For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMAL. Any live vertebrate creature except man.
ANIMAL CONTROL CENTER. Any facility licensed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and approved by the commission for the purpose of enforcing this chapter and used as a shelter for seized, stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted animals.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. Any person who has authority to issue citations in the enforcement of violations of this chapter relating to care, treatment, control, or impounding of animals.
ANIMAL EXHIBITION. Any public or private showing of animals in compliance with county and state statute.
ANIMAL UNDER RESTRAINT OR CONTROL. Any animal that is secured by not more than a six-foot leash or lead, or confined in a crate, cage, vehicle, or in an exercise run under competent human supervision or within the premises of its owners or another designated by its owner, unless otherwise specified in this chapter.
BITE. Seizure of an animal or a person with the teeth or jaws of an animal so that the skin of the human or animal seized has been pierced, broken, abraded and also includes saliva contact through any invasion to the animal or human resulting in harm.
CAT. All members of the classified Felis domestica.
DANGEROUS ANIMAL. An animal meeting any of the following criteria:
(1) Any animal that bites, inflicts injury on, kills, or otherwise attacks a human being or domestic animal without provocation on any public or private property;
(2) Any animal that, without provocation, chases or approaches any person in an apparent attitude of attack, on any public property or in any place outside or over the boundaries of its owner's property;
(3) Any animal owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog or other animal fighting or any animal trained for dog or other animal fighting;
(4) Any guard dog that is used to watch public or private property, except those owned by a governmental or law enforcement unit; or
(5) Any dog that has been found to be a vicious dog under the provisions of state, county, or city law.
(ILCS Ch. 510 Act 5, § 15)
DOG. All members of the classification Canis familiaris.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL. Any animal that has been domesticated by man so as to live and breed in a domestic tame condition.
ENCLOSURE. A fence or structure of at least six feet in height, forming or causing an enclosure suitable to prevent the entry of young children and suitable to confine a vicious dog in conjunction with other measures which may be taken by the owner or keeper, such as tethering of a vicious dog within the enclosure. Such enclosure shall be securely enclosed and locked, and designed with secure side, top, and bottom, and shall be designed to prevent the animal from escaping from the enclosure.
EUTHANASIA. A veterinarian using a method that produces instant loss of consciousness and results in painless death, putting the animal to a humane death.
GUARD DOG. A dog trained and licensed for commercial protection.
GUIDE DOG. A dog trained by a recognized organization and licensed to lead the legally blind or other impaired persons.
IMPOUND. An animal has been taken into custody and sheltered at an animal control center.
INOCULATION AGAINST RABIES. The injection of a rabies vaccine approved by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and administered by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with the company's recommendations for the vaccine used, the verification thereof consisting of a certificate and current tag in accordance with the statutes of the state.
LICENSED. Any dog or cat four months of age or older for which the owner can produce proof of having paid the current license fee in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
OWNER. Any person having a right of property in an animal or who keeps or harbors any animal or who has an animal in his or her care of custody.
OWNERLESS. A wild animal or a domestic animal without an identified owner.
PERSON. Any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, or other legal entity.
PET. Any species of domestic animal customarily regarded as suited to live within an abode for human occupancy.
PROVOCATION. The threat, injury or damage caused by the animal was sustained by a person who, at the time, was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises occupied by the owner of the animal, or was tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the animal, or was committing or attempting to commit a crime.
SEVERE INJURY. Any physical injury that results in broken bones, laceration requiring sutures or cosmetic surgery, internal injuries requiring medical attention, surgery or hospitalization.
STRAY ANIMAL. Any owned animal not under restraint or control and not in the presence of its owner.
VETERINARIAN. A practicing veterinarian licensed in the state.
VICIOUS DOG. Any individual dog that exhibits extremely aggressive, menacing behavior toward humans or domestic pets and must be kept or confined to prevent injury or death to humans or pets.
WILD ANIMAL. An animal other than a pet.
WILD DOG. A dog that has no owner and is untrained or possibly feral (converted to wild state).
(Ord. O-26-03, passed 5-6-03)