For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMAL. Does not include a human, as defined by state law.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. Any person employed for the purpose of enforcement and other duties, as directed in the job description. JOB DESCRIPTION shall mean a composite of duties, as defined by the Chief Animal Control Officer.
AT LARGE. Any animal shall be deemed to be AT LARGE when the animal is off the property of its owner, and not under control of a competent person.
AUTHORIZED AFTER HOUR CALLS.
(1) Outside regular shelter hours, the Animal Control Officer will be authorized to answer calls, initiated by the Chief Animal Control Officer, the County Sheriff’s Department, or local police departments for the following:
(a) Stray domestic animals in distress;
(b) Stray, injured domestic animals (does not include an animal that is just limping, or an animal that has been there for a day or so);
(c) Bite of a human by any animal, some cases of animal versus animal;
(d) Stray, vicious animals threatening bodily harm;
(e) Animals left at the scene (for example, a car accident, the owner is arrested, or the owner is deceased); and
(f) Any other incident deemed an emergency by the Chief Animal Control Officer, the County Sheriff, or the local Chief of Police.
(2) All AFTER HOURS CALLS are judged on a case-by-case basis, and all information is considered in the decision.
CHIEF ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. The person employed by the County Board of Commissioners as its Chief Enforcement Officer.
COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL/SHELTER. Any entity designated by action of the County Board of Commissioners for the purpose of impounding and caring for all animals found running at large in violation of this chapter, state law, and/or the taking in of unwanted animals.
CURRENTLY VACCINATED.
(1) The owner shows proof that the animal has been vaccinated for rabies (within the past 12 months).
(2) A rabies certificate or a call to a veterinarian is proof that the vaccination is current.
DANGEROUS ANIMAL.
(1) Shall include:
(a) Any animal which, according to the records of the appropriate authority, has inflicted severe injury on a human (without provocation) on public or private property;
(b) Any animal which, according to the records of the appropriate authority, has killed or severely injured a domestic animal (without provocation) while off the animal owner’s property;
(c) Any animal owned or harbored primarily, or in part, for the purpose of animal fighting, or any animal trained for animal fighting;
(d) Any animal which has inflicted a fatal injury, or injuries, resulting in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations in a provoked attack; and/or
(e) Any animal which has been involved in more than one attack of any kind.
(2) All animals are judged by a case-by-case basis, and all information is considered in the decision.
DOMESTIC ANIMALS. As defined by the state statute, cattle, calves, horses, mules, swine, sheep, goats, dogs, cats, poultry, or other birds, and includes:
(1) Any animals of the bovine, equine, caprine, porcine, canine, feline, or avian species; and
(2) Aquatic animals that may be the subject of aquaculture, as defined in I.C. 15-11- 7.1.
ENTITLED TO RESUME POSSESSION. The owner of the animal is required to provide payment of the animal’s impoundment fees, show proof of current vaccination, or a receipt for prepayment of vaccination for rabies, proof of payment of the state dog tax, and other fees established by the County Animal Control/Shelter, or applicable court order. Proof of rabies vaccination for dogs and cats three months or older, and state dog tax for dogs six months or older, are required by state law.
EXPOSED TO RABIES. An animal that has been exposed to rabies, within the meaning of this chapter, if it has been bitten or scratched by a wild, carnivorous mammal (or bats) not available for testing, or exposed to any animal known to have been infected with rabies.
HUMANE REASONS. Under certain circumstances, an animal should be euthanized, without first having to wait the usual three-day waiting period. The following cases of injury and diseases indicate those circumstances (or injuries that warrant immediate euthanasia):
(1) Any injury to the brain or spinal cord such that the animal is non-responsive to deep pain, unless the owner can be located within 30 minutes from the time of call;
(2) Any injury that has caused the abdomen to be torn open and the bowels to be exposed, unless the owner can be located within 30 minutes from the time of call;
(3) Any injury that causes the animal labored breathing, and/or shows signs of cyanosis (for example, grayish or bluish tinge to the mucus membranes of the lips and tongue); and/or
(4) Any injury that caused the chest cavity to be torn open and the lungs and/or heart to be exposed.
HUMANELY DESTROYED. Euthanasia by the injection of drugs approved by the Pharmaceutical Board of the state, and recognized by the Humane Society of the United States, and/or the American Veterinarian Medical Association.
KENNEL. Any person, group of persons, or corporation owning, keeping, or harboring four or more dogs or cats, and is zoned by the County Zoning Ordinance.
