§ 90.01 DEFINITIONS.
    For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
   ACT. The Animal Control Act, 510 ILCS 5/1 through 5/27, as amended.
   ADMINISTRATOR. A veterinarian licensed by the State of Illinois and appointed pursuant to this Act, or in the event a veterinarian cannot be found and appointed pursuant to this Act, a non-veterinarian may serve as Administrator under this Act. In the event the Administrator is not a veterinarian, the administrator shall defer to the veterinarian regarding all medical decisions.
   ANIMAL. Every non-human species of animal, both domestic and wild.
   ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY. Any facility approved by the Administrator for the purpose of enforcing the Act and used as a shelter for seized, stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted dogs or other animals.
   ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. Persons appointed by the Administrator in such number as authorized by the County Board to perform duties assigned by the Administrator set forth in this chapter.
   ANIMAL SHELTER MANAGER. Manager or Director of the animal shelter, animal control, and rabies control.
   AT LARGE. Any animal when it is off the premises of its owner's real property and not restrained by a competent person. However, if an animal under the control of a city/county official or veterinarian escapes and runs loose, it shall not be considered AT LARGE.
   BITE or BITING. The infliction of a break in the skin or a wound by the teeth of an animal.
   CAT. All domestic members of the feline family felis catus.
   COMPETENT PERSON. A person 11 years of age or older, capable of physically controlling the animal in question and to whose command the animal is obedient.
   CONFINE. Physical restraint of an animal by a fence, structure, chain, rope, or other means of a sufficient strength or construction to restrain the animal in question.
   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 imminent threat of serious physical injury or death to a person or a companion animal.
   DEPARTMENT. The Department of Agriculture of the state.
   DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR. A veterinarian licensed by the State of Illinois, appointed by the Administrator.
   DIRECTOR. The Director of the Department of Agriculture of the state, or his duly appointed representative.
   DOG. All domestic members of the canine family canis familiaris.
   DOMESTIC ANIMAL. The following are considered to be DOMESTIC ANIMALS:
      (1)   Dogs (not including hybrids of dogs);
      (2)   Cats (not including hybrids of cats);
      (3)   Domestic rodents (guinea pigs, hamsters, white rats, white mice);
      (4)   Farm animals (any member of the swine, ovine, caprine, bovine, or equine families, poultry or rabbits);
      (5)   Non-life-threatening, non-poisonous reptiles or amphibians;
      (6)   Non-poisonous, non-life-threatening fish;
      (7)   All birds, except those protected as wild birds by state or federal statutes; and
      (8)   Ferrets.
   DWELLING UNIT. A single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.
   ENCLOSURE. A fence or structure of at least six feet in height, forming or causing an enclosure suitable to prevent the entry of young children, and suitable to confine a vicious dog in conjunction with other measures which may be taken by the owner or keeper, such as tethering of a vicious dog within the enclosure. Such enclosure shall be securely enclosed and locked and designed with secure sides, top and bottom and shall be designed to prevent the animal from escaping from the enclosure. Such enclosure must be approved by the Administrator.
   EXOTIC ANIMAL. Any non-domestic animal not native to the state.
   HAS BEEN BITTEN. Has been seized with the teeth or jaws so that the person or animal seized has been nipped, gripped, wounded, or pierced. The phrase further includes contact of saliva with any break or abrasion of the skin.
   HEARING OFFICER. An individual designated by the county to hear and decide complaints concerning the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.
   INOCULATIONS AGAINST RABIES. The injection of an anti-rabies vaccine approved by the Department.
   KITTENS. All members of the family felis catus domesticus, male or female, under the age of four months.
   LEASH. A cord, rope, strap, or chain which shall be securely fastened to the collar or harness of a dog or other animal and shall be of sufficient strength to keep such dog or other animal under control.
   LICENSED VETERINARIAN. A veterinarian licensed by the state in which he engages in the practice of veterinary medicine.
   MANAGER. The person appointed by the County Board to manage the county animal shelter.
   OWNER. Any person 17 years of age or older; or parent or guardian of any person under the age of 17 years; or parent or guardian of an incapacitated person having a right of property in an animal; or who acts as custodian, cares for, keeps, feeds or knowingly permits an animal to remain on or about any premises occupied by such person; or a person who registers an inoculation certificate for an animal with the county.
   PEACE OFFICER. Shall have the meaning ascribed to it in 720 ILCS 5/2-13.
   PERSON. Any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, society, association, or other legal entity, any public or private institution, the State of Illinois, municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state, or any other business unit.
   PHYSICAL INJURY. The impairment of physical condition.
   POLICE ANIMAL. An animal owned or used by a law enforcement department or agency in the course of the department or agency's work.
   POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG. A dog that is unsupervised and found running at large with three or more other dogs.
   POULTRY. Domesticated birds raised for show, eggs, or meat.
   PUPPY. All members of the canine family canis familiaris, whether male or female, under four months of age.
   REDEMPTION FEE. Costs incurred when impounding an animal, which include the handling and processing of the animal's entry and exit into the animal shelter. This fee shall not include boarding, medical or transportation costs incurred by the shelter in keeping such animal.
   REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE. A printed form prescribed by the department for the purpose of recording pertinent information as required by the department under this Act.
   RESTRAINT. Any animal that is not found on the property of its owner when it is:
      (1)   Controlled by a line or leash not more than six feet in length, when such line or leash is held by a competent person;
      (2)   Controlled by a leash of 50 feet or less during a training session conducted by a competent person;
      (3)   Confined within a motor vehicle; or
      (4)   Confined in a cage or other animal carrier.
   SECURE ENCLOSURE. A structure of sufficient height and construction that does not allow contact between the animal confined and other animals or persons.
   SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY. A physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes death, serious or protracted disfigurement, protracted impairment of health, impairment of the function of any bodily organ, or plastic surgery.
   STERILIZED. The surgical spay of a female animal or castration of a male animal, so as to render such animal incapable of producing.
   TAG. A serially numbered medallion approved by the department to be issued, at a fee set by the County Board, as evidence of inoculation against rabies. Also required for animals exempt by a veterinarian for being vaccinated against rabies.
   TETHERING. To restrain a dog by tying the dog to any object or structure, including, without limitation, a house, tree, fence, post, garage, shed, or clothes line by any means, including, without limitation, a chain, rope, cord, leash or running line. TETHERING shall not include using a leash to walk a dog.
   TOW CHAIN or LOG CHAIN. Any chain that is more than one-quarter of an inch in width.
   VICIOUS DOG. A dog that bites a person, attacks a person, or causes physical injury, serious physical injury, or death; or any individual dog that has been found to be a "dangerous dog" upon three separate occasions; or any individual dog that has killed a companion animal while off the premises of its owner.
   WILD ANIMAL. Any living member of the animal kingdom (including exotic animals) for which no rabies vaccine is approved, other than a domestic animal.
(Ord. E-19-97, passed 5-29-2019)