For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMAL. A vertebrate animal not including any human being.
ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER or ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. The person or persons employed by the city’s Police Department as its enforcement officer or the humane society when its agents or employees are duly authorized to carry out the Animal Services Officer’s or Animal Control Officer’s duties set forth within this chapter.
ANIMAL SHELTER. Any premises designated by action of the city or any facility operated by a humane society, or its authorized agents, for the purpose of impounding and caring for all animals held under this chapter or held under state law.
AT LARGE. An animal shall be deemed to be “at large” when it is off the property of its owner and not under restraint, as defined herein.
CITY. The City of Richmond, State of Indiana.
COLONY. A group of one or more free-roaming cats.
COLONY CARETAKER. A person who provides food, water, shelter and necessary medical care for free-roaming cats in a managed colony. COLONY CARETAKERS shall not be deemed to be owners, as defined hereby, of the cats within a managed colony.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL. Cattle, calves, horses, mules, swine, sheep, goats, dogs, cats, poultry or other bird, and any other animal deemed by the Health Officer, after consultation with the state’s Board of Health, as not being a wild animal.
FREE-ROAMING CAT. Any homeless, stray, feral or untamed cat.
HEALTH OFFICER. The Health Officer of Wayne County, State of Indiana, or his or her duly authorized representative.
HOARDING. Any action or condition in which a person keeps, harbors or homes animals at their home or place of residence in a manner that creates health or safety concerns for any person or animal residing in that same residence or which may create a nuisance in the form of excessive barking or excessive odors emanating from the residence.
HUMANE SOCIETY. An organization that holds the status of an Internal Revenue Service § 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is affiliated with the National Humane Society and has as its principal purpose the humane treatment of animals.
KENNEL. Any premises or portions thereof on which more than five dogs, cats or other domestic animals over four months of age are kept, or on which more than three such animals are maintained, boarded, bred or cared for, in return for remuneration or are kept for the purpose of sale. The term KENNEL does not include any outdoor location that is deemed by Animal Control to be a location inhabited by a registered managed colony.
MANAGED COLONY. A colony of free-roaming cats that is registered with the Animal Control Officer of the city’s Police Department or its designee and is maintained by a colony caretaker using trap-neuter- return methodology.
OWNER. A person, partnership or corporation owning, keeping or harboring one or more animals. An animal shall be deemed to be harbored if it is fed or sheltered for three consecutive days or more.
PERSON. Any individual, partnership, co- partnership, firm, company, corporation or any other legal entity or its legal representative or agent.
PET SHOP. Any establishment or location used for the purpose of selling small animals, including aviaries used to raise birds.
RESTRAINT. Under the control of the owner or other competent person by means of a leash, or with the owner or other competent person and obedient to the person’s commands or confined in a pen, yard, cage, house or other secure enclosure.
SMALL ANIMALS. Any dogs, cats, fowl, rats, mice, fish, turtles, chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigeons, reptiles, hamsters, gerbils or any other small animals or birds.
TETHERING. To attach an animal to a stationary object such as a fence, pole, dog house, building, tree or other fixed object as a means of confinement.
WILD ANIMALS. Any animal that is not a domestic animal.
(Prior Code, § 91.01)