§ 8-20-1. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

Animal includes any dog or animal of the canine family.

Competent person means any person 18 years of age or older, who is able to comprehend and understand the nature of his or her responsibility, and has sufficient ability, mentally and physically, to handle any particular animal he or she may take charge of, or have in his or her control.

Dangerous/vicious animal means any dog, or animal of the canine family, that according to records of the appropriate authority has:

1.

Aggressively bitten, attacked, or has otherwise inflicted injury on a human being on public or private property;

2.

Severely injured or killed a human being;

3.

Been used primarily, or in part, for the purpose of dog fighting or any other aggressive activity;

4.

Aggressively and unprovoked, while off its owner's property, attacked another domestic animal causing serious injury or death;

5.

Bitten once and been found at large twice.

Dog means any animal of the canine family.

Guard dog means any dog trained or used to protect persons or property by attacking or threatening to attack any person found within the area patrolled by the dog.

Keeper means any person, corporation, or other legal entity possessing or having custody or control of an animal.

Owner means:

1.

Any person, partnership or corporation owning an animal;

2.

Any person in charge of maintaining an animal;

3.

Any person who feeds, shelters or harbors an animal or permits it to remain on such person's property; or

4.

If the animal is owned by a person under the age of 18, that person's parent or guardian.

Severe injury means any physical injury that results in broken bones, multiple punctures, or disfiguring lacerations, requiring sutures or cosmetic surgery.

Sporting kennels means a facility which offers no services for profit, which maintains animals solely for the owners' sporting or hobby purposes, and which sells offspring and adult animals only on an occasional basis. The term "occasional basis" means animal sales of a frequency of no greater than one litter per fertile female per year.

Trained attack dog means an animal trained by authorized and specialized personnel for specific purposes.

Unprovoked attack means an attack in which an animal without provocation attacks or bites a human being who has been conducting himself or herself peacefully and lawfully and has not teased, threatened or otherwise provoked the attacking animal.

(Code 1985, § 5-64; Ord. No. 4954, § 1, 8-6-2002; Ord. No. 5214, § 14, 9-7-2007; Ord. No. 5379, § 1, 9-28-2010)