For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMAL. Every non-human species of vertebrate or invertebrate creature, both domestic and wild.
AT LARGE. Any animal when it is off the property of any person keeping or harboring such animal and not under the control of a competent person.
KENNEL or CATTERY. Any premises wherein any person engages in the business of boarding, breeding, buying or selling, training for a fee, or letting for hire dogs and cats.
PERSON. Any person, group of persons, association, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity.
PET or COMPANION ANIMAL. An animal of a species that has been bred and raised to live in or about the habitation of humans and is dependent on people for food and shelter; any animal kept for pleasure rather than utility.
RESTRAINT or RESTRAINT OF ANIMAL. An animal is secured by a leash or lead and under the control of a responsible person; provided, that such animal need not be on a leash or lead only if it is on the property of the person keeping or harboring such animal and it is obedient to that person’s commands.
VICIOUS ANIMAL.
(1) Any animal having poisonous bites;
(2) Any animal that has rabies or has been bitten by an animal known to have or suspected of having rabies;
(3) Any warm-blooded, carnivorous, or omnivorous, wild or exotic animal, dangerous, or undomesticated animal which is not of a species customarily used as an ordinary household pet, but one which would ordinarily be confined to a zoo, or one which would ordinarily be found in the wilderness of this or any other country, or one which otherwise causes a reasonable person to be fearful of bodily harm or property damage (including, but not limed to, non-human primates, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and wild exotic cats; but excluding fowl, ferrets, and small rodents of varieties used for laboratory purposes);
(4) Any animal with a propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack, to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or other domestic animals;
(5) Any animal which attacked or bit a human being or other domestic animal previously, other than under the type of circumstances that would be justifiable; or
(6) Any animal which behaves in such a manner that the person keeping or harboring such animal knows or should reasonably know that the animal has tendencies to attack or bite human beings or other domestic animals other than under the type of circumstances that would be justifiable.
(1984 Code, § 3-01-020) (Ord. 261, passed 12-1-1998) (Ord. 396, passed 12-21-2008)