§ 4-21. Definitions.

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

Animal means any living vertebrate creature, except human beings and fish.

Animal owner means any person having ownership or personal rights in a dog or other animal, or any person who keeps in his care, acts as custodian for, or knowingly permits a dog or other animal to remain on or about any premises occupied by him.

Law enforcement officer means any person employed or elected by township, municipality, county, state, or federal agency, whose duty it is to preserve peace, make arrests or to enforce the law.

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

Proper enclosure means securely confined indoors or in a locked pen or structure suitable to prevent the animal from escaping and providing protection from the elements for the animal. A proper enclosure does not include a porch, patio, or any part of a house, garage, or other structure that would allow the animal to exit of its own will.

Vicious or uncontrolled animal means any animal that harms physically or inflicts unprovoked bites or attacks human beings, livestock, or poultry, or any animal approaching an individual in such a way as to place that individual in reasonable fear of unprovoked injury or attack whether it occurs upon streets, roads, sidewalks, and public grounds or private property.

(Ord. No. 2008-O-26, art. 1, 6-5-2008)