§ 14-1. 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 an employee of the police department of the city whose duties specifically include enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.

Dangerous dog means any dog which, according to the records of an appropriate authority:

(1)

Inflicts a severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property; or

(2)

Aggressively bites, attacks or endangers the safety of humans without provocation after the dog has been classified as a potentially dangerous dog after the owner has been notified of such classification.

Dog control officer means the chief of police of the city and such employees of the animal control division of the police department acting under his supervision and control.

Owner means any person owning, possessing, harboring, keeping or having custody or control of a dog or cat within the territorial boundaries of the city.

Potentially dangerous dog means any dog which has, without provocation, bitten a human being on public or private property.

Proper enclosure means an enclosure for keeping a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog, while on the owner's property, securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen, fence or structure suitable to prevent the entry of young children and designed to prevent the dog from escaping. Any such pen or structure shall have secure sides and a secure top, and, if the dog is enclosed within a fence, all sides of the fence shall be of sufficient height and the bottom of the fence shall be constructed or secured in such a manner as to prevent the dog's escape either from over or from under the fence. Any such enclosure shall also provide protection from the elements for the dog.

Rabies control officer means an employee of the county board of health whose specific duties include enforcement of the rabies control rules and regulations of the city.

Records of an appropriate authority means records of any state, county or municipal law enforcement agency; records of any county or municipal animal control agency; records of any county board of health; records of any federal, state or local court; or records maintained by the dog control officer pursuant to this chapter.

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

(Ord. of 10-14-97, art. II, div. 1)

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-2.