For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMAL WARDEN. The person employed by the city or with whom the city has contracted as its enforcement officer.
AT LARGE. Off the premises of the owner or upon the public streets, alleys, public grounds, school grounds or parks within the city. A dog shall not be deemed AT LARGE under any of the following circumstances:
(1) If attached to a leash or chain of sufficient strength to restrain the dog and not more than six feet in length when the leash or chain is held by a person competent to restrain and control the dog off the owner’s premises;
(2) If properly restrained within a motor vehicle or housed in a veterinary hospital;
(3) If accompanied by and at heel beside the owner or a competent responsible person;
(4) If left unattended on the owner’s premises, so confined, tied or restrained as to be unable to range beyond the owner’s premises;
(5) If the owner and the dog are participating in a regularly scheduled competitive or exhibition event, sanctioned or sponsored by a nationally recognized organization, local chapter thereof or other generally recognized local organization, in a park designed by the city’s Park and Recreation Department for such activities and under the terms and conditions established by the Park and Recreation Department;
(6) If the dog and the owner are actively engaged in a generally recognized and dog obedience training program or training for a generally recognized kennel club event, in a park designed for such activities by the city’s Park and Recreation Department and under the terms and conditions established by the Park and Recreation Department; provided, all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The dog is in the actual physical presence of the owner or trainer at all times;
(b) The owner or trainer is at no time more than 50 feet from the dog;
(c) The dog is immediately obedient to the commands of the owner or trainer;
(d) The owner or trainer has, at all times, on his or her person a leash of sufficient strength to restrain the dog; and
(e) However, in the Nicholson-Ford Nature Area, the exceptions above shall only be applicable to dogs that are “retriever breeds” as determined and defined by the city Park and Recreation Department. Such breeds in the Nicholson-Ford Nature Area may be more than 50 feet from the trainer if wearing an operable electronic collar.
(7) If a dog and owner are confined within an area specifically designed and set apart as an off-leash dog park and the owner has registered and followed the policies set for such an area, a dog shall be deemed to be AT LARGE if it is not properly vaccinated for rabies as required by law, if it is not housed, restrained or controlled in one of the methods set forth in this section or if under division (6)(e) above, its presence or activities are not in conformance with the terms and conditions established by the Parks and Recreation Department of the city.
CAT. Both male and female of the feline species.
DOG. Both male and female animals of the canine species.
KENNEL DOG. A dog kept or raised solely for the bona fide purpose of sale and which is kept under constant restraint.
OWNER. Any person, group of persons, firm, association or corporation owning, keeping or harboring an animal.
VETERINARY HOSPITAL. A public establishment regularly maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian for the diagnosis and treatment of disease and injuries of animals.
(2013 Code, § 6-18) (Ord. 9073, passed 6-25-1956; Ord. 12017, passed 4-11-1972; Ord. 14232, passed 5-27-1986; Ord. 14707, passed 3-10-2003; Ord. 14872, passed 4-26-2010)