§ 6-31. 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 means every living dumb creature, including but not limited to dogs, cats, warm-blooded mammals, birds, reptiles and fish.

Animal center means the Young Williams Animal Center or any other animal shelter owned by, controlled by or under contract with the county.

Animal control division means the animal control division of the county sheriff's office.

Animal control officer means any person employed by the county sheriff's office animal control division who is authorized to implement and enforce this article and applicable state statutes.

Direct control means immediate and continuous physical control of an animal (excluding herding dogs, dogs in the process of hunting, police dogs and dogs participating in organized field competition) at all times such as by means of a fence, leash, cord or chain of sufficient strength to restrain the animal.

Extreme weather conditions means those conditions that pose life-threatening health conditions to animals who are dependent upon their owners' care and protection. Extreme weather conditions shall include temperatures reported and verified by the National Weather Service below 32 degrees, temperatures above 95 degrees, or in instances when the National Weather Service issues a weather advisory for a tornado warning or severe thunderstorm warning.

Livestock means all animals of the equine, bovine or swine class and includes goats, sheep, mules, horses, hogs or cattle and domesticated poultry.

Owner means any person possessing, keeping, having charge of, sheltering, feeding, harboring or taking care of any animal or livestock covered by this article.

Person means any natural person, individual, firm, society, corporation, partnership, association, trust, estate or other legal entity. If the person is a minor as defined by statute, the minor's parent or legal guardian shall be the owner for the purposes of this article.

Quarantine means the strict confinement, isolation and observation of an animal suspected of rabies.

Running at large means any animal which is not confined to its owner's property or under direct control of the owner.

Vaccination means a rabies vaccine administrated by a licensed veterinarian and approved by the county health department or the state department of health and administered to such animal on an annual basis.

(Ord. No. O-96-5-101, § 1(2), 6-24-96; Ord. No. O-07-12-102, § 1, 1-28-08; Ord. No. O-15-4-101 , §§ 1, 2, 5-26-15)

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-2.