Ceres Municipal Code Ch. 01 Definitions

For the purpose of this chapter, and except where otherwise expressly defined in another section of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings provided in this section. Where words and phrases are not expressly defined under this chapter, they shall have the meaning set forth in that respective state code or be construed as their ordinary meaning within the context which they are used.

Abuse or abused animal means an animal which is:

A. Mistreated, beaten, tormented or teased;

B. Deprived of water, food or shelter;

C. Kept under unsanitary conditions;

D. Abandoned; or

E. Trained for fighting other animals or trained to attack or fight human beings.

Animal control officer means any person or entity designated under this title as the Animal Control Officer for the City, including, but not limited to, any police officer, Stanislaus Animal Services Agency (SASA), County employee, or City employee designated to enforce the animal control regulations of this chapter.

Cat means any member of the subspecies Felis silvestris catus customarily confined or cultivated as a domestic pet.

Chicken means Gallus gallus domesticus. This definition does not include other fowl, such as, but not limited to, peacocks, turkeys, or waterfowl.

Dangerous animal means any of the following:

A. Any animal seized under Penal Code section 599aa and upon the sustaining of a conviction of the owner under Penal Code section 597.5(a).

B. Any animal which, when unprovoked, inflicts injury on or kills a human being.

C. Any animal which, when unprovoked, engages in an aggressive conduct requiring defensive action by any person to avoid bodily injury.

D. Any animal which has killed or injured a domestic animal.

"Dangerous animal" does not mean any animal in a situation in which it is shown that the person or domestic animal suffering the injury or damage had, at the time of the injury or damage:

A. Provoked, tormented, teased, abused or assaulted the animal into the behavior alleged;

B. Committed a willful trespass or other tort upon the private property of the owner of the animal;

C. Committed or attempted to commit a crime; or

D. Threatened or committed an unjustified attack or assault against the owner or person in control of the animal.

Dog shall mean all members of the Canis lupus familiaris subspecies.

Domestic animals means animals such as dogs, cats, or fowl, which are commonly kept or raised as pets.

Exotic animal means any wild animal not customarily confined or cultivated for domestic or commercial purposes but may lawfully be kept as a pet or for display purposes in a zoo or similar institution. Except as otherwise provided in this title, the term "exotic animal" shall not include small birds that are commonly kept as pets, small nonpoisonous reptiles, fish or amphibians which may be lawfully kept as pets or small rodents or similar animals which are customarily kept as pets or for laboratory purposes.

Fowl means chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, squabs, emus, ostriches, or similar feathered animals kept and raised as farm or livestock animals.

Guide dog means any guide dog or seeing-eye dog, which was trained by a person licensed under the provisions of chapter 9.5 (commencing with section 7200) of division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, or as defined in the regulations implementing title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Kennel shall mean any place, building, enclosure, or premises, where four or more dogs of six weeks of age or older, are kept.

Livestock shall mean animals customarily raised or kept on farms to include horses, cows, bulls, calves, oxen, sheep, goats, and other bovine or hoofed animals including pigs, hogs, and swine. "Livestock" means any common farm animal, including, but not limited to, cows, horses, sheep and goats.

Owner means the owner, keeper or person having custody, control or possession of an animal.

Person means a natural person or any legal entity, including but not limited to a corporation, firm, partnership or trust.

Rooster means a male chicken.

Service dog means any dog individually trained to the requirements of a person including but not limited to, minimal protection work, rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items. A "service dog" is also any dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, or any dog approved by the animal services executive director, which he/she believes to come within the definitions listed, after consultation with knowledgeable professionals.

Signal dog means any dog trained to alert a deaf person, or person whose hearing is impaired, to intruders or sounds.

(Ord. No. 2019-1054, § 1, 12-9-2019)