§ 6-22. Definitions.

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

Companion animal: Any domestic or feral dog, domestic or feral cat, non-human primate, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit not raised for human food or fiber, exotic or native animal, reptile, exotic or native bird, or any feral animal or any animal under the care, custody, or ownership of a person or any animal which is bought, sold, traded, or bartered by any person. Agricultural animals, game species, or any animals regulated under federal law as research animals shall not be considered companion animals for the purposes of this chapter.

Dangerous dog: A canine or canine crossbreed that has bitten, attacked, or inflicted injury on a person or companion animal that is a dog or cat, or killed a companion animal that is a dog or cat. However, when a dog attacks or bites a companion animal that is a dog or cat, the attacking or biting dog shall not be deemed dangerous:

(1)

If no serious physical injury as determined by a licensed veterinarian has occurred to the dog or cat as a result of the attack or bite;

(2)

If both animals are owned by the same person;

(3)

If such attack occurs on the property of the attacking or biting dog's owner or custodian; or

(4)

For other good cause as determined by the court.

No dog shall be found to be a dangerous dog as a result of biting, attacking or inflicting injury on a dog or cat while engaged with an owner or custodian as part of lawful hunting or participating in an organized, lawful dog handling event.

Dog: A carnivorous domestic mammal of the family Canidae, including hybrids and crosses within this family.

Domestic: Those species of animals that normally and customarily share a human habitat or which are dependent on humans for food and shelter, including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, cattle, horses, sheep and goats.

Farm: Any parcel of land three (3) acres in size or larger, regardless of zoning, devoted to production for sale of plants or animals or to production for sale of plant or animal products useful to man.

Owner: Every person having a right of property in a dog, or who keeps or harbors a dog, or who has a dog in his care, or who acts as a custodian of a dog, or who permits a dog to remain on or about any premises occupied by him. In the case of a minor who owns, keeps, harbors or acts as custodian of a dog, the parent or parents or other lawful guardian of such minor shall be deemed to be the owner of the dog.

To run at large or running at large: A dog shall be deemed to run at large or to be running at large while off the property of its owner or custodian unless such dog is under direct physical restraint by a leash, cage or similar effective device which restrains and controls the dog or is securely confined within a motor vehicle or securely confined by a fence or other secure enclosure. If the secure enclosure is an effective, working invisible fence, then there shall be a visible, permanent sign upon the premises stating that there is an invisible fence. Exempted from this definition shall be dogs that are participating in organized obedience training, training classes, field trials or shows sponsored by recognized kennel clubs; dogs that are participating in search and rescue operations carried out in conjunction with any governmental public safety agency; dogs that are participating in pet therapy programs in hospitals, hospices, clinics, nursing homes, elderly facilities and similar institutional facilities; dogs that are being trained as service dogs by a certified service dog trainer; and dogs that are being employed by law enforcement agencies in law enforcement operations.

Vicious dog: A canine or canine crossbreed that has (1) killed a person; (2) inflicted serious injury to a person, including multiple bites, serious disfigurement, serious impairment of health, or serious impairment of a bodily function; or (3) continued to exhibit the behavior that resulted in a previous finding by a court, or on or before July 1, 2006, by an animal warden, in accordance with this article that the animal is a dangerous dog, provided that its owner has been given notice of that finding.

Wound: Any physical injury which results in a laceration, puncture wound or broken or fractured bone.

(Code 1956, Tit. XXI, Ch. 2, § 1; Ord. No. 30945, § 1, 4-6-92; Ord. No. 31168, § 1, 8-24-92; Ord. No. 34298, § 2, 6-7-99; Ord. No. 34917, § 1, 7-3-00; Ord. No. 36557, § 1, 12-1-03; Ord. No. 37437, § 1, 6-19-06; Ord. No. 40180, § 1, 3-16-15)

(Code 1956, Tit. XXI, Ch. 2, § 1; Ord. No. 30945, § 1, 4-6-92; Ord. No. 31168, § 1, 8-24-92; Ord. No. 34298, § 2, 6-7-99; Ord. No. 34917, § 1, 7-3-00; Ord. No. 36557, § 1, 12-1-03; Ord. No. 37437, § 1, 6-19-06; Ord. No. 40180, § 1, 3-16-15)