose, it shall not be considered "at large".
BITE OR BITING OR BITTEN: The infliction of a break in the skin or a wound by the teeth of an animal.
CONFINEMENT STRUCTURE: A securely locked pen, kennel or structure at least six feet (6') in height designed and constructed for the keeping of a vicious dog and designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the standards set forth herein. Such pen, kennel or structure must have secure sides and a secure top attached to the sides, as well as be suitable to prevent the entry of young children. All structures used to confine vicious dogs must be locked with a key or combination lock when such animals are within the structure and left unattended. Such structure must have a secure bottom or floor attached to the sides of the pen, or the sides of the pen must be embedded in the ground not less than two feet (2'). All structures erected to house vicious dogs must comply with all zoning and building regulations of the village. All such structures must be adequately lighted, ventilated and kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: Includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:
A. Overloading, overdriving, overworking, beating, torturing, abusing, tormenting, knowingly poisoning, knowingly attempting to poison, mutilating or killing any animal, or causing or knowingly permitting the same to be done.
B. Working any old, lame, infirm, sick or disabled animal, or causing or knowingly permitting the same to be done.
C. Unnecessarily failing to provide an animal in one's charge or custody, as owner or otherwise, with proper food, drink, and sanitary, ventilation or temperature conditions.
D. Abandoning any old, lame, infirm, sick or disabled animal by leaving such animal on any highway or public way or in any other place where it may suffer injury, hunger, exposure or become a public charge.
DANGEROUS ANIMAL: Any animal which, when either unmuzzled, unleashed, or unattended by its owner, or a member of its owner's family, in a vicious or terrorizing manner, approaches any person in an apparent attitude of attack upon streets, sidewalks, any public grounds or places, or private property not owned or controlled by the owner.
DOG: Any animal of the canine species.
FIGHT: A prearranged conflict between two (2) or more animals but does not include a conflict that is unorganized or accidental.
IMPOUNDED: Taken into the custody by an animal control officer or other person/entity pursuant to this chapter.
K-9 PATROL DOG OR POLICE DOG: A professionally trained dog used by law enforcement officers for law enforcement purposes and activities. Such dogs are defined by their law enforcement function and do not include dogs privately owned by a law enforcement officer that are not trained and used for actual law enforcement.
LEASH: A cord, chain, rope, strap or other such physical restraint having a minimum tensile strength of not less than three hundred (300) pounds.
MUZZLE: A device constructed of strong, soft material or a metal muzzle designed to prevent the dog from biting any person or animal. The muzzle must be made in a manner that will not cause injury to the dog or interfere with its vision or respiration, but must prevent the dog from biting any person or animal.
NIP: To pinch or squeeze with teeth without the breaking of skin or tissue.
OWNER: Any person, firm, corporation, organization or department owning, possessing, harboring, keeping or otherwise in control of an animal within the village. For purposes of this chapter, the person in possession of an animal shall be presumed to be its owner.
RUN LINE: A system of tying a dog or other animal in place with either a rope or chain having a minimum tensile strength of not less than three hundred (300) pounds and not exceeding ten feet (10') in length. The rope or chain must be securely fastened to a permanent, nonmovable object and prevent the animal from climbing, digging, jumping or otherwise escaping under its own volition.
SEVERE INJURY: Any physical injury that results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery.
TAKE: To obtain possession without consent; to hunt, shoot, pursue, lure, kill, destroy, capture, gig or spear, trap or ensnare, harass or to attempt to do so.
VICIOUS DOG: A. Any individual dog that, when unprovoked, bites or attacks a human being or another animal on either public or private property.
B. In addition to subsection A of this definition, any individual dog designated as a vicious dog pursuant to this chapter, because it:
1. Has a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack without provocation, to cause injury, or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals; or
2. Is owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dogfighting or is trained for dogfighting; or
3. Is reported to be a dangerous animal upon two (2) separate occasions.
C. No dog shall be deemed "vicious" if it bites, attacks, or menaces a trespasser on the property of its owner, anyone assaulting its owner, anyone who has tormented or abused it, or is a professionally trained dog used for law enforcement or guard duties. (Ord. 708, 9-13-2012)