§ 6-1. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings herein ascribed to them:

Abandoned animal: Shall mean an animal abandoned while in the person's custody without making reasonable arrangements for assumption of custody by another person or which has not been redeemed within seventy-two (72) hours after midnight of the day of impoundment.

Adoption: The means of care for unwanted animals impounded at the City of Laredo Animal Care Facility but must comply with state and local statutes before adopting such as:

(1)

Appropriate rabies vaccination;

(2)

Spay and neuter;

(3)

Registration (microchip).

Animal care services department: A department of the city whose primary duties are to enforce ordinances and state laws relating to animals or fowl within the city, to conduct rabies and zoonosis public health prevention, and to serve as the animal control authority for the city.

Animal control authority: A municipal animal control office with authority over the area where the dog is kept.

Attack: To set upon with violent force. Aggression with violent force.

Cat: A feline of the genus Felis catus.

Choker collar: Chain, nylon cord or rope with rings at either end such that the collar can be formed into a loop around the animal's neck that tightens when pulled and loosens when tension is released.

Collar or harness: A band of leather, nylon, rope, or similar material, excluding chain, utilized for training purposes, or to aid in control of movement of the animal, by the animal's owner, and is attached to a leash or lead.

Confined: A situation in which an animal is effectively contained and prevented from being free to roam or run at large.

Dangerous dog: A dog that:

(1)

Makes an unprovoked attack on a person that causes bodily injury and occurs in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the dog from leaving the enclosure on its own; or

(2)

Commits unprovoked acts in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the dog from leaving the enclosure on its own and those acts cause a person to reasonably believe that the dog will attack and cause bodily injury to that person.

Dangerous wild animal: A lion; a tiger; an ocelot; a cougar; a leopard; a cheetah; a jaguar; a bobcat; a lynx; a serval; a caracal; a hyena; a bear; a coyote; a jackal; a baboon; a chimpanzee; an orangutan; a gorilla; any hybrid of an animal listed herein; or any animal listed in V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code, title 10, § 822.101, as amended from time to time.

Director: The person designated as being the director of the animal care services department the city.

Dog: A canine of the genus Canis familiaris or any combination of Canis familiaris and other canine species including both genders.

Domestic dog: A member of Canis familiaris which is not a hybrid of Canis familiaris and another canine species.

Domestic animal: Any animal which is not prohibited, and commonly kept as a pet at the owner's residence, including, but not limited to, domestic cats and dogs, domestic ferrets, rabbits, and domestic poultry.

Domestic cat: Any member of Felis catus.

Domestic fowl: Birds of a breed developed or kept for the purpose of meat production, egg laying or purely for ornament or show, including, but not limited to, ducks, geese, chickens, turkeys, partridges, parakeets and pigeons.

Euthanasia, euthanize: The humane destruction of an animal accomplished by a method that produces rapid unconsciousness and subsequent death without evidence of pain or distress, or a method that utilizes anesthesia produced by an agent that causes painless loss of consciousness and subsequent death.

Facilities for keping: The pens, stalls, stables, corrals, cages, kennels, feeding trough areas, sheds and facilities of every kind where large livestock, small animals, fowl, or pets are penned, fed or protected from the weather; and shall be interpreted to include grazing areas.

Feral: Having returned to an untamed state from domestication.

Foster: Temporary care of a pet impounded at the City of Laredo Animal Care Facility that must comply with state and local statutes before fostering such as:

(1)

Appropriate rabies vaccination;

(2)

Spay and neuter;

(3)

Registration (microchip).

Fowl: Chickens, turkeys, pheasant, quail, guineas, geese, ducks, and pigeons or other feathered animals regardless of age or sex, except those specifically included in the definition of "pets."

Grooming shop: A commercial establishment where animals are bathed, clipped, plucked, or otherwise groomed.

Impound: To place in the pound, or any other site so designated by the director.

Intact dog or cat: A dog or cat that has not been spayed or neutered.

Keeper:

(1)

A person keeping or having in possession any animal or fowl referred to in this chapter.

(2)

A person is subject to this chapter as the keeper of an animal and is presumed to control the animal if the person:

a.

Is the owner or lessee of the pen, pasture, or other place in which the animal is located and has control of that place; or

b.

Exercises care or control over the animal;

c.

Is also defined as an individual, firm, corporation, organization or department holding, caring for, having an interest in, or having control or custody of an animal. If the keeper of an animal is a minor, the parent or guardian of that minor shall be responsible for compliance with animal control related ordinances;

d.

Cares for an animal at the specific request of an owner.

Large livestock: Horses, Shetland ponies, mules, donkeys, ponies, cattle, goats, sheep and other similar animals regardless of age, sex or breed, but specifically excluding swine.

Licensed veterinarian or veterinarian: A veterinarian licensed by any state of the United States and, in addition, if practicing within Texas, licensed by the state board of veterinary examiners.

Observation period: That period of time during which the director in his discretion and based upon competent and current scientific information orders and directs that any large livestock, small animal, fowl, or pet, as defined herein, or any other animal or fowl specifically excluded herein, shall be confined and quarantined for the purpose of determining whether such animal or fowl is afflicted with, is a carrier of, or may become afflicted with or be the carrier of any disease or disorder which is, or may be, harmful to the public or other animals.

