For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMAL. Any animal of a species that is susceptible to rabies, except humans.
AT LARGE. On or off premises of the owner and not under control of the owner or other person acting for the owner. Any dog in a suitable enclosure or confined shall not be considered to be running AT LARGE.
CUSTODIAN. Any person keeping, possessing, harboring, or maintaining any dog.
DEPARTMENT. The State Department of Health Services.
ENFORCEMENT AGENT. The person in each county who has responsibility for the enforcement of this chapter and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
IMPOUND. The act of taking or receiving into custody by the enforcement agent any dog or other animal for the purpose of confinement in an authorized pound in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
KENNEL. An enclosed, controlled area, inaccessible to other animals, in which a person keeps, harbors, or maintains five or more dogs under controlled conditions.
LIVESTOCK. Neat animals, horses, sheep, goats, swine, mules, and asses.
OWNER. Any person keeping an animal other than livestock for more than six consecutive days.
POUND. Any establishment authorized for the confinement, maintenance, safekeeping, and control of dogs and other animals that come into the custody of the enforcement agent in the performance of his or her official duties.
RABIES QUARANTINE AREA. Any area in which a state of emergency has been declared to exist due to the occurrence of rabies in animals in or adjacent to this area.
STRAY DOG. Any dog three months of age or older running at large that is not wearing a valid license tag.
VACCINATION. The administration of an anti-rabies vaccine to animals by a veterinarian or in authorized pounds by employees trained by a veterinarian.
VETERINARIAN. Unless otherwise indicated, any veterinarian licensed to practice in this state or any veterinarian employed in this state by a governmental agency.
VETERINARY HOSPITAL. Any establishment operated by a veterinarian licensed to practice in this state that provides clinical facilities and houses animals or birds for dental, medical, or surgical treatment. A VETERINARY HOSPITAL may have adjacent to it or in conjunction with it, or as an integral part of it, pens, stalls, cages, or kennels for quarantine, observation, or boarding.
VICIOUS ANIMAL. Any animal of the order carnivora that has a propensity to bite human beings without provocation and has been so declared after a hearing before a justice of the peace or a Town Magistrate.
VICIOUS DOG. Includes:
(1) Any dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury to, or otherwise threaten the safety of human beings or domestic animals;
(2) Any dog which because of its size, physical nature, or vicious propensity is capable of inflicting serious physical harm or death to humans and which would constitute a danger to human life or property if it were not kept in the manner required by this chapter;
(3) Any dog which, without provocation, attacks or bites, or has attacked or bitten, a human being or domestic animal;
(4) Any dog owned or in the custody of a custodian primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting, or any dog trained for dog fighting; or
(5) Any pit bull terrier, which shall be defined as any American pit bull terrier or Staffordshire bull terrier or American Staffordshire terrier breed of dog, or any mixed breed of dog which contains as an element of its breeding the breed of American pit bull terrier or Staffordshire bull terrier or American Staffordshire terrier as to be identifiable as partially of the breed of American pit bull terrier or Staffordshire bull terrier or American Staffordshire bull terrier.
(1989 Code, § 6-2-1) (Ord. 89-04, passed 7-13-1989; Ord. 2003-10, passed 10-23-2003)