§ 4-2. Definitions.

At large. An animal is "at-large" when off the property of the owner or controlling party and unleashed. Dogs off their leash and supervised by their owner or controlling party in the city dog park shall not be considered running at large.

Dangerous, vicious or ferocious animal. Any animal which:

(a)

Has caused death or serious injury to a person engaged in a lawful activity; or

(b)

Without provocation, attacks or bites, or has attacked or bitten, a human being or domestic animal; or

(c)

Because of its size, physical characteristics and observed aggressive behavior toward a person or domestic animal is capable of inflicting serious physical injury or death on a human being;

(d)

Has a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury to, or otherwise threaten the safety of human beings or domestic animals; or

(e)

Has been trained for fighting or is owned or kept for the purpose of fighting; or

(f)

Has been determined to be vicious by the municipal judge or pursuant to the procedures set forth in this chapter.

(g)

No dog may be deemed a vicious animal under this chapter 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 dog, or if a person at the time of such threat, injury or damage was teasing, tormenting, abusing or assaulting the dog, or was threatening or committing an assault or other bodily harm to the owner, the owner's or keepers' immediate family or their invitees; furthermore, dogs used by commissioned officers for law enforcement shall not be deemed dangerous, vicious or ferocious for purposes of this chapter.

Failure to control Failure on the part of an owner, competent person or controlling party to exercise adequate control over or properly govern the behavior of an animal to the point that the animal bites, attacks or injures a person or other domestic animal; chases, lashed out at or approaches a person in a menacing fashion; or exhibits an unprovoked threat of attacking or biting a person, domestic animal or farm animal.

(Ord. No. 4379, § 1, 7-20-15)