For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADMINISTRATOR.
A veterinarian licensed by the State of Illinois and appointed pursuant to the Illinois Animal Control Act, or in the event a veterinarian cannot be found and appointed pursuant to the Act, a non-veterinarian may serve as Administrator. In the event the Administrator is not a veterinarian, the Administrator shall defer to the veterinarian regarding all medical decisions.
ANIMAL. Any living creature, domestic or wild, excluding man or woman.
AUTHORIZED PERSON. The Police Department, Animal Control Officer, Health Officer, or any person under their supervision.
BITE. Seizure of a person with the jaws or teeth of any cat, dog or other animal capable of transmitting rabies so that the person so seized has been wounded or pierced and further includes contact of the saliva of such cat, dog or other animal with any break or abrasion of the skin.
CAT. All members of the species felis catus.
DANGEROUS ANIMAL. Any animal which bites any human being or other domestic animal or which demonstrates menacing behavior toward human beings or domestic animals, except that an animal shall not be deemed vicious if it bites, attacks, or menaces a trespasser on the property of it's owner or harms or menaces anyone who has tormented or abused it.
DANGEROUS DOG.
Any individual dog when unmuzzled, unleashed, or unattended by its owner or custodian that behaves in a manner that a reasonable person would believe poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical injury or death to a person or a companion animal in a public place.
DOG. All members of the species Canis Familiaris.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL. Any animal which has been domesticated by man as to live and breed in a tame condition.
FOWL. Chickens, ducks, geese, guinea hens, pigeons, or other similar fowl.
GUARD DOG. A dog used in a commercial business or by a municipal or police department for the purpose of patrol and protection.
GUIDE DOG. A dog trained by a recognized organization to lead the legally blind or the deaf.
HOSPITAL. Any establishment under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian where animals are taken for treatment of disease, boarding, surgery, shots, treatment of injury, baths, grooming, haircuts, pedicure, or training, or cremations.
KENNEL. Any establishment or premises where more than four dogs over four months of age are boarded or kept for any purpose whatsoever, or on which more than two such animals are boarded for compensation or kept for sale, with the exception of regularly established veterinary hospitals, pet shops, pounds, or shelters.
OTHER ANIMALS. Any male or female, domesticated or wild, animals other than dogs or cats which may be affected by rabies.
OWNER. Any person having the right of property in an animal, who keeps or harbors an animal, who has it in his or her care, acts as its custodian or who knowingly permits an animal to remain on or about any premises occupied by him or her unless possession is prohibited by federal or state laws. Native wildlife remaining on or about any premise shall not be included in this definition.
PERSON. Any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, society, association or other legal entity, any public or private institution, municipal corporation, unit of local government or any other business unit.
PET SHOP. Any room or group of rooms, cage or pen, not part of a kennel, pound, shelter, or veterinary hospital wherein dogs, cats, or other animals are kept or displayed for sale.
POUND. Any facility approved by the Village President for the purpose of enforcing the ordinance and used as a shelter for seized, stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted animals.
POUNDKEEPER. Any officer of the Police Department of the Village of South Elgin.
SHELTER. Any establishment where dogs, cats or other animals are received, housed and distributed with or without charge.
STRAY ANIMAL. Those animals which are running at large in the public way or on private property other than that of the owners or keeper of such animals.
VACCINATION AGAINST RABIES. Injection of a rabies vaccine approved by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and administered by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with the company's recommendations for the vaccine used.
VICIOUS. The propensity to do any act that might endanger the safety of any person or property of another, including but not limited to a disposition to mischief or fierceness as might lead to attack on human beings, other animals or public or private property without provocation, whether in play, anger or outbreak of untrained nature.
VICIOUS DOG.
A dog that, without justification, attacks a person and causes serious physical injury or death, or any individual dog that has been found to be a "dangerous dog" upon three separate occasions.
VILLAGE PRESIDENT. The Village President of the Village of South Elgin or his or her authorized representative.
VOICE CONTROL. The immediate recall of a dog at the sound of the voice of the owner.
('81 Code, § 6-1.02) (Ord. 1982-14, passed 7-19-82; Am. Ord. 2003-92, passed 11-17-03)