§ 6-1. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Animal control officer means the officer appointed by the town council to enforce the provisions of this chapter or his designee. The animal control officer may be a town employee, a county employee, a contract employee, or any other law enforcement or other person approved by and appointed as such by the council.
Cat means any live or dead cat (felis catus).
Currently vaccinated means vaccinated and satisfying the following criteria: the animal must have been at least three (3) months of age at the time of vaccination, at least thirty (30) days have elapsed since the initial vaccination, and not more than twelve (12) months have elapsed since the most recent vaccination.
Dangerous animal means any animal that bites, scratches or attacks any other animal or human being within the town limits without provocation.
Dog means any live or dead dog (canis familiaris).
Domestic animal includes all species of animals commonly and universally accepted as being domesticated.
Harboring means the act of keeping and caring for an animal or of providing a premises to which the animal returns for food, shelter or care for a period of ten (10) days.
Local health authority means a person designated by the town to receive reports of animal bites, investigate bite reports, ensure quarantine of possible rabid animals and otherwise carry out provisions of the state law pertaining to control and eradication of rabies.
Neutered male means any male dog or cat which has been operated upon to prevent conception.
Owner means any person, firm or corporation who has right of property in an animal or who harbors an animal or allows an animal to remain about his premises for a period of ten (10) days.
Pet animal includes dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, birds, reptiles, and any other species of animal which is sold or retained as a household pet, but shall not include skunks, nonhuman primates and any other species of wild, exotic or carnivorous animal that may be further restricted in this chapter.
Public nuisance means an animal, which molests passersby or passing vehicles, damages private or public property; attacks other animals; barks, whines, howls or makes other annoying noises in an excessive, continuous or unreasonable fashion or at unreasonable hours; or is dangerous.
Running at large means 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. An animal within an automobile or other vehicle of its owner shall not be deemed "running at large."
Spayed female means any female dog or cat which has been operated upon to prevent conception.
Stray animal means any animal for which there is no identifiable owner or harborer.
Vaccinated means properly injected with a rabies vaccine licensed for use in that species by the federal department of agriculture and administered by a veterinarian licensed by this state.
Vicious animal means any individual animal or any species that has on two (2) previous occasions without provocation attacked or bitten any person or other animal, or any individual animal which the local health authority has reason to believe has a dangerous disposition, or any species of animal which the local health authority has reason to believe has a dangerous disposition likely to be harmful to humans or other animals.
Wild animal includes all species of animals which commonly exist in a natural unconfined state and are usually not domesticated. This shall apply regardless of state or duration of captivity.
(Ord. No. 105, § 1, 8-18-1987; Ord. No. 129, § 1, 7-25-1992; Ord. No. 143, § 1, 8-21-1987; Ord. No. 160, § 1, 7-6-1998; Ord. No. 204, § 1(ch. III, § 1), 11-16-2004)