As used in this title, the following terms are defined:
“Abandon” means to completely forsake and desert an animal previously under the custody or possession of a person, without making reasonable arrangements to provide for its proper care, sustenance, shelter and medical care or fails to lawfully surrender the animal after made aware of its impoundment.
“Aggressive” means showing a readiness or having a tendency to attack or to do harm to a human being or animal.
“Altered” for a female, means having been spayed; for a male means having been neutered.
“Animal” means any living vertebrate member of the animal kingdom, excluding man.
“Animal control officer” means any person designated by the state of California, city, or Tulare County as a law enforcement officer who is qualified to perform such duties under the laws of this state.
“Animal shelter” means any facility operated by a humane society, or municipal agency, or its authorized agents for the purpose of impounding or caring for animals held under the authority of this title or state law.
“Animal Services” shall mean the Animal Services Division of the City of Visalia or that entity assigned by contract to serve as such division and provide the animal control officers for the city.
“At large” means off the premises of the person owning or having the possession, charge, custody, or control of the animal and not under the immediate control of a person by means of an enclosure, leash, rope, or other means of immediate effective physical control.
“Auction” means any place or facility where animals are regularly bought, sold or traded, except for those facilities otherwise defined in this title. This section does not apply to individual sales of animals by owners.
“Breeder” means any person, persons or business who breeds one or more litters of dogs and/or cats in one year for sale or profit.
“Business day” means Monday through Friday, excluding holidays recognized by the City of Visalia by the closure of City administrative offices.
“Cat” means any member of the feline family, wild and domesticated, and shall be intended to mean both male and female.
“Circus” means a commercial variety show featuring animal acts for public entertainment.
“Commercial animal establishment” means any pet shop, grooming shop, auction, riding school or stable, zoological park, circus, performing animal exhibit, or boarding kennel.
“Dangerous/vicious animal” means any animal, which has been determined by the animal control officer after an investigation to have attacked, bitten, or caused an injury in an aggressive manner or caused an injury to a person or injured an animal while at large.
“Dog” means any member of the canine family, wild or domesticated, and shall be intended to mean both male and female.
“Domestic animals” means animals such as are habituated to live in or about the habitations of persons or such as to contribute to the support of a family or the wealth of the community.
“Exotic animal” means any animal, either wild or domesticated belonging by nature or origin to another part of the world.
“Fowl” means any chicken, duck, goose, turkey, guinea, pigeon, swan, peacock or other fowl.
“Hearing officer” means any person appointed by the City Manager to preside over the administrative hearing described in Chapter 6.16 for dangerous/vicious animals.
“Impoundment” means the taking up and confinement of any animal in an animal shelter, veterinary hospital, or other facility.
“Kennel” means any premises, wherein any person keeps five or more dogs and/or cats over four months of age except pet shops for noncommercial purposes.
“Litter” means two or more offspring from the same female dog or cat.
“Livestock” means any large animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, mules, goats, and other domestic animals raised typically raised for agricultural uses.
“Owner” means any person, partnership, firm or corporation owning, keeping or harboring one or more animals. An animal shall be deemed to be harbored if it is fed or sheltered for three consecutive days or more.
“Performing animal exhibition” means any spectacle, display, act, or event other than circuses, in which performing animals are used.
“Person” means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, joint venture or entity.
“Pet” means any animal kept for pleasure rather than utility.
“Pet shop” means any person, partnership, firm or corporation whether operated separately or in connection with another business enterprise except for licensed kennels, that buy, sell, or board any species of animal.
“Poundmaster” means the party appointed by the city council pursuant to § 6.04.020. That person may be the party with whom the city has contracted for the performance of pound services or a designated division of city personnel.
“Premises” means a house, other dwelling, a yard or other area or an automobile so enclosed as to prevent a dog from escaping.
“Private property” means that property of which a person or persons has the exclusive right of disposition.
“Public nuisance” means any animal or animals which:
1. Molests passersby or chases passing vehicles;
2. Attacks other animals;
3. Trespasses on school grounds;
4. Is repeatedly at large;
5. Damages private or public property;
6. Barks, whines, or howls in an excessive or untimely fashion.
“Public place” means any park, public building, playground, street, road, alleyway, or any other place open to general public.
“Restraint” means a leash not in excess of eight feet, a tethered lead, or a fenced enclosure which keeps the animal under the control of a responsible person or within the real property limits of its owner.
“Service Animal” means any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.
“Veterinary hospital” means any establishment maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian for surgery, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of animals.
“Wild animal” means any nondomesticated animal living in a feral state.
(Ord. 2019-09 § 2, 2019; prior code § 4580)