The following definitions apply to this chapter:
ABANDON: To completely forsake and desert an animal previously under the custody or possession of a person without making reasonable arrangements for its proper care, sustenance, and shelter.
ANIMAL: A live mammal, bird, reptile, fish or amphibian.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER (ACO): Any person(s) employed by the City to administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter or any State laws or regulations relating to animal control.
ANIMAL CONTROL SUPERINTENDENT: The lead animal control officer tasked with management of animal shelter operations and personnel.
ANIMAL NUISANCE: Any nuisance arising out of the keeping, maintaining or owning of, or failure to exercise sufficient control of an animal.
ANIMAL SHELTER: Any premises designated by the City for the purpose of impounding and caring for animals held under the authority of this chapter.
AT LARGE: Any animal that is off the premises of the owner and not secured by leash or in a motor vehicle.
BITE: Any contact by an animal's teeth that breaks the skin of a person or another animal.
COMMERCIAL KENNEL: Any premises where three (3) or more dogs or three (3) or more cats or any combination thereof over the age of six (6) months are kept, for boarding, breeding, training or selling, etc.
CRUELTY: The malicious, intentional and needless infliction of pain, physical suffering, injury or death to an animal; to maliciously kill, maim, wound, torment or mutilate an animal; the failure to provide necessary sustenance, water or shelter for an animal; the failure to provide a sanitary and adequate living environment for an animal; or to abandon an animal.
DESTROY: To humanely euthanize an animal in keeping with State standards.
IMPOUND: The taking into custody of an animal by any police officer, animal control officer, or any authorized representative thereof, and confined in a humane manner.
LIVESTOCK: To include, but not be limited to, cattle, sheep, horses, goats, pigs, llamas, donkeys, burros or mules, or any other similar animals, excluding mini-pigs.
OWNER/RESPONSIBLE PARTY: Any person or persons keeping, harboring, possessing, caring for, or having any custodial duties over any animal.
POLICE OFFICER: An officer, certified by Idaho Police Officer Standards and Training Council, to enforce the laws of the State of Idaho and ordinances of the City of Mountain Home.
POULTRY: Any domesticated birds which serve as a source of food, either meat or eggs, including, but not limited to, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl and pheasants.
QUARANTINE: To isolate a dog or cat in a controlled environment away from contact with animals or humans in an effort to assess the behavior and overall health of the animal. Normally is utilized for rabies observation and/or control.
SECURE ENCLOSURE: An enclosure from which an animal cannot escape and for which exit and entry is controlled by the owner of the premises or owner of the animal.
SERVICE ANIMAL: Any guide dog, signal dog, police/drug or bite dog or other animal that is individually trained and certified to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a law enforcement agency or individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding people with impaired vision, alerting people with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds.
VICIOUS ANIMAL: Any animal which, when not physically provoked, physically attacks, wounds, bites or otherwise injures any person or other domestic animal upon a street, sidewalk, any public grounds or places, or private property not owned or possessed by the owner of the animal. No animal may be declared vicious if any injury or damage is sustained by a person who, at the time of such injury or damage was sustained, was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises occupied by the owner of the animal or attempting to commit a crime. No animal may be declared vicious if the injury or damage was sustained as a result of teasing, tormenting, abusing or assaulting the animal. No animal may be declared vicious if the animal was protecting or defending a human being or other domestic animal within the immediate vicinity of the animal from an unjustified attack or assault.
WILD OR EXOTIC ANIMAL: Any non-domesticated animal or any animal that is not indigenous to Idaho, which is not otherwise authorized by this chapter. (Ord. 1665, 9-25-2017)