Wherever used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meaning:
DANGEROUS DOG. Any dog which meets one of the following criteria:
(1) Is owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting;
(2) Is trained for dog fighting;
(3) According to the records of the city has:
(a) Killed or inflicted severe injury on a human being on public or private property;
(b) Killed a domestic animal without provocation while the dog was off the owner’s property; or
(c) Been previously determined to be a potentially dangerous dog by the city in accordance with procedures established elsewhere in this article and the owner has received notice of such determination and such dog again aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of humans or domestic animals.
(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a dog shall not be defined as a
DANGEROUS DOG:
(a) If the threat, any injury that is not a severe injury, or the damage was sustained by
a person who:
1. At the time, was committing a willful trespass as defined in the state statutes or any other tort upon the property of the owner of the dog;
2. At the time was tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the dog;
3. Who has in the past been observed or reported to have tormented, abused, or assaulted the dog; or
4. At the time was committing or attempting to commit a crime.
(b) If the dog is a trained dog assisting a police officer engaged in law enforcement duties.
MICROCHIP or MICROCHIPPED. The device or implantation of the device, authorized by, and generally accepted by, the veterinary community, to be permanently implanted in the dog, allowing for permanent identification of the dog and the dog’s owner, via scanning and reading of the microchip through the dog’s skin, and hair or fur.
OWNER. In addition to the definition given the word elsewhere in this chapter, shall include a person temporarily in possession of the dog at the request of the owner of the dog as shown on any microchip.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG.
(1) Any dog that when unprovoked inflicts a non-severe injury on a human or injures a domestic animal either on public or private property or chases or approaches a person upon streets, sidewalks, or any private grounds other than where the dog resides, or any public grounds in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack; or
(2) Any specific dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack when unprovoked, to cause injury, or to threaten the safety of humans or domestic animals.
SEVERE INJURY. Any physical injury that results in disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery or one or more broken bones or that creates a potential danger to the life or health of the victim.
(Ord. 3580, passed - -1998; Ord. 3972, passed - -2008)