For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates, or requires, a different meaning.
ANIMAL. Any and all types of livestock, including all those animals for food production, dogs and cats, and all other subhuman creatures, both domestic and wild, male and female, singular and plural.
ANIMAL BOARDING ESTABLISHMENT. Any establishment that takes in animals and boards them. This definition in inclusive of a kennel, cattery, or related establishment where three or more dogs or cats are boarded, breed, bought, sold, adopted, or donated.
ANIMAL CONTROL. The entity and officers providing animal control services to the municipality, by contract or otherwise.
ANIMAL GROOMING ESTABLISHMENT. Any establishment maintained for the purpose of offering cosmetology services for animals.
ANIMAL KEEPING. The keeping of, and caring for, animals.
ANIMAL SHELTER OR SHELTER. Any facility owned and operated by a governmental entity, or an animal welfare organization duly-organized under state law, for the purpose of preventing cruelty to animals and used for the care and custody of seized, homeless, quarantined, abandoned, stray, or unwanted dogs, cats, or other domestic animals.
ANIMALS AT-LARGE. An animal shall be considered to be AT-LARGE when said animal is off the owner’s property and not under immediate control by means of a durable restraint device capable of keeping the animal restrained; or an animal that is on the property of the owner and not securely confined by a leash, building, fenced area, or appropriate transport device.
ANIMALS FOR FAMILY FOOD PRODUCTION. Any domesticated animal commonly kept for utility or food production rather than pleasure, and includes, but is not limited to: cattle, sheep, goats, mules, burros, horses, chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, llamas, swine, bees, or similar animals.
BITE. Any actual puncture, tear, or abrasion of the skin inflicted by the teeth of an animal.
CAT. Any age feline of the domestic type.
CITY or MUNICIPALITY. The municipal corporate limits of the city.
COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM. A feral cat program established in accordance with UCA §§ 11-46-301 et seq. The same definition, as set forth in UCA § 11-46-302, is adopted and incorporated herein.
CORRAL. A fenced enclosure used for the close confinement of large animals, with hay or grain feeding in contrast to pasture feeding.
DANGEROUS ANIMAL. Any animal that, according to the records of Animal Control or another law enforcement/animal control agency:
(1) Has inflicted a serious bite or injury on a human being, with or without provocation, on public or private property;
(2) Has killed a domestic animal, with or without provocation, while off the owner’s property;
(3) Has previously been found to be potentially dangerous, as provided herein, and subsequently aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of a human or domestic animal; or
(4) Has been found to be in violation of any of the restrictions placed upon the animal by Animal Control after said animal is determined to be potentially dangerous.
DIRECTOR. The person or persons with supervisory authority over the day-to-day affairs of Animal Control.
DOG. Any Canis familiaris over four months of age. Any Canis familiaris under the age of four months is a PUPPY.
DOMESTICATED ANIMAL. Any animals accustomed to living in, or about, the habitations of humans that are kept for utility or pleasure, including, but not limited to, cats, dogs, and animals for family food production.
ENCLOSURE. As it relates to dogs, means a fence or structure of at least six feet in height, forming or causing an enclosure suitable to confine a vicious dog in conjunction with other measures which may be taken by the owner or keeper, such as tethering the vicious dog.
EXOTIC PET. A rare or unusual non-protected animal species that is classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and under state law, as approved for keeping as a pet, unless otherwise restricted by this chapter. Permitted EXOTIC PETS only include those species commercially available at typical retail pet shops in the area, and may include, but not limited to: non-venomous snakes, non-poisonous small reptiles, non-poisonous amphibians, tortoises, ferrets, exotic birds, sugar gliders, degus, hedgehogs, domesticated silver foxes, and non-poisonous insects. EXOTIC PETS do not include any types of pigs, including potbelly pigs or miniature pigs.
FACILITY MANAGER. The Director, or another manager, of the animal shelter or impound facility used, or contracted by, the city.
FERAL CATS. Cats that exist in a wild state and are determined not to have an owner, and have reverted to a wild state.
GOVERNMENT WORKING DOG. A dog trained to assist government officials in public safety or law enforcement.
GUARD DOG. A working dog which must be kept in a fenced run or other suitable enclosure during business hours, and on a leash, or under absolute control, while working so that it cannot come into contact with the public.
HOLDING FACILITY. Animal impound, animal shelter, humane establishment, or any other similar facility used for holding animals.
IMPOUNDED ANIMAL. Any animal taken into custody by the Division, another governmental entity, or a facility.
LEASH OR LEAD. Any chain, rope, or device used to restrain an animal.
LICENSED DOG. A dog wearing its current dog license tag obtained from the animal services provider designated by the city.
LIVESTOCK. As defined by state law, and includes the typical domesticated animals for family food production.
NEUTERED ANIMAL. An animal having had the testicles removed or castrated.
