For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMAL. Any living, vertebrate except human beings.
ANIMAL CRUELTY. The intentional, willful and/or malicious infliction of physical abuse that causes prolonged pain, serious injury or the death of an animal or willful neglect, i.e. depriving the basic needs such as food, water and/or shelter.
ANIMAL ENCLOSURE. A small enclosed structure used for housing domestic farm animals that are allowed within the city. Typically, a coop for chickens.
ANIMAL RUN. An enclosure that is connected to and/or surrounding an animal enclosure for the purpose of allowing domestic farm animals to leave the coop while remaining in an enclosed environment.
ANIMAL SHELTER. A building or location used to hold impounded animals, designated by the Lead City Commission.
AT LARGE. Off the premises of the owner, person in charge and not under the restraint of the owner, person in charge or a member of the owner’s immediate family, either by leash, cord or chain.
BITE. The grasping or tearing of clothing, any abrasion, scratch, puncture, laceration, bruise or piercing of the skin inflicted by the teeth of an animal.
DOMESTIC CHICKEN. A common gallinaceous farm bird (gallus domesticus) raised for its edible eggs.
DOMESTIC FARM ANIMAL. A domestic chicken. Not to include dogs and/or cats.
EUTHANASIA. Putting an animal down by the injection of sodium pentobarbitol administered by a certified veterinarian.
HABITUALLY ALLOW TO RUN AT LARGE. Any owner of an animal that has been impounded in the city animal shelter or a warning/citation issued to the owner more than three times in any 12-month period and the owner is again found allowing his or her animal to run at large shall be considered to habitually allow to run at large.
HARBORING. Any animal shall be deemed to be harbored if it is fed or sheltered for three consecutive days or more.
HYBRID ANIMAL. The offspring of two animals of different breeds, species or genera.
IMPOUNDMENT. Any animal found in violation of the provisions of this subchapter may be seized and impounded by any police officer or Animal Control Officer of the city. Impoundment may be in any animal shelter designated by the Lead City Commission.
KENNEL. An establishment where animals are bred, raised, trained or boarded.
LIVE TRAP. A trap that allows for the capturing of an animal alive and uninjured.
OFFICER. Any police officer, Animal Control Officer or person employed by the city to enforce this chapter.
OWNER. Any person or business keeping or harboring any animals.
PET. Any animal kept for pleasure rather than utility.
PUT DOWN. The animal was killed by the means of euthanasia or in the case of injury and the animal is suffering, a bullet fired into the head by a police officer or Animal Control Officer.
REDEEM. To physically take custody of the animal after all licensing, vaccinations and fines are satisfied.
RESTRAINT. An animal is under restraint within the meaning of this subchapter if it is controlled by a leash, cord, chain or if it is on or within a vehicle being driven or parked on the street.
VICIOUS ANIMALS. Any animal that has done or communicated by its actions or intention, habit tendency or propensity to do something harmful to people or other animals.
WILD/EXOTIC ANIMALS. The following types of animals, whether bred in the wild or in captivity and any or all hybrids of these species:
(1) Class Mammalia.
(a) Order Carnivore:
1. Family felidae: all species of cats excluding domestic cats (Felis catus);
2. Family canidae: including wolf-dog hybrids, except domestic dogs (Canis familiaris);
3. Family ursidae: all species of bears;
4. Family hyaenidae: all species of hyena and aardwolf; and
5. Family procyonidae: raccoons, kinkajous, and coatimundis;
(b) Order Primates, all species of non-human primates excluding humans; and
(c) Order Proboscidae, all elephant species.
(2) Class Reptilian:
(a) Order Crocodilia: all species of alligators, crocodiles, caimans, gharials; and
(b) Order Squamata:
1. Family Atractaspidae: all species, such as mole vipers.
2. Family Boidae: anacondas (Genus Eunectes), boa constrictors (Boa constrictor), Burmese pythons (Python molurus), reticulated pythons (Python reticulatus), amethystine pythons (Morelia amethistina), scrub pythons (Morelia kinghorni), Northern African pythons (Python sebae), Southern African pythons (Python natalensis).
(Ord. 914-98, passed 9-21-1998; Am. Ord. 1037-15, passed 8-3-2015; Am. Ord. 1045-16, passed 2-1-2016; Am. Ord. 1053-17, passed 6-5-2017; Am. Ord. 1059-18, passed 5-21-2018)