For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED ANIMAL. The voluntary relinquishment of an animal with no intention to retain possession, including, but not limited to, vacating a premises and leaving the animal in or at the premises, failing to feed and/or water an animal, allowing an animal to stray or wander onto public or private property with the intention of surrendering ownership or custody over said animal.
ANIMAL. Any horse, mule, donkey, pony, cow, sheep, goat, hog, dog, cat, rabbit, chicken, goose, duck, turkey, or other animal or fowl.
ANIMAL SHELTER or MUNICIPAL POUND. Any premises formally designated by the Town Board of Trustees for the purpose of impounding and caring for animals held under the authority of this chapter, regardless of whether or not said premises are within or without the municipality’s corporate boundaries, and regardless of whether or not said premises are under actual municipal ownership or provided for under a contractual arrangement between the town and private sector owner(s).
AT LARGE. Not securely confined by a fence or other means on premises under the control of, or occupied by, the owner, and not under the control of the owner, a member of his, her, or their immediate family over 12 years of age, or an agent of the owner, by leash or otherwise, whether on the owner’s premises or not.
DANGEROUS DOG. Any dog that has inflicted injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property, or any dog that has previously been found to be potentially dangerous, the owner having been given notice in writing of such by an officer, and the dog thereafter bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of humans, or kills or inflicts injury upon a domestic animal.
HARBORING. Allowing any animal to habitually remain, or be fed, on premises under an owner’s control.
KENNEL. Any structure or place where more than three dogs, over six months of age, are kept, bred, or trained, at any single time, or any facility designed or built to accommodate the temporary (less than 60 days) boarding of more than three dogs over six months of age.
LIVESTOCK. All animals, other than dogs, cats, small caged birds, or small aquatic or amphibian animals.
NEUTER. To render a male dog or cat unable to reproduce.
NEW OWNER. A person legally competent to enter into a contract acquiring a dog or cat from the releasing agency.
NON-DOMESTIC ANIMAL. Any animal that is not included within the definition of ANIMAL listed above. NON-DOMESTIC ANIMALS shall include, but not be limited to, coyotes, wolves, tigers, lions, bears, elk, moose, and deer.
NUISANCE ANIMALS. Any animal that chases, frightens, or otherwise intimidates passersby of passing vehicles; or attacks other animals; or trespasses; or is repeatedly at large; or inflicts damage on the property of others, either public or private; or barks, whines, scratches, howls, or makes excessive noises in a continuous or untimely fashion.
OWNER. Any person, firm, or corporation, owning, harboring, or keeping an animal. The occupant of any premises on which a domesticated or tamed animal remains, or to which it customarily returns, for a period of ten days or more, shall be deemed to be harboring or keeping an animal.
PET. Any animal kept primarily for pleasure, rather than for sale or other commercial purposes.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG. Any dog that, unprovoked, inflicts a bite or other injury on a human, or displays behavior that requires a defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury either on public or private property; or any dog that, when unprovoked, attacks, kills, or injures animal on public or private property.
RELEASING AGENCY. Any pound (municipal or otherwise), shelter, or humane society organization, whether public or private.
RESTRAINT. An animal confined upon the premises of its owner, if on a leash and accompanied by a responsible person, or in the case of a hunting dog, if accompanied by its owner engaged in the act of hunting.
SEVERE INJURY. Any physical injury resulting in broken bones or lacerations requiring surgery or sutures.
SPAY. To remove the ovaries of a female dog or cat, in order to render said animal unable to reproduce.
STERILIZATION. To spay or neuter a dog or cat.
VICIOUS ANIMAL. An animal which has bitten, or attempted to bite, any person, without undue provocation, or which attacks or assaults any person, or which has mauled or killed a dog, cat, or other domestic animal; provided that such animal shall not be declared to be vicious or dangerous if the threat, injury, or damage was sustained by a person who, at the time, was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises occupied by the owner of the animal, or was tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the animal or has, in the past, been observed or reported to have tormented, abused, or assaulted the animal, or was committing or attempting to commit a crime. See 4 O.S. § 46(B).
VISITING OF TEMPORARY ANIMAL. Any non-resident animal remaining within the town for less than 60 days while in the custody and under the control of a resident of the town.
WILD ANIMAL. Any animal which can normally be found living in a naturally wild state and is not ordinarily tamed or domesticated. The term shall include such animals which may be owned by a circus or wild animal show or exhibition.
(Prior Code, Ch. 3, Art. 1, § 1)