ARTICLE III. DOGS

DIVISION I. GENERALLY

Sec. 4-33. Definitions.

For the purpose of this article, and unless otherwise required by the context, the following words and terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

Dangerous dog.  Any canine or canine crossbreed that has bitten, attacked, or inflicted injury on a person or companion animal that is a dog or cat, or killed a companion animal that is a dog or cat. However, when a dog attacks or bites a companion animal that is a dog or cat, the attacking or biting dog shall not be deemed dangerous (i) if no serious physical injury as determined by a licensed veterinarian has occurred to the dog or cat as a result of the attack or bite or (ii) both animals are owned by the same person, (iii) if such attack occurs on the property of the attacking or biting dog’s owner or custodian, or (iv) for other good cause as determined by the court. No dog shall be found to be a dangerous dog as a result of biting, attacking or inflicting injury on a dog or cat while engaged with an owner or custodian as part of lawful hunting or participating in an organized, lawful dog handling event.

Treasurer.  Includes the treasurer of the county or other officer designated by law to collect taxes in the county.

Vicious dog.  Any canine or canine crossbreed that has (i) killed a person; (ii) inflicted serious injury to a person, including multiple bites, serious disfigurement, serious impairment of health, or serious impairment of bodily function; or (iii) continued to exhibit the behavior that resulted in a previous finding by a court or on or before July 1, 2006, by an animal control officer pursuant to prior law that it is a dangerous dog, provided that its owner has been given notice of that finding.

(Ord. No. 03-19, 6/17/03; Ord. No. 06-7, 6/27/06)