Dinuba Municipal Code Ch. 6.20 Definitions

“Animal”

means any living vertebrate member of the animal kingdom, excluding man.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Animal control officer”

means any person designated by the state of California, city of Dinuba, or Tulare County as a law enforcement officer who is qualified to perform such duties under the laws of this state.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Animal shelter”

means any facility operated by a contracted facility, or municipal agency, or its authorized agents for the purpose of impounding or caring for animals held under the authority of this chapter or state law.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984; Ord. 94-8 § 2 (part), 1994)

“At large”

means off the premises of the person owning or having the possession, charge, custody, or control of the animal and not under the immediate control of a person by means of an enclosure, leash, rope or other means of immediate effective physical control.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Auction”

means any place or facility where animals are regularly bought, sold, or traded, except for those facilities otherwise defined in this chapter. This section does not apply to individual sales of animals by owners.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Cat”

means any member of feline family, wild and domesticated, and means both male and female.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Circus”

means a commercial variety show featuring animal acts for public entertainment.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Commercial animal establishment”

means any pet shop, grooming shop, auction, riding school or stable, zoological park, circus, performing animal exhibit or kennel.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Director”

means the director of public works.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Dog”

means any member of canine family, wild or domesticated, and means both male and female.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Domestic animal”

means animals such as are habituated to live in or about the habitations of persons, or such as to contribute to the support of a family or the wealth of the community.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Exotic animal”

means any animal, either wild or domesticated belonging by nature or origin to another part of the world.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Fowl”

means any chicken, duck, goose, turkey, guinea, pigeon or other fowl.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Health officer”

means that person appointed by the board of supervisors of the county and any other person duly authorized by him to act on his behalf.

(Ord. 98-15 § 8, 1998)

“Impoundment”

means the taking up and confinement of any animal in an animal shelter, veterinary hospital, or other facility.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Kennel”

means any premises wherein any person engages in the business of boarding, breeding, buying, littering for hire, training for a fee, or selling of dogs or cats.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Livestock”

means any animal kept or raised for use, pleasure or profit.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Owner”

means any person, partnership, firm or corporation owning, keeping or harboring one or more animals. An animal is harbored if it is fed or sheltered for ten consecutive days or more.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984; Ord. 94-8 § 2 (part), 1994)

“Performing animal exhibition”

means any spectacle, display, act, or event other than circuses, in which performing animals are used.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Pet”

means any animal kept for pleasure rather than utility.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Pet shop”

means any person, partnership, firm or corporation whether operated separately or in connection with another business enterprise except for licensed kennel, that buys, sells or boards any species of animal.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Poundmaster”

means the party with whom the city has contracted for the performance of pound services.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Premises”

means a house, other dwelling, a yard or other area or an automobile so enclosed as to prevent a dog from escaping.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Private property”

means that property of which a person or persons has the exclusive right of disposition.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Public nuisance”

means any animal or animals which:

A.

Molests passersby or chases passing vehicles;

B.

Attacks other animals;

C.

Trespasses on school grounds;

D.

Is repeatedly at large;

E.

Damages private or public property;

F.

Barks, whines, or howls in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Public place”

means any park, public building, playground, street, road, alleyway, or any other place open to general public.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Restraint”

means a leash not in excess of eight feet, a tethered lead, or a fenced enclosure which keeps the animal under the control of a responsible person or within the real property limits of its owner.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Veterinary hospital”

means any establishment maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian for surgery, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of animals.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Vicious animal”

means any animal, wild or domesticated that attacks or bites any person or animal upon any public or private property within the city.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)

“Wild animal”

means any non-domesticated animal living in a state of nature.

(Ord. 670 (part), 1984)