MICROCHIP. A device that can be scanned that is implanted under the surface of the skin. This allows an animal that has lost its collar to have a number that can be traced back to its owner.
NOTIFICATION OF OWNERS. Any information on the animal (for example, collar, tags, or microchip), or information obtained at the pick up location, will be investigated in order to locate the owner. NOTIFICATION OF OWNERS will be by telephone and/or door card. Attempts to contact the owner will continue for a reasonable length of time. Other means deemed necessary to locate the owners may be implemented.
OWNER. Any person, group of persons, or corporation owning, keeping, or harboring a dog, or dogs, or animals; to allow an animal to remain on property for one week or longer.
PENALTY FOR VIOLATING THE RUNNING AT LARGE ORDINANCE. The Animal Control Officer will impound untagged dogs whose ownership is not known if the dog is at large on public property. If found on private property, permission to have the dog removed from said property will be obtained from the property owner, or the property owner’s designee. Tagged dogs whose ownership is known may be impounded for running at large, and may be cited for this offense. This includes any domestic animal off an owner’s land.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ANIMAL.
(1) Shall mean:
(a) Any animal which, when unprovoked, chases or approaches a person upon the streets, sidewalk, or any public or private property in a menacing fashion, or apparent attitude of attack;
(b) Any animal with a known propensity, or disposition, for an unprovoked attack and probability to cause injury, or to otherwise threaten the safety of humans or domestic animals; and/or
(c) Any animal, according to the records of the appropriate authority, which has caused a minor injury to a domestic animal or human.
(2) All animals are judged by a case-by-case basis, and all information is considered in the decision.
PROPERTY OF THE COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL/SHELTER. The animal can be adopted and/or humanely destroyed, as seen fit by County Animal Control/Shelter employees. All information is considered with both the animal’s and the County Animal Control/Shelter’s best interests in mind.
QUARANTINE. Strict, confined observation, for a period of six months, of an animal bitten by another animal that has been diagnosed as rabid, or an animal showing signs of rabies has bitten a human. The owner is responsible for all costs. QUARANTINE shall be at the County Animal Control/Shelter, or a facility approved by the Chief Animal Control Officer. The owner is required to follow the rules of the County Animal Control/Shelter for rabies suspects, as defined by the State Board of Animal Health, and/or the State Veterinarian. All QUARANTINES will be in the county.
REASONABLE LENGTH OF TIME. Not less than three days over a seven-day period.
REPEAT OFFENDERS. Any person who has previously had an animal in the shelter, or a person who has received a ticket from Animal Control.
RESTRAINT. An animal is under RESTRAINT within the meaning of this chapter if it is controlled by a leash, rope, and the like, at “heel” beside a competent person, and/or obedient to that person’s commands.
RUNNING AT LARGE. Any animal off the owner’s property and/or caretaker’s property that is not under restraint or control.
SECURE ENCLOSURE. A pen with an attached top, bottom, and sides that provides the animal with adequate shelter inside the enclosure, and is securely locked by a padlock of sufficient size capable of securely confining the animal. Pens must be self-standing with only one gate.
SPAYED FEMALE. Any female which has been surgically rendered incapable of reproduction, and includes NEUTERED ANIMAL, which shall mean any animal, male or female, which has been surgically rendered incapable of reproduction.
STRAY. A domestic animal which is lost, or whose ownership is otherwise unknown.
STRICT CONFINED OBSERVATIONS. To keep an animal confined in a building or home, and not to allow the animal to come in contact with anything other than the owner for a period of time designated by the County Animal Control/Shelter. If the animal needs to go outside to relieve itself, it is to be physically restrained by the owner who is at least 18 years of age, and to remain in the owner’s yard at all times with the owner. Said owner is required to report any unusual behavior or sickness to the County Animal Control/Shelter. All observations and quarantines are to be in the county, and owners are required to follow the rules of the County Animal Control/Shelter for rabies suspects, or as defined by the State Board of Animal Health, and/or the State Veterinarian. There can be no transfer of ownership and/or care during STRICT CONFINED OBSERVATIONS.
STRICT ISOLATION. As defined by the State Board of Animal Health and the State Veterinarian.
UNDER CONTROL. To completely regulate the animal’s actions by either verbal command or by restraint.
WILD ANIMAL. As defined by the County Zoning Ordinance.
(Ord. 2000-30, passed 12-26-2000)