4-2-3: DEFINITIONS:

Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, as used in this chapter, the following words and phrases have the meanings set forth:

ADMINISTRATOR 1 : A veterinarian licensed by the state of Illinois and appointed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, or in the event a veterinarian cannot be found and appointed pursuant to the animal control act 2 , a nonveterinarian may serve as administrator under this chapter. In the event the administrator is not a veterinarian, the administrator shall defer to a veterinarian regarding all medical decisions.

ANIMAL 3 : Every living creature, other than man, which may be affected by rabies.

ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY (CENTER) OR POUND 4 : May be used interchangeably and means 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 cats, dogs or other animals.

ANIMAL CONTROL SUPERVISOR: A person appointed to supervise wardens and operate the department on a day to day basis under the direction of the administrator or his duly authorized representative.

ANIMAL CONTROL WARDEN 5 : Any person appointed by the administrator and approved by the county board to perform the duties set forth in this chapter and assigned by the administrator.

BOARD: The county board of Grundy County. The advisory, animal control and agriculture committee has oversight responsibility for the operation of the department and reviews all matters impacting the department before submission to the county board 6 .

BUSINESS DAY 7 : Any day, including holidays, that the Grundy County animal control facility is open to the public for animal reclaims.

CAT 8 : Felis catus.

CONFINED 9 : Restriction of an animal at all times by the owner, or his/her agent, to an escape proof building, house, or other enclosure away from other animals and the public.

DANGEROUS DOG 10 : A. Any individual dog, anywhere other than upon the property of the owner or custodian of the dog and unmuzzled, unleashed, or unattended by its owner or custodian, that behaves in a manner that a reasonable person would believe poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical injury or death to a person or a companion animal, or

   B.   A dog that, without justification, bites a person and does not cause serious physical injury.

DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR 11 : A veterinarian licensed by the state of Illinois, appointed by the administrator and approved by the county board.

DOG: All members of the family Canidae, male or female, four (4) months of age or older, excluding animals classified as wild (e.g., wolves, coyotes) or crossbred (e.g., coydogs).

ENCLOSURE 12 : A fence or structure of at least six feet (6') in height, forming or causing an enclosure suitable to prevent the entry of young children, and suitable to confine a vicious dog in conjunction with other measures that may be taken by the owner or keeper, such as tethering of a vicious dog within the enclosure The enclosure shall be securely enclosed and locked and designed with secure sides, top and bottom and shall be designed to prevent the animal from escaping from the enclosure. If the enclosure is a room within a residence, it cannot have direct ingress from or egress to the outdoors unless it leads directly to an enclosed pen and the door must be locked. A vicious dog may be allowed to move about freely within the entire residence if it is muzzled at all times.

EXOTIC ANIMAL: Any nondomesticated canine, nondomesticated feline, nondomesticated rodent; any reptile which may pose a threat to human safety; any wildlife, nonhuman primates; any animal requiring special state or federal permits.

FERAL CAT 13 : A cat that:

   A.   Is born in the wild or is the offspring of an owned or feral cat and is not socialized;

   B.   Is a formerly owned cat that has been abandoned and is no longer socialized;

   C.   Lives on a farm.

HAS BEEN BITTEN: Has been seized with the teeth or jaws so that the person or other animal seized has been nipped, gripped, wounded, or pierced, and further includes contact of saliva with any break or abrasion of the skin.

HOUSING REQUIREMENTS: The provision of:

   A.   A fenced yard of adequate size such that the animal may move freely and relieve himself away from the food and water supply;

   B.   Fresh clean water;

   C.   A crate or kennel large enough to permit the animal to stand, turn around easily and to lie down comfortably; and

   D.   If chained, the animal should be in a harness and must have the ability to move about without becoming tangled or injured, must be ten feet (10') off the property line at the full extent of the chain, and must not pose a nuisance by prolonged barking or by lunging at passersby.

IMPOUNDED 14 : Taken into the custody of the Grundy County animal control facility.

INOCULATION AGAINST RABIES: The injection of an antirabies vaccine approved by the department of agriculture of the state of Illinois.

INTACT ANIMAL: An animal that has not been spayed or neutered.

LEASH: A cord, rope, strap, or chain which shall be securely fastened to the collar or harness of an animal and shall be of sufficient strength to keep such animal under control.

LICENSED VETERINARIAN: A person trained by an accredited medical school who is licensed to practice veterinary medicine by the state of Illinois.

OWNER 15 : Any person having a right of property in an animal, or who keeps or harbors an animal, or who has an animal in his/her care, or acts as the custodian of an animal, or who knowingly permits a dog to remain on any premises occupied by him or her. "Owner" does not include a feral cat caretaker participating in a trap, spay/neuter, return or release program.

PEACE OFFICER 16 : Has the meaning ascribed to it in section 2-13 of the criminal code 17 .

PERSON 18 : Any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, society, association or other legal entity; any public or private institution; the state of Illinois; any municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state; or any other business unit.

PHYSICAL INJURY 19 : The impairment of physical condition.

POLICE ANIMAL 20 : An animal owned or used by a law enforcement department or agency in the course of the department's or agency's work.

PROPER SANITATION: That fecal matter and urine are removed on a daily basis and disposed of properly with proper disinfecting of the soiled area.

REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE: A printed form prescribed by the department for the purpose of recording pertinent information as required by the department under the animal control act.

RUNNING AT LARGE: Any dog found which is not secured by a leash or not confined within the real property limits of its owner.

SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY 21 : A physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes death, serious disfigurement, protracted impairment of the function of any bodily organ, or requires plastic surgery.

VICIOUS DOG 22 : A dog that, without justification, attacks a person and causes serious physical injury or death, or any individual dog that has been found to be a dangerous dog upon three (3) separate occasions. (Ord. 06-009, 6-13-2006)

 

Notes

1	1. 510 ILCS 5/2.01.
2	2. 510 ILCS 5/1 et seq.
3	3. 510 ILCS 5/2.02.
4	4. 510 ILCS 5/2.18.
5	5. 510 ILCS 5/2.03.
6	6. See also subsection 1-5-13E1 of this code.
7	7. 510 ILCS 5/2.03a.
8	8. 510 ILCS 5/2.04a.
9	9. 510 ILCS 5/2.05.
10	1. 510 ILCS 5/2.05a.
11	2. 510 ILCS 5/2.07.
12	3. 510 ILCS 5/2.11a.
13	4. 510 ILCS 5/2.11b.
14	1. 510 ILCS 5/2.12a.
15	2. 510 ILCS 5/2.16.
16	3. 510 ILCS 5/2.17a.
17	4. 702 ILCS 5/2-13.
18	1. 510 ILCS 5/2.17.
19	2. 510 ILCS 5/2.18a.
20	3. 510 ILCS 5/2.17b.
21	4. 510 ILCS 5/2.19a.
22	5. 510 ILCS 5/2.19b.