For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AT LARGE. Off the premises of the owner and not under the control of the owner or a member of his or her immediate family, either by leash, cord, chain, or otherwise.
BEE. Any stage of development of the common domestic honeybee, Apis mellifera species.
BEEKEEPER. A person owning, possessing or controlling one or more colonies of bees.
CAT. Both male and female cats.
COLONY. A hive and its equipment and appurtenances, including one queen, bees, comb, honey, pollen and brood.
DOG. Both male and female dogs.
HARBOR. To suffer or permit any dog or cat to frequent or remain on or within a house, building, premises, or enclosure.
HIVE. Any Langstroth type structure with movable-frames intended for the housing of a bee colony. A hive typically consists of a cover, honey supers, brood chambers and a bottom board.
KENNEL. Any facility wherein any person engages in the business of boarding, breeding, buying, letting for hire, training for a fee, or selling dogs or cats; or any household or noncommercial animal establishment harboring four or more animals.
OWNER. Any person keeping or harboring a dog or cat.
VICIOUS OR FEROCIOUS ANIMAL. Any animal that, by its behavior or training, constitutes an immediate or serious physical threat to human beings or other domestic animals. Factors to be considered by the Animal Control Officer shall include:
(1) Circumstances that resulted in any injury or death to persons or animals, or serious destruction of property;
(2) Whether the animal was acting to defend itself, its offspring, persons, territory or property or was in some fashion provoked;
(3) The number, frequency and seriousness of past events causing damage to persons, property or other animals;
(4) The ability of the owner to control the animal, whether the animal has been previously abused and whether the animal’s behavior appears to be unpredictable;
(5) Potential for future damage by the animal due to the size, muscularity and bite strength of the animal;
(6) Whether the animal is adoptable;
(7) Lesser weight shall be given toward a finding of dangerousness if any animals killed or injured are traditionally animals hunted for sport or are considered vermin;
(8) Greater weight toward a finding of dangerousness shall be given to animals which are dangerous to persons as opposed to other animals; and
(9) The severity of the injuries shall be weighed in a determination of finding an animal declared dangerous. The Animal Bite Classification System of the Indiana State Department of Health will be used to determine.
(`81 Code, § 90.10) (Ord. 1855, passed 5-19-86; Am. Ord. 09-2631, passed 8-3-09; Am. Ord. 21-2933, passed 11-15-21)