§ 14-1. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Animal shall mean any livestock, fowl, dogs or cats.

Abandoned animal means any domesticated animal which shall have been placed upon public property or within a public building unattended or uncared for, or upon or within the private property of another without the express permission of the owner, custodian or tenant of the private property, and is unattended or uncared for.

Animal control officer means an employee assigned to the Animal Control Department of the Greene County Board of Commissioners duly deputized under the legal authority of the county to enforce the rules and regulations of this article.

Animal control department means the division of animal control within the Greene County Government responsible for the enforcement of this article.

Feral animal means an animal existing in a wild or untamed state, or having returned to an untamed state from domestication.

Fowl shall mean chickens, quail, doves, turkeys, geese, ducks, pigeons, ostriches, and similar fowl.

Guard or watch dog means any dog trained by a recognized training facility for the purpose of protecting individuals from assault and/or preventing property loss or damage. A recognized training facility shall be deemed to mean any person holding a state kennel license and a business license for either of the purposes described in this definition.

Housing shall mean any building, shed, cage, pen, coop or other structure used for housing animals. Housing shall also mean any open area where animals are kept or stay.

Impoundment means the act of taking physical possession and control of an animal by an animal control officer or other officer empowered to act by law.

Livestock means horses, cows, goats, pigs or any other four legged animals, excluding dogs and cats, used for pleasure or profit.

Owner means any person who owns, harbors, keeps, feeds, maintains, has lawful possession of, or knowingly causes or knowingly permits an animal to be harbored or kept, or has an animal in his care, or who permits an animal to remain on or about his premises; provided, however, this shall not include a person hired or acting as custodian of the animal for his owner.

Police officer means any City of Union Point law enforcement officer empowered to make arrests and authorized to issue citations in the City of Union Point or any law enforcement officer empowered to make arrests and authorized to issue citations in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Vicious or dangerous animal means any animal that attacks, bites or injures human beings, pets, companion animals or livestock or which, because of temperament, conditioning, or training, has a known propensity to attack, bite or injure human beings, pets, companion animals or livestock, provided that the pets, companion animals, or livestock are within the property limits of the respective owner. No animal may be declared dangerous if a 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 owner or keeper of the animal, or was teasing, tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the animal or has, in the past, been observed or reported to have teased, tormented, abused, or assaulted the animal or was committing or attempting to commit a crime. The definition shall not be construed to include dogs that are part of a governmental organization or a trained guard dog in performance of its duties.

(Ord. of 8-8-2006)