Certain words used in this chapter are defined as follows:
Any living creature, including but not limited to dogs, cats, cows, horses, birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, insects, fowl, and livestock, but specifically excluding human beings.
The person or persons designated to enforce this chapter.
A facility designated or recognized by the city for the purpose of impounding and caring for animals.
When an animal is off the property of the owner and not under restraint, confined within an automobile or located within ten feet of its owner and obedient to the owner’s voice commands.
Felis catus.
A dog that:
Makes an unprovoked attack on a person or another dog that causes bodily injury and that occurs in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the dog from leaving the enclosure on its own; or
Commits unprovoked acts in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the dog from leaving the enclosure on its own, and those acts cause a person to reasonably believe that the dog will attack and cause bodily injury to that person.
Within the owner’s observation and in such close proximity as to permit the owner reasonable opportunity to control the animal, should it become necessary to do so in order to protect the animal, a human or another animal from harm.
A domesticated member of the family Canidae, but shall not include a wolf, jackal, fox, or other member of this family.
Using a chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or other device to attach a dog to a stationary object.
Any domesticated or barnyard bird.
Any dog trained or used to protect persons, premises or property by attacking or threatening to attack any person found within the area patrolled by the dog.
Care of an animal, to include but not be limited to adequate heat, ventilation, sanitary shelter, wholesome food and water consistent with the normal requirements and feeding habits of the animal’s size, species and breed.
A veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in one or more of the 50 states of the United States of America.
Includes horses, mules, jacks, jennets, cattle, sheep, goats and swine or other similar animals commonly classified as livestock.
An animal that damages, soils, defiles or defecates on private property other than the owner’s, or on public walks and recreation areas, unless the waste is immediately removed and properly disposed of by the owner; causes a disturbance by noise-making; chases vehicles; or molests, attacks or interferes with persons or domestic animals on private property.
Any person, firm, or corporation having title to any animal or a person who has, harbors, or keeps, or who causes or permits to be harbored or kept, an animal in his care, who permits an animal to remain on or about his premises, or who provides food for an animal.
An individual, corporation, government or governmental subdivision, or agency, business trust, estate, partnership, association, or any other legal entity.
One that measures the circumference of a dog’s neck plus at least one inch. With respect to a harness, properly fitted means one that is of an adequate size, design, and construction as appropriate for the dog’s size and weight.
Strict confinement under restraint by closed cage or padlock or in any other manner approved by the animal control officer.
An acute viral disease of man and animal affecting the central nervous system and usually transmitted by animal bite.
An agency or department of the city or any designated representative thereof charged with administering the issuance of registration under provisions of this article.
An animal is under restraint only when:
Confined within a fenced or walled enclosure that does not permit exit by the animal acting alone;
Fastened by a lead, rope or chain that restricts movement by the animal to an area of no more than a ten-foot radius;
Under the control of a person by either a ten-foot lead/leash or at heel and obedient to spoken command; or
Enclosed without means of exit in a motor vehicle or, when on a vehicle bed, affixed and restrained by a lead that restricts the animal to the vehicle.
Not completely confined by a building, wall, or fence of sufficient strength or construction to restrain the animal, except when such animal is either on a leash or held in the hands of the owner or keeper, or under direct supervision of the owner within the limits of the owner’s private property.
A fenced area that is:
Any animal traditionally raised for entry into 4H, FFA, or similar programs.
Any animal running free with no physical restraint beyond the premises of the owner and/or keeper.
With respect to an attack or attempt to attack by a dog, the dog was not hit, kicked, or struck by a person with any object or part of the attacked person’s body nor was any part of the dog’s body pulled, pinched, or squeezed or in any other manner provoked by the person attacked.
Any animal that shall bite, scratch or otherwise attack any person or other animal (of any type) without provocation, while the person so attacked was not trespassing on the property of the owner or person having custody or control of the animal and was not engaged in an assault upon either the owner or person having custody or control of the animal or upon any member of the immediate family of the owner, or any animal found to demonstrate fierce propensities in relation to persons, property or animals.
Any individual animal of any species that has on two previous occasions without provocation attacked or bitten any person or other animal, or any individual animal which the animal control officer has reason to believe has a dangerous disposition, or any species of animal which the animal control officer has reason to believe has a dangerous disposition likely to be harmful to humans or other animals; and shall include a dangerous dog that:
Makes an unprovoked attack on a person that causes bodily injury and occurs in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept and was reasonably certain to prevent the dog from leaving the enclosure on its own; or
Commits unprovoked acts in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept and was reasonably certain to prevent the dog from leaving the enclosure on its own and those acts cause a person to reasonably believe that the dog will attack and cause bodily injury to that person.
Any poisonous or dangerous reptile, or any other animal which can normally be found in the wild state not normally capable of being domesticated, including but not limited to skunks, foxes, leopards, panthers, tigers, lions, and lynx, unless certified for medical, biological, herpetological, or other scientific research or study.
(Ordinance 612 adopted 11/9/10; Ordinance 627, sec. I, adopted 2/12/13)