§ 5-22. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.

Animal shall be held to include every living dumb creature.

Animal control agency means the county or municipal government or an authorized agent.

Animal control officer means person(s) designated as a law enforcement officer by the state, a county or municipal government, or a humane society organized under the laws of the state, and who is qualified to perform such duties pursuant to the laws of the state.

Animal shelter means that public or private non-profit facility operated by an animal control agency or a humane society for the purpose of impounding or caring for animals held under the authority of this article or state statute.

Bad dog or bad cat means any dog or cat which has bitten or attempted to bite or attack a human or another animal without provocation.

Citation means a written notice issued to a person by an officer with probable cause to believe that the person has committed a civil infraction in violation of this article.

Cruelty means any act of neglect, torture or torment that causes unjustifiable pain or suffering of an animal.

Custodian means any person or agent designated by the owner of an animal to provide care, shelter, protection, refuge or food and otherwise control the animal's actions.

Direct control means the immediate, continuous physical control of a dog or cat by means of a leash or other tether of sufficient strength to restrain the dog or cat; or, in the case of hunting dogs and specifically trained dogs which immediately respond to verbal or other aural commands, direct control shall include verbal or aural control, if the controlling person is at all times clearly and fully within unobstructed sight and hearing of the dog.

Farm animal means cattle, swine, horses, mules, poultry, ostriches, goats and sheep.

Harbor means to perform any of the acts of providing care, shelter, or food in such a manner as to control the animal's actions; or to reasonably show that the animal returns regularly to a person's home or premises for shelter and/or food. An animal shall be deemed to be harbored if it is fed or sheltered for ten consecutive days or more.

Owner means any natural person, firm, association or corporation who owns, keeps, harbors or controls an animal, and the knowledge and acts of agents and employees of corporations in regard to animals transported, owned, employed by or in the custody of a corporation shall be held to be the knowledge and acts of such corporation.

Potential rabies carrier means any wild animal commonly recognized to be a carrier of rabies, including but not limited to, raccoons, foxes, bobcats, skunks, and bats.

Spay or neuter means to surgically render a cat or dog permanently and completely incapable of breeding or reproduction.

(Ord. No. 92-25, § 2, 11-3-92; Ord. No. 93-51, § 1, 11-30-93)