As used in this chapter:
(a) CAT. A domestic feline animal (felis domesticus), male or female, sexed or neutered.
(b) CONTACT. A susceptible animal that directly or indirectly has come in contact with a rabid animal.
(c) DOG. A domestic animal (canis familiaris) male or female, sexed or neutered.
(d) EXOTIC ANIMALS. Other wild animals not indigenous to the State.
(e) FERAL. A susceptible domestic animal living in a wild state.
(f) FERRET. A domestic animal (mustela nigripes), male or female, sexed or neutered.
(g) HAS BEEN BITTEN. Having been bitten or having been seized with the teeth or jaws so that the skin of the person or animal seized has been nipped or gripped or wounded or pierced. HAS BEEN BITTEN includes scratches and the probable contact of saliva with a break or abrasion of the skin, as determined by a licensed physician. HAS BEEN BITTEN also includes contact of saliva with any mucous membrane.
(h) HEALTH COMMISSIONER. The Health Commissioner of the City Health District or his or her authorized representative.
(i) HUMAN EXPOSURE. All persons having been bitten by or having contact with a susceptible animal.
(j) ISOLATION. The placing or keeping of a rabid animal, suspected rabid animal or contact separate and apart from all other susceptible animals or persons so that the transmission of rabies is impossible.
(k) OWN. Unless otherwise specified, means to keep, harbor or have control, charge or custody of, a dog, cat, or ferret. OWN does not apply to dogs, cats, or ferrets owned by others, which dogs, cats, or ferrets are temporarily maintained on the premises of a veterinarian or kennel operator for a period of less than 60 days.
(l) OWNER. Any person keeping, harboring or having control, charge or custody of, a dog, cat, or ferret, or permitting a dog, cat, or ferret to habitually be or remain, or be lodged or fed, in or on such person's house, yard or premises. OWNER shall not apply to veterinarians or kennel operators temporarily maintaining on their premises dogs, cats, or ferrets owned by others for a period of less than 60 days.
(m) PERSON. An individual, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, corporation, association, organization, two or more individuals having a joint or common interest or any other legal or commercial entity.
(n) POCKET PETS. Small animals such as hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, domestic rabbits, white rats, mice and the like.
(o) QUARANTINE. The procedure affecting both the rabid or suspected rabid animal or contact and its environment, which is intended to prevent the spread of infections. QUARANTINE includes the isolation of the biting, scratching animal and the control of contacts.
(p) RABID ANIMAL. An animal which shows observable clinical signs of rabies or which has been confirmed as having rabies by a laboratory acceptable to the Health Commissioner.
(q) RABIES CONTROL AUTHORITY. A duly authorized person responsible for the enforcement of this chapter.
(r) NASPHV. The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc.
(s) SACRIFICE. Euthanasia in a humane manner under the direction of a veterinarian for the purpose of laboratory examination for rabies.
(t) STRAY. A susceptible animal not owned, one whose owner cannot be determined or one that cannot be apprehended and isolated for observation.
(u) SUSCEPTIBLE ANIMAL. An animal to which rabies can be transmitted.
(v) SUSPECTED RABID ANIMAL. A susceptible animal showing to a limited degree observable clinical signs of rabies or a susceptible animal that has bitten a person or has come in contact with a person in such a manner that rabies could be transmitted to such person.
(w) VACCINATION AGAINST RABIES. The inoculation of a dog, cat, or ferret with a rabies vaccine licensed for the species by the United States Department of Agriculture and recommended in the current Compendium of Animal Rabies Vaccines prepared by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. Such vaccination shall be performed by a veterinarian duly licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the United States.
(x) VETERINARIAN. A veterinarian duly licensed under the laws of any state.
(y) WILD ANIMAL. A warm-blooded non-domestic animal which is indigenous to the State and capable of transmitting rabies.
(Ord. 98-003, passed 7-14-1998)