§ 2.7-21. Definitions.

Animal owner means a person or entity that (1) has a right of property or title in an animal; (2) keeps or harbors an animal; (3) has an animal in his, her, or its care; (4) acts as an animal's custodian; or (5) knowingly permits an animal to remain on or about any premises occupied by him or her or it. Any person who notifies the Washington County Animal Control Officer or the Washington County Sheriff's Office of a stray or potentially dangerous, dangerous or hazardous animal shall not be considered the owner of such animal.

Dangerous animal means an animal, regardless of breed, that:

(1)

Inflicts, either directly or through an unbroken chain of causal events, serious injury on a person without provocation on public or private property;

(2)

Kills a domestic animal, livestock, or poultry without provocation while the animal is off the owner's property; or

(3)

Has been previously found to be potentially dangerous because of injury inflicted on a person, the owner having received notice of such and the animal again aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of persons.

An animal is not potentially dangerous or dangerous if the threat, injury, or damage was sustained by a person who, at the time, was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises occupied by the animal owner, or was tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the animal or has, in the past, been observed or reported to have tormented, abused, or assaulted the animal or was committing or attempting to commit a crime. Livestock is exempt from the definitions of hazardous, dangerous or potentially dangerous.

Domestic animal means an animal that has been adapted or tamed to live in intimate association with or for the pleasure or advantage of people and includes but is not limited to dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and hamsters; excluding livestock.

Exotic wild animals means any snake or animal of a wild, ferocious, fierce or dangerous species likely to create harm or threat of harm in any place other than zoological parks, aquariums, laboratories, circus or other licensed exhibitory shows; or those not under the direct supervision of licensed commercial dealers, State Game and Fish Management Commissioners, Federal Wildlife Services or U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Hazardous animal means an animal, regardless of breed, that, when unprovoked obstructs, impedes, hinders or interferes with a person's right-of-way on any public street, sidewalk or public grounds.

Law enforcement officer means a public servant vested by law with a duty to maintain public order or to make an arrest for an offense and includes a civilian animal control officer employed by Washington County.

Livestock means any members of the equine, bovine, ovine, porcine, and ratite species, and confined domestic hares, rabbits and mink.

Police work dog means a dog trained to aid law enforcement officers actually used for police work purposes, for the protection of the public, including the investigation of crime and the apprehension of law violators.

Potentially dangerous animal means an animal, regardless of breed, that when unprovoked:

(1)

Inflicts bites on a person, livestock, or poultry, or a domestic animal either on public or private property; or

(2)

Chases or approaches a person upon the streets, sidewalks, any public grounds, or otherwise off the owner's property in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, or any animal with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury, or otherwise to threaten the safety of persons or domestic animals, livestock, or poultry.

Poultry means all domesticated fowl and domesticated game birds which are kept in captivity.

Serious injury means any physical injury that results in one (1) or more of the following:

(1)

Fractured bones or teeth;

(2)

Disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures, stitching, or cosmetic surgery;

(3)

Loss of consciousness, however temporary or slight;

(4)

Puncture wounds of more than a superficial nature;

(5)

Loss of blood requiring transfusion;

(6)

Amputation;

(7)

Loss of sight in either eye for more than twenty-four (24) hours;

(8)

Loss of or substantial degradation in hearing in either ear;

(9)

Failure or substantial impairment of an organ;

(10)

Skin grafting;

(11)

Tendon, ligament or other soft tissue damage requiring surgical repair or physical therapy;

(12)

Cardiac arrest;

(13)

Respiratory failure;

(14)

Cessation of brain function; or

(15)

Death.

(Ord. No. 2016-22, Art. 1, 4-25-16; Ord. No. 2016-32, Art. 1, 5-23-16)