El Centro Municipal Code Div. 1 Generally

For the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

Animal. Includes but is not limited to birds, fishes, reptiles and non-human mammals.

Animal shelter. A premises selected by the city council as a suitable facility for the requirements of this article.

At large. Being neither confined by a building, structure or enclosure nor physically restrained by a leash; or being in a state in which its control is in doubt.

City veterinarian. Any veterinarian appointed by the city manager to perform veterinarian services in behalf of the city.

Curb. To so restrain or control an animal that it urinates or defecates only in the street gutters.

Dog. A canis familiaris of either sex, altered or unaltered; or any other member of the canis genus if owned, kept or harbored.

Dog license. A properly completed and validated dog license application-rabies certificate form issued by the city or other official dog licensing agency.

Dog license application-rabies certificate form. The dog license application form issued by the city or other official dog training agency. It is properly completed when it contains:

(a) The dog owner's name, address and telephone number;

(b) The dog's name and description;

(c) The type, lot number and manufacturer of the rabies vaccine;

(d) The date of vaccination;

(e) The signature of the veterinarian who vaccinated the dog or other signature authorized by the city council;

(f) Applicable fees paid.

Impounded animal. Any animal taken into custody by the city animal control officer.

Kennel. Any lot or parcel of land or place where four (4) or more dogs or four (4) or more cats are confined, treated, boarded, housed or cared for; the word kennel shall also mean any lot or parcel of land or place where a person engages in, conducts, manages or maintains a veterinary business, regardless of the number of animals treated, kept, confined, boarded or cared for thereat.

Kennel operator. The person who is the legal owner or who is actually in control and operation of a kennel. The term "kennel operator" shall not include a veterinarian operating a veterinary hospital.

License tag. A piece of metal or other durable material inscribed with a date and number which has been issued by the city or other official dog licensing agency.

Licensed dog. A dog wearing its current dog license tag as required by this article.

Owner. Any person who is the legal owner, keeper, harborer, possessor or the actual custodian of an animal. Ownership is established by a person registering as the owner on a license or other legal document or by a person claiming ownership and taking possession of an animal.

Registered owner. A person registered as the owner on a dog license.

Spayed. Having had the ovaries and uterus removed or extirpated; an ovariohysterectomy.

Stray. An animal which is at large.

Vaccinated dog. A dog inoculated with an approved, currently valid, antirabies vaccine and wearing a current dog license tag indicating proof of such vaccination.

Validation. Entering on the dog license application-rabies certificate form the number imprinted on the simultaneously issued license tag, and the date of expiration of the dog license, and a notation of payment of the applicable fee.

Vicious animal. An animal which, twice within a forty-eight (48) month period, has without provocation bitten persons engaged in lawful conduct, or has shown the disposition, tendency or propensity to attack, bite or otherwise cause injury to persons or other animals.

(Code 1962, § 4-11; Ord. No. 74-10; Ord. No. 87-1, § 1)

Cross reference— Rules of construction and definitions generally, § 1-3.