For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMAL. Dogs, cats, cattle, sheep, horses, geese, ducks, turkeys, chickens or other fowl or animal, domestic or wild, maintained or kept as a pet, for work or for a product.
ANIMAL WARDEN. Any dog warden or deputy dog warden appointed by the county or the municipality.
AT LARGE. Off the premises of the owner.
DANGEROUS DOG. A dog that, without provocation, has chased or approached in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack, or has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger any person, or bites or causes physical harm to another dog, cat or other animal. DANGEROUS DOG does not include a police dog that has chased or approached in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack, or that has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger any person while the police dog is being used to assist a law enforcement officer in the performance of his or her official duties.
DOMESTIC FARM ANIMAL. Horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, goats, sheep, geese, ducks, swine, guinea hens, chickens and turkeys.
EXOTIC ANIMAL. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, panthers, cougars, lynx, bobcats, hyenas, wolverines, bears, bison, elk, moose, wildebeest, wolves, coyotes, foxes, gorillas, baboons, orangutans, gibbons, chimpanzees, monkeys of a species whose average adult weight exceeds 20 pounds, elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotami, caimans, gavials, alligators, crocodiles exceeding 36 inches in length, constricting snakes exceeding 48 inches in length, and all forms of poisonous or venomous reptiles.
GUARD DOG. Any dog that has been trained or is being trained to protect persons or property through aggressive or intimidating behavior, whether or not under the direct control of the owner, as defined herein.
IMPOUND. To seize summarily, confine and retain custody of according to law.
MENACING FASHION. A dog would cause any person being chased or approached to reasonably believe that the dog will cause physical injury to that person.
OWNER. A keeper, handler, harborer or person maintaining or responsible for any animal or having the care, custody or control of any animal.
PERMIT TO RUN AT LARGE. Running at will, roaming away from the premises of the owner, acting on its own initiative, and not on a leash or under the immediate control of the owner.
POLICE DOG. A dog that has been trained or is being trained and may be used to assist a law enforcement officer in the performance of his or her official duties.
REGISTERED DOG. A dog registered in compliance with R.C. Ch. 955.
REGISTRATION TAG. The metal tag issued annually by the County Auditor evidencing a registered dog.
SECURITY DOG. Any dog that has been trained or is being trained to protect persons or property through aggressive or intimidating behavior, whether or not under the direct control of the owner, as defined herein.
UNSECURED. Not securely confined indoors, or not securely restrained by means of a collar and chain, pen, fence or similar physical device, and in such a manner which effectively prevents the animal from going beyond the premises of the owner.
VICIOUS DOG. A dog that, without provocation, has either killed or caused injury to any person, or killed another dog. VICIOUS DOG does not include either a police dog that has killed or caused injury to any person while the police dog is being used to assist a law enforcement officer in the performance of his or her official duties, or a dog that has caused death or serious injury to any person while a person was committing or attempting to commit a criminal trespass or other crime of violence on the property of the owner of the dog.
WHOEVER. An owner, keeper, handler or harborer.
WITHOUT PROVOCATION. A dog was not teased, tormented or abused by a person, or that a dog was not coming to the aid or the defense of a person who was not engaged in illegal or criminal activity and who was not using the dog as a means of carrying out such activity.
(Prior Code, § 618.01) (Ord. 92-14, passed 6-9-1992)