For the purposes of this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED ANIMAL. Any animal left unattended for a minimum of 24 hours without receiving proper care and/or treatment by its owner or caretaker.
ALTERED DOG. Any dog which has been certified in writing by a veterinarian as being nonreproductive.
ANIMAL. Any mammal, poultry, fowl, reptile, fish, or any other living creature.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. Any person duly appointed by the Health Officer and authorized to act on his or her behalf in the enforcement of the Animal Care and Control Program.
ANIMAL MENAGERIE. Any place where wild animals are kept or maintained for private or commercial purposes, including places where wild animals are boarded, trained, or kept for hire.
ANIMAL SHELTER. All places where impounded animals are to be confined, whether by the County or by a private person or persons under contract or agreement with the County.
CAT. All domesticated felines.
CHIEF OFFICER. The San Bernardino County Public Health Program Manager assigned to the Animal Care and Control program or any other person so designated.
DOG. Any dog of any age, female or male.
ENCLOSURE. A pen or structure suitable to confine an animal determined potentially dangerous or vicious. The ENCLOSURE shall be designed to prevent the animal from escaping and to prevent the entry of young children and other persons.
GUARD DOG. Any dog used for the purpose of guard duty.
HEALTH OFFICER. The San Bernardino County Health Officer or any other person duly authorized to act on his or her behalf.
IMPOUNDMENT. The picking up of an animal by a duly authorized person and bringing it into an animal shelter for confinement, custody, and disposition.
LEASH. Any rope, leather strap, chain or other material not exceeding six feet in length being held in the hand of a person capable of controlling the animal to which it is attached.
LICENSE TAG. A piece of metal or other durable material inscribed with a date and number which has been issued by the County or a municipal dog licensing agency.
LIVESTOCK. All domesticated bovine, equine, caprine, ovine and porcine species.
OWNER or KEEPER. Any person who owns or maintains an animal, or who harbors or keeps an animal for 15 or more consecutive days, except a veterinarian or an operator of a grooming shop, a kennel or a pet shop engaged in the regular practice of this business.
PERIMETER FENCE. A fence which shall guard and contain the enclosure and shall be totally separate from such enclosure and shall be a minimum of six feet in height and shall be at least six feet from the enclosure on all sides to prevent contact between the animal and the public.
PERSON. Any person, firm, partnership, corporation, trust, or any association of persons.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ANIMAL. Any of the following:
(1) Any animal which, unprovoked, on two separate occasions within any 36-month period, engages in any behavior that requires defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury, but only if the person and the animal are off the property of the owner or keeper of the animal when the animal behavior occurs;
(2) Any animal, which, unprovoked, bites a person causing a less than severe injury, as defined below in this Subdivision;
(3) Any animal, which, unprovoked, kills, seriously bites or otherwise inflicts or causes injury to a domestic animal, but only if such occurs off the property of the owner or keeper of the attacking animal.
REGISTRATION. Any animal which has been declared potentially dangerous or vicious shall be registered as such with the Animal Care and Control Program.
SEVERE INJURY. Any physical injury to a human being, which results in muscle tears or disfiguring lacerations or which requires multiple sutures or corrective or cosmetic surgery.
SHELTERKEEPER. The San Bernardino County Public Health Animal Shelter Supervisor assigned to the Animal Care and Control program or any other person so designated by the Health Officer.
STRAY. Any animal with no identification or with no known owner or keeper.
UNLICENSED DOG. Any dog for which a current license has not been paid, or to which the current tag provided for in this Code is not attached.
VICIOUS ANIMAL. Any of the following:
(1) Any animal seized under Penal Code § 599aa (fighting animals) and fighting dogs as provided in Subdivision (a) of Penal Code § 597.5 when there has been a conviction of the owner or keeper of the subject dogs under that subdivision of the Penal Code;
(2) Any animal which, unprovoked, inflicts severe injury on a human being, as such injury is defined above in this Subdivision, or kills a human being;
(3) Any animal previously determined and currently listed as a potentially dangerous animal, which, after its owner or keeper has been notified of this determination, continues the behavior described in the definition of
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ANIMAL above or is maintained in violation of § 32.1405 of this Code.
WILD ANIMAL. Any wild, exotic, dangerous or venomous animal, including but not limited to mammals, fowl, fish, or reptile.
(Ord. 962, passed - -1961; Am. Ord. 1455, passed - -1968; Am. Ord. 1603, passed - -1970; Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972; Am. Ord. 3804, passed - -2000; Am. Ord. 3908, passed - -2004)