As used in this chapter, certain terms are defined as follows:
(a) “Dangerous dog” means a dog that, without provocation, has chased or approached in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack, or has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger, any person, or bites or causes physical harm to another dog, cat or other domestic animal. “Dangerous dog” does not include a police dog that has chased or approached in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack, or has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger any person while the police dog is being used to assist a law enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties.
(b) “Menacing fashion” means that a dog would cause any person being chased or approached to reasonably believe that the dog will cause physical injury to that person.
(c) “Owner” means any person owning, keeping, possessing, harboring, maintaining or having the care, custody or control of a dog or the parents or guardian of a minor owning, keeping, possessing, harboring, maintaining or having the care, custody or control of a dog.
(d) “Police dog” means a dog that has been trained, and may be used, to assist a law enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties.
(e) (1) “Vicious dog” means a dog that, without provocation, has either:
A. Killed or caused physical harm to any person; or
B. Billed a domestic animal.
(2) “Vicious dog” does not include either:
A. A police dog that has killed or cause injury or serious injury to any person while the police dog is being used to assist a law enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties;
B. A dog that has killed or caused injury or serious injury to any person while a person was committing or attempting to commit a criminal trespass or other crime of violence on the property of the owner of the dog.
(f) “Provocation” means that a dog was teased, tormented or abused by a person, or that the dog was coming to the aid of defense of a person who was not engaged in illegal activity, and whose person or property was in imminent danger of physical harm.
(Ord. 114-2006. Passed 8-22-06.)