For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED ANIMAL. An animal permanently left behind without provisions for ongoing care in circumstances which might cause harm to the animal. Cats serviced through trap-neuter-return programs and returned to where they were trapped shall not be considered animal abandonment.
ALTERED. An animal who has been sterilized.
AT LARGE. Off the premises of the owner/harborer and not under the control of the owner or a person 18 years or older authorized by the owner to act in the owner's behalf either by leash, chain, or other appropriate physical restraint.
ATTACK. Intentionally biting or attempting to bite or pursuing any person or animal with evident purpose of causing bodily injury to the person or animal so that the person or animal has reasonable grounds to fear for his or her own and animal's safety. Merely barking or growling at a person or an animal does not in itself constitute an attack.
BEAT. To unnecessarily or cruelly strike an animal, or to throw the animal against an object causing the animal to suffer severe pain or injury. The term does not include reasonable training or disciplinary techniques.
COLONY. A group of one or more free-roaming cat(s) that live together in one territory, often near a food and shelter source.
COMMUNITY CAT. Any outdoor free-roaming cat that has been evaluated and sterilized by a licensed veterinarian, ear tipped, vaccinated for rabies, and released back into the area from which it was captured.
COMMUNITY CAT PROVIDER. A person who provides food, water, shelter, or otherwise cares for community cats and satisfies rules and requirements of § 91.22. A person so identified by this definition shall not be considered the owner of a community cat.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL/ANIMAL. Any companion animal that is a member of one of the following species: Dog, Cat, Pet Rabbit, Pet Mouse, Pet Rat, Reptile, Guinea Pig, Chinchilla, Hamster, Gerbil, Ferret.
EAR TIPPING. Designed to identify a community cat as being sterilized; involves removal of one-quarter if a community cat's left ear performed by a licensed veterinarian.
EUTHANASIA. Is a Greek term meaning "good death", the objects are met when death is induced by lethal injection of a phenobarbital sodium which causes no unreasonable pain or distress to an animal.
FREE-ROAMING CAT. An intact cat who may be eligible to join a community cat program.
HABITUAL ORDINANCE VIOLATION. More than three violations in this chapter within a period of one calendar year in which the calendar year begins January 1 and end December 31 or each year.
IDENTIFICATION. A permanent or temporary form of identification worn by or implanted in the animal to determine the owner of the animal or community cat provider and includes contact information.
KENNEL. Any premises wherein any person engages in the business of boarding, breeding, buying, letting or keeping more than four dogs for hire, training for a fee or selling.
MUTILATE. To wound, injure, maim, or disfigure an animal by irreparably damaging the animal's body parts or to render any part of the animal's body useless, unless done by a veterinarian as a reasonable practice of treatment. The term includes bodily injury involving: serious permanent disfigurement, serious temporary disfigurement, permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily part or organ, or a fracture.
NEGLECT. To endanger an animal's health by failing to provide or arrange to provide the animal with sufficient nutritious food or clean water to drink if the animal is dependent upon the person for the provisions of food or water and fail to provide reasonable care for or seek veterinary care for an injury or illness to an animal that seriously endangers the life or health of the animal.
NUISANCE. Any domestic animal that habitually disrupts the expected enjoyment and use of private property either privately or publicly owned.
OWNER/HARBORER. Any person, firm, or corporation who intentionally provides food, water, and/or shelter for a domestic animal for a minimum of 14 consecutive days. Community Cat Providers of community cats serviced through TNR programs shall not be considered to be owners/harborers.
SHADE. Comparative darkness and coolness caused by large stationary objects from direct sunlight and heat.
TETHERING. Is the practice of fastening an animal to a stationary object or stake as a means of keeping the animal under control, which excludes periods when an animal is walked on a leash.
TORTURE. To inflict extreme physical pain or injury on an animal with the intent of increasing or prolonging the animal's pain or to administer poison to a domestic animal or expose a domestic animal to a poisonous substance with the intent that the domestic animal ingests the substance and suffer harm, pain, or physical injury.
TRAP NEUTER RETURN (TNR). Process of humanely trapping, sterilizing, vaccinating for rabies, ear-tipping and returning to their original location.
VICIOUS ANIMAL. Any domestic animal that has without provocation attacked or threatened a human being or other domestic animal off its owner's property. Any animal that by its propensity, tendency, or disposition constitutes an immediate and serious physical threat to human beings or animals, or a domestic animal that has previously attacked or bitten humans or another domestic animal off its owner's property.
(Ord. 1997-5, passed - - ; Am. Ord. 2007-13, passed 11-20-2007; Am. Ord. 2012-25, passed 11- -2012; Am. Ord. 2013-1, passed 1-2-2013; Am. Ord. 2019-03, passed 4-2-2019; Am. Ord. 2022-10, passed 6-7-2022; Am. Ord. 2023-06, passed 7-3-2023)