For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMAL. Any non-human animal, reptile, amphibian or bird, domestic or non-domestic, including dogs and cats.
ANIMAL, DOMESTIC. Animals normally kept within the home, but not exclusive of the home, such as fish, dogs, cats, household birds and similar animals.
ANIMAL, NON-DOMESTIC. Animals that are normally kept outside of a residential dwelling for purposes of food or pleasure, such as cattle, hogs, chicken and other fowl, sheep, horses, bees, goats, birds such as pigeons, falcons and similar animals.
ANIMAL, WILD. Those animals commonly considered to be naturally wild and not naturally trained or domesticated, or which are commonly considered to be inherently dangerous to the health, safety, and welfare of people. Unless otherwise defined, wild animals shall include:
(1) Any member of the large cat family (family felidae), including lions, tigers, cougars, bobcats, leopards and jaguars, but excluding commonly accepted domesticated house cats.
(2) Any naturally wild member of the canine family (family canidae), including wolves, foxes, coyotes, dingoes, and jackals, but excluding commonly accepted domesticated dogs.
(3) Any crossbreeds, such as the crossbreed between a wolf and a dog, unless the crossbreed is commonly accepted as a domesticated house pet.
(4) Any member or relative of the rodent family, including any raccoon or squirrel, but excluding those members otherwise defined or commonly accepted as domesticated pets.
(5) Any poisonous, venomous, constricting, or inherently dangerous member of the reptile or amphibian families, including rattlesnakes, boa constrictors, pit vipers, crocodiles and alligators.
(6) Any other animal not explicitly listed above, but which can be reasonably defined by the terms of this section, including but not limited to, bears, deer, monkeys and game fish.
AT LARGE. Any of the above animals not effectively restrained within a fenced area, or any animal permitted to be in any unfenced area, whether public or private, or lot abutting upon a street, alley, public park, public place, without being effectively restrained from moving beyond the unfenced area or lot, or any animal permitted to be on any street, public park, school grounds or public place, without being effectively restrained by a chain or lease not exceeding six feet in length, shall be deemed to be AT LARGE.
CAT. Any domesticated feline animal, male or female, whole or neutered.
CHICKEN. A domesticated fowl of the genus and species Gallus gallus.
CHICKEN COOP. Any structure used for the housing of chickens.
CHICKEN RUN. A fenced outside yard for the keeping and exercising of chickens.
DANGEROUS ANIMAL. Any animal that has committed any of the acts set forth below:
(1) Without provocation, inflicts substantial bodily harm on a human being on public or private property;
(2) Kills a domestic animal without provocation; or
(3) Been found to be a potentially dangerous animal, and after the owner has been notified that the animal is potentially dangerous, the animal aggressively bites, attacks or endangers the safety of humans or domestic animals.
DOG. Any canine animal, male or female, whole or neutered.
DOG KENNEL. Any place where more than three dogs over six months of age are boarded or bred and/or offered for sale, except for a veterinary clinic.
ENCLOSURE. Any structure, except a dwelling, designated to securely enclose and prevent an animal from escaping therefrom, and/or designed to provide the animal with shelter and protection from the weather.
OWNER. Any person, firm, corporation, organization or department, possessing, harboring, keeping, having an interest in or having temporary or permanent custody or control of an animal.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ANIMAL. Any animal that has committed any of the acts set forth below:
(1) When unprovoked, bites a human or domestic animal;
(2) When unprovoked, chases or approaches a person upon the public street, sidewalks or any other public property in an apparent attitude of attack; or
(3) Has a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, causing injury or otherwise threatening the safety of humans or domestic animals.
RESTRAINED. On a leash and in the custody of a person of sufficient age, strength and experience to adequately control the animal, in a vehicle or confined to the owner’s property by enclosure or fencing, such that they cannot interact with other humans or domestic animals.
SUBSTANTIAL BODILY HARM. Bodily injury which involves a temporary, but substantial disfigurement or which causes a temporary, but substantial loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member, limb or organ, or which causes a fracture of any bodily member.
(`87 Code, § 508.01) (Am. Ord. 05-11-01, passed 11-17-05; Am. Ord. 11-06-01, passed 6-16-11)