(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMAL. Any living vertebrate, domestic or wild, excluding humans.
DANGEROUS ANIMAL. Any animal whose owner or keeper knows, or reasonably should know, has a propensity to attack a person by biting or in any manner causing injury or the reasonable likelihood of injury; or, one which has a propensity to habitually or repeatedly attack livestock or other domestic animals; however, these provisions shall not apply to any animal which bites, attacks or attempts to attack any person or animal unlawfully present upon the premises, or which is provoked to attack.
OWN. The status of holding a license for or legal title to an animal, or feeding, having charge of, harboring, sheltering or taking care of any animal for three or more consecutive days.
WILD ANIMAL. Any animal which can normally be found in a wild state; those feral, exotic, dangerous or nondomestic animals which generally do not live in or about the habitation of humans, including but not limited to lions, tigers, leopards, wildcats, bears, deer, snakes and the like.
(B) Owning, keeping and the like, prohibited; right of appeal.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, possess or in any way maintain a wild or dangerous animal within the corporate limits of the town. After a determination by the Animal Warden, or his or her designated agent, that a particular animal is wild or dangerous, the owner or keeper of such animal shall have it humanely destroyed, or shall otherwise remove it from within the corporate limits of the town.
(2) Any person who owns or keeps an animal which has been declared wild or dangerous shall have the right to appeal this decision to the Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners, or its representative, shall conduct an informal hearing to determine whether the animal is wild or vicious. If the animal is judged not to be wild or dangerous, it shall be returned to the owner.
(Ord. passed 6-27-2006) Penalty, see § 90.99