As used in this chapter the following terms have the following meanings:
ANIMAL: A dog, cat, or other domestic animal kept for amusement or companionship.
ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY: The Lakeville Police Department.
AT LARGE: A dog is at large at any time when it is not under "restraint" as defined herein. No dog shall be permitted to be in a public place within the City of Lakeville unless accompanied by a dog handler, or securely confined within a portable kennel or a vehicle.
CLOSE CONTROL: A dog is under close control when it is restrained so that it cannot come into physical contact with any person not of a dog handler's party except with that person's consent, and so as to permit the dog to range no more than six feet (6') from its handler.
DANGEROUS DOG: Any dog that has:
A. Without provocation, inflicted substantial bodily harm on a human being on public or private property;
B. Killed a domestic animal without provocation while off the owner's property; or
C. Been found to be potentially dangerous, and after the owner has notice that the dog is potentially dangerous, the dog aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of humans or domestic animals.
DOG HANDLER OR HANDLER: A competent person who attends a dog in all public places within the City of Lakeville, is responsible for the behavior of the dog, and to whose command the dog is immediately responsive.
GREAT BODILY HARM: Has the meaning given it in Minnesota Statutes section 609.02, subdivision 8.
KENNEL: A place where more than three (3) dogs over six (6) months of age are kept, or a place at which the business of selling, boarding, breeding, showing or treating dogs is conducted when there are more than three (3) dogs being sold, boarded or shown.
LEASH: A fixed length tether or retractable tether, or an electronic control collar worn by a dog. When an electronic control collar is used or the dog has passed the canine good citizen test, the dog handler must carry on his or her person a fixed length tether not exceeding twenty five feet (25') in case the dog must be physically restrained.
OWNER: Any person who owns, harbors, feeds, boards or keeps an animal, or the parents or guardians of a person under eighteen (18) years of age who owns, harbors, feeds, boards or keeps an animal.
PARKS: A park, playground, beach, swimming pool, trail, nature area, recreation center or any other area in the City owned, leased, used or controlled by the City.
PICKET: To secure a dog by means of chain or cable to a fixed object, thereby confining the dog to a specified area.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG: Any dog that:
A. When unprovoked, inflicts bites on a human or domestic animal on public or private property;
B. When unprovoked, chases or approaches a person, including a person upon a bicycle, upon the streets, sidewalks, or any public or private property, other than the dog owner's property, in an apparent attitude of attack; or
C. Has a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked, causing injury or otherwise threatening the safety of humans or domestic animals.
PROPER ENCLOSURE: Securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure suitable to prevent the dog from escaping and providing protection from the elements for the dog. A proper enclosure does not include a porch, patio, or any part of a house, garage, or other structure that would allow the dog to exit of its own volition, or any house or structure in which windows are open or in which door or window screens are the only obstacles that prevent the dog from exiting.
PROVOCATION: An act that an adult could reasonably expect may cause a dog to attack or bite.
QUARANTINE: Isolating an animal to prevent the spread of a contagious disease.
RESTRAINT: A dog is under restraint if: a) controlled by a leash not exceeding twenty five feet (25') in length; a retractable leash, when fully extended, cannot exceed twenty five feet (25') in length; or b) within a vehicle; or c) within a secure fence or building, or if tethered to a leash not exceeding twenty five feet (25') in length that is secured to a stake or other immobile object; or d) under voice control on private property, or within the limits of a designated dog exercise and training area; or e) controlled by an electronic training collar; or f) the dog has passed the canine good citizen test certification program or its approved equivalent.
SUBSTANTIAL BODILY HARM: Has the meaning given it in Minnesota Statutes section 609.02, subdivision 7a.
VICIOUS DOG: Any dog which has a propensity or tendency towards acts which might endanger the safety of persons or property. This definition is not limited to biting dogs, but includes those dogs which have a natural fierceness or disposition to mischief.
VOICE CONTROL: A dog is under voice control when it is accompanied by a competent person, who is the dog's handler and is responsible for the dog's behavior, and is immediately obedient to that person's command issued by vocal utterance or other means of signaling. (Ord. 133, sec. 1, 1-2-1979; amd. Ord. 406, sec. 1, 3-19-1990; Ord. 406, sec. 2, 3-19-1990; Ord. 442, sec. 1, 8-5-1991; Ord. 450, sec. 1, 10-7-1991; Ord. 559, sec. 1, 9-18-1995; Ord. 633, sec. 1, 7-20-1998; Ord. 680, secs. 1, 2, 11-20-2000, eff. 6-1-2001; Ord. 721, sec. 1, 10-7-2002; Ord. 842, sec. 1, 7-7-2008, eff. 8-1-2008; Ord. 1071, 10-19-2022)