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, domestic or wild.
ANIMAL AT LARGE. Any animal, whether or not licensed, not under restraint.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. Any person designated by this state, this county or a municipal government as a law enforcement officer who is qualified to perform such duties under the laws of this state.
ANIMAL SHELTER. Any facility operated by a humane society or political subdivision of the state for the purpose of impounding or caring for animals held under the authority of this chapter or state law.
ANIMAL UNDER RESTRAINT. An animal on a leash or lead which is held by a person or attached to a stationary object or confined within a vehicle or confined upon the real property of the owner or custodian.
ATTACK. Any biting or attempted biting or other action by an animal which places a person or another animal in danger of imminent bodily harm. Actual physical contact shall be required to constitute an ATTACK. ATTACK may include jumping upon, chasing, nipping or otherwise threatening.
CAT. Any age feline of the domesticated types.
CUSTODIAN. Any person having the charge, care, custody or control of an animal which he/she does not own.
DOG. Any Canis familiaris.
DOMESTICATED ANIMAL. Any animal accustomed to live in or about the habitation of humans, including, but not limited to, cats, dogs, fowl, horses, swine, cattle, sheep and goats.
EUTHANASIA. The humane destruction of an animal accomplished by a method approved by the most recent report of the American Veterinary Medical Association Panel of Euthanasia that results in unconsciousness and immediate death, or by a method that causes painless loss of consciousness and death during such loss of consciousness.
GUARD DOG. Any dog that will detect and warn its handler that an intruder is present or near an area that is being secured and will attack a human pursuant to training or its handler’s command. A GUARD DOG shall be controlled by an enclosure or on a leash or under absolute control while working so it cannot come into contact with the lawful public.
HANDLER. Any person who has physical control or responsibility for the same of an animal at any given time.
HOUSEHOLD PET. Any animal or fowl ordinarily permitted in a house and kept for company or pleasure and not for profit, such as: dogs, cats, canaries, fish, hamsters, mice and other animals which are not capable of inflicting harm or discomfort or endangering the health, safety or welfare of any person or property.
KENNEL. Any premises where more than two dogs are raised, kept, housed or boarded; or any premises wherein any person engages in the business of boarding, breeding, buying, letting for hire, training for a fee or selling dogs.
LEASH or LEAD. Any chain, rope or device used to restrain an animal.
LICENSED DOG. A dog wearing a current dog license tag as issued by County Animal Control or any municipality.
NEUTERED. Describes an animal which has had its reproductive organs (testicles or uterus and ovaries) surgically removed.
OWNER. Shall be presumed to have the ultimate responsibility for the physical control for the animal. An OWNER may legally divest himself or herself of such responsibility by transferring physical control to a legally responsible adult (over 18 years); such person shall be the HANDLER.
PET or COMPANION ANIMAL. Any animal of a species that has been domesticated to live in or about the habitation of humans, is dependent on humans for food and shelter and is kept by its owner for pleasure rather than utility and/or commercial purposes.
PET SHOP. Any establishment, not part of a kennel, containing cages or exhibition pens wherein dogs, cats, birds or other pets for sale are kept or displayed.
PROVOKED. Any deliberate act by a person towards a dog or any other animal done with the intent to tease, torment, abuse, assault or otherwise cause a reaction by the dog or animal. However, any act done by a person with the intent to discourage or prevent a dog or other animal from attacking shall not be considered PROVOCATION.
QUARANTINE. The isolation of an animal in a substantial enclosure so that the animal is not subject to contact with other animals or unauthorized persons.
SPAYED. Describes an animal which has had its ovaries and uterus surgically removed, an ovariohysterectomy.
VETERINARIAN. Any person properly licensed under the laws of the state to practice veterinary medicine.
VETERINARY CLINIC. Any establishment maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian for surgery, diagnosis or treatment of diseases and injuries of animals.
VICIOUS ANIMAL. An animal:
(1) With a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury to or to otherwise endanger the safety of humans or other domestic animals;
(2) Which attacks a human being or other domestic animal without provocation; or
(3) Which is trained or used to fight or to attack humans.
WILD ANIMAL.
(1) All animals commonly accepted as being “wild,” and includes, but is not limited to, the following, no matter how domesticated they may be:
(a) Alligators and crocodiles;
(b) Bears (Ursidae);
(c) Cat family (Felidae), except the commonly accepted domesticated cats;
(d) Coyotes, foxes and wolves;
(e) Porcupines (Ercthizontiade);
(f) Nonhuman primates (Hominidae);
(g) Raccoons (Procyonidae);
(h) Skunks;
(i) Venomous snakes or venomous lizards; and
(j) Weasels (Mustelidae), including martens, wolverines, black-footed ferrets, badgers, otters, ermine, mink, mongoose and the like.
(2) For the purposes of this section, animals that are kept commercial or ranched shall not be WILD ANIMALS.
(Ord. 2002-11-1, passed 11-4-2002)