OFFICER. An Animal Control Officer, governmental official, law enforcement officer, or other individual authorized to enforce, or act, within the scope of this chapter.
OWNER. Any person who is either the legal owner, keeper, possessor, or the actual custodian of an animal. Ownership is established by a person registering as owner on a license or other legal document, or being a person claiming ownership and taking, or having, possession of an animal.
PASTURE. A fenced area enclosure for animals in which the grass product available on the site is the primary source of feed, and in which livestock are kept in a loosely-controlled environment as opposed to being kept in a pen, corral, or stable.
PEN. An enclosed area typically having less than 500 square feet and intended for occupancy by one to two animals.
PET. A domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility, including, but not limited to: birds, cats, dogs, tropical-type fish, rabbits, hamsters, mice, and similar animals.
PET SHOPS. A retail business containing cages or exhibition pens, where dogs, cats, birds, or other pets for sale are kept or displayed. A PET SHOP is not classified as an animal boarding establishment, kennel, or cattery for the purposes of this chapter.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ANIMAL. Any animal that, with or without provocation, chases or approaches a person upon the streets, sidewalk, or any public grounds in a threatening or menacing fashion, or apparent attitude of attack, or any animal with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack with or without provocation. In addition, a POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ANIMAL is any animal that, because of witnessed and documented action, is believed capable of causing injury, or otherwise posing a threat, to the safety of humans or domestic animals.
QUARANTINE. The isolation of an animal under the observation of a licensed veterinarian, or in the custody of the animal shelter in a substantial enclosure, so that the animal is not subject to contact with other animals or unauthorized persons.
RESIDENCE. Any legally recognized dwelling, such as a home, apartment, or condominium.
RESTRAINT DEVICE. Any chain, leash, cord, rope, or other device commonly used to restrain an animal.
RIDING SCHOOL OR STABLE. An establishment which offers boarding and/or riding instruction of any horse, pony, donkey, mule, or burro, or which offers such animals for hire.
SERVICE ANIMAL. An animal that is legitimately certified, trained, or being trained to assist physically challenged persons such as hearing-impaired guide dogs, mobility-limited assisting animals, or seeing-eye dogs.
SPAYED. Having had the ovaries and uterus removed or extirpated (ovariohysterectomy).
STABLE. A detached accessory building for the keeping of animals belonging to, or used by, the property owner or lessee, and not for rent or for the stabling of the same for profit.
STRAY. Any animal running at large whose owner cannot be found after a reasonable search, and is governed by UCA § 11-46-103. For livestock, STRAY (or estray) is more specifically defined as set forth in UCA § 4-25-10, as amended.
THERAPY PET. A therapeutic pet subject to a reasonable accommodation under federal or state law relating to persons with a disability as part of mental or physical health care under the direction of a legitimate mental or physical health care provider, or as otherwise accommodated by, or being trained for use in, a care facility, hospital, hospice, or like facility.
VACCINATED DOG. A dog inoculated with an approved, currently valid, anti-rabies vaccine, and wearing a current dog license tag indicating proof of such vaccination.
VICIOUS ANIMAL. A dangerous animal, or potentially dangerous animal, that presents a continued threat to the safety of a person, property, or another animal.
WILD ANIMAL. Any animal which is not commonly domesticated, listed as protected by federal or state law, or which may be perceived as wild or predatory in nature, or any animal which, because of its size, growth propensity, vicious nature, or other characteristics, would constitute an unreasonable danger to human life or property if not kept, maintained, or confined in a safe and secure manner. Such animals include, but are not limited to:
(1) Alligators, crocodiles, and caimans;
(2) Bears (Ursidae);
(3) Cat family (Felidae), except commonly accepted domesticated cats, includes cheetahs, cougars, leopards, lions, lynx, panthers, mountain lions, tigers, wild cats, and similar animals;
(4) Dog family (Canidae), except all domesticated dogs; includes wolves, part wolves, foxes, part foxes, coyotes, part coyotes, dingos, and similar animals;
(5) Porcupine (Erethizontidae);
(6) Primates (non-human); includes all subhuman primates;
(7) Raccoons (Prosynnidae); all raccoons, including eastern raccoons, desert raccoon ring-tailed cat, and similar animals;
(8) Skunks;
(9) Venomous fish and piranha;
(10) Venomous snakes and lizards; and
(11) Weasels (Mustelidae); all including weasels, martens, wolverines, badgers, otters, ermine, mink, mongoose, and similar animals. This category does not include ferrets commercially available at typical retail pet shops in the area.
WILD UNPROTECTED ANIMALS. A wild animal that is classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as an agriculture nuisance animal, such as raccoons and skunks.
(Prior Code § 9.02.020) (Ord. 04-2013, passed 3-6-2013; Ord. 39-2019, passed 12-18-2019)