For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AUTHORIZED CITY PERSONNEL. The Chief of Police, the health authority, their designees, and other personnel assisting in the enforcement of this chapter.
ENCLOSURE/RUN. An enclosed area where animals can roam unsupervised which may or may not be attached to the shelter, coop or hutch.
MALTREATED ANIMAL. An animal that has not been given adequate food, water or proper shelter from the weather, veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering, and with humane care and treatment, or that has been subjected to the conduct prohibited by M.S. § 343.21.
NUISANCE ANIMAL. An animal, conditions caused by an animal, or the improper care and maintenance of an animal that result in running at large, offensive odor, excessive noise or damage to property, so as to disturb the rights of or threaten the safety of a member of the general public, or interfere with the ordinary use and enjoyment of their property.
OWNER. A person owning, keeping, harboring or acting as custodian of an animal. All adult occupants of the property where the animal resides or is kept are considered an OWNER or OWNERS.
PERSON. An individual, firm, partnership or corporation.
PREMISES. A building, structure, shelter or land where an animal is kept or confined.
RURAL FARM ANIMAL. Cattle, mules, sheep, goats, swine, llamas, ostriches, emus, and including, but not limited to, other animals typically maintained in a farm setting, but not in an urban setting.
UNDER RESTRAINT. An animal being within a private motor vehicle of a person owning, harboring or keeping the animal; or controlled by a leash not exceeding six feet in length.
URBAN FARM ANIMAL. Ducks, geese, turkeys, chickens, guinea hens, bees and rabbits.
URBAN FARM BIRDS. Ducks, geese, turkeys, chickens or guinea hens.
VETERINARY HOSPITAL. A place for the treatment, hospitalization, surgery, care and boarding of animals and birds, under the direction of one or more licensed veterinarians.
WILD ANIMAL. Any of the following:
a. Front-fanged venomous snakes, including the Viperidae and Elapidae families of snakes, such as rattlesnakes and cobras;
b. Snakes over eight feet in length;
c. Reptiles that have the physical ability as adults to cause substantial bodily injury, as defined in M.S. § 609.02, Subd. 7a, to humans and/or domestic animals, such as python snakes and crocodilians;
d. Animals that can transmit rabies and cannot be vaccinated against rabies;
e. Mammals that, as a breed, are considered wild by nature because of breeding, history, character, habit or disposition; and
f. Mammals that have at least 25% of their heritage from mammals specified in paragraph e. above.
g. Specifically, such animals as a wolf, fox, skunk, raccoon, mink, bobcat, deer and monkey, but not including a fish, bird, ferret, hamster or gerbil.
(Ord. 493, passed 3-12-2012; Am. Ord. 587, passed 4-11-2022)