Owner: A person, who owns, has legal title or the right, custody or control of any animal, domestic small, large livestock, fowl, pets, or wild animals and/or a person who feeds or harbors animals for more than seventy-two (72) hours. Persons caring for an animal at the specific request of an owner are not included, but are required to keep the animal in compliance with this chapter.

Pets: Dogs, cats, gerbils, canaries, parrots, parakeets and birds or domestic animals other than large livestock, wild animals, small animals or fowl as herein defined.

Performing animal exhibition: Any spectacle, display, act or event, other than circuses and rodeos, in which performing animals are used.

Person: Includes an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, trust, estate, joint stock company, foundation, organization, association of individuals, or any type of legal entity.

Pet store or pet shop: A business establishment, whether licensed or not by the department, where animals, including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, fish, birds, reptiles, or rodents are kept for sale or commercial barter.

Pound: One (1) or more facility(ies) designated or operated by the director for the detention of dogs or other animals or fowl as prescribed by law.

Prohibited animals: shall mean:

(1)

Any ape or other primate;

(2)

Any member of the genus Canis including wolf, hybrid wolf, coyote, jackal or fox, and similar species except Canis familiaris;

(3)

Any member of the genus Felis including leopard, lion, panther, tiger, lynx, bobcat, cheetah, ocelot, margay, jaguarundi, and any similar species except Felis domesticus;

(4)

Mustelids; other than the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo);

(5)

Skunks;

(6)

Any poisonous reptile or venomous species except bees;

(7)

Pythons and boa constrictors;

(8)

Crocodile, alligator, caiman or related species;

(9)

Miniature Vietnamese pot-bellied pig;

(10)

Ostrich or any other ratites;

(11)

Bear; and

(12)

All other mammals that live in a natural state of undomesticated freedom. Examples include, but are not limited to, the opossum, raccoon and armadillo.

Provocation or provoke: Any purposeful act that causes an animal to scratch, bite, or attack in protection of itself, the owner, or the owner's premises. Entrance, in any manner, into an area where an animal is properly under restraint in compliance with this chapter is considered provocation, irrespective of the reason for the entrance.

Pursuit: The act of chasing or attempting to overtake a fleeing animal.

Quarantine: To detain or isolate on account of suspected contagion.

Ratproof: A state of being so constructed as to effectively prevent the entrance of rats.

Registration: A privilege granted, upon compliance with the terms of this chapter, to lawfully own, keep, harbor, or have custody or control of a dog or cat within the city and done annually at the time of rabies vaccination.

Restraint: A situation whereby an animal is secured by a leash or a lead, or is under the effective control of a responsible person and obedient to that person's commands, or is confined within the real property of its owner and in a safe, responsible and protective manner.

Responsible person: A person that cares for, feeds, provides housing or shelter, and to whose commands an animal in question is obedient, and who is capable of controlling the animal if the animal should fail to obey such commands and may be considered a keeper.

Rodent: A small mammal of the order Rodentia with teeth specialized for gnawing, such as rat, mouse, or squirrel.

Roam or run at large (stray): To be free of restraint outside the corral, pasture, pen, cage or other facility where such large livestock, small animal or fowl may be lawfully kept hereunder or upon the streets, sidewalks, or public grounds of the city or on the residence, lot or lands of any person other than the owner/keeper of the animal.

Sanitary: Any condition of good order and cleanliness which minimizes the probability of disease transmission.

Secure enclosure: A fenced area of structure that is:

(1)

Locked;

(2)

Capable of preventing the entry of the general public, including children;

(3)

Capable of preventing the escape or release of a dog;

(4)

Clearly marked as containing a dangerous dog; and

(5)

In conformance with the requirements for enclosures established by the local animal control authority.

Serious bodily injury: An injury characterized by severe bite wounds or severe ripping and tearing of muscle that would cause a reasonable prudent person to seek treatment from a medical professional and would require hospitalization without regard to whether the person actually sought medical treatment.

Service animals: Animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities such as guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks. Service animals are working animals, not pets.

Severe injury: Any physical injury that results in death, broken bones or disfiguring lacerations requiring surgery (acute and cosmetic) or needing bodily repair.

Small animals: Dogs, cats, rabbits, hares, guinea pigs, and other similar small animals.

Tether: To restrain an animal by rope, chain, or a similar material attached to a collar or harness so that an animal is fastened to a fixed object or other device so as to limit its range of movement.

Unprovoked animal attack: an attack by an animal that was not hit, neither kicked or struck by a person with any object or body part nor was any part of the animal's body pulled, pinched or squeezed by the person or animal that was attacked.

Vaccination: A protective immunization against rabies by inoculation with anti-rabies vaccine recognized and approved by the United States Department of Agriculture given in an amount sufficient to provide immunity against the disease.

Vaccination certificate: The certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian and showing on its face that, at time of such presentation, the animal described herein has been vaccinated for rabies during the preceding twelve (12) months.

Wild animals: Any animal which is typically of an untamed, or undomesticated or dangerous or ferocious nature, as well as any animal inclined to do serious bodily harm to humans or other animals or fowl. The term "wild animals" shall also be deemed to include alligators, poisonous snakes and other similar reptiles.

(Ord. No. 86-24, § 1, 2-17-86; Ord. No. 89-10, § 1, 1-3-89; Ord. No. 90-25, § 1, 2-26-90; Ord. No. 93-62, § 1, 4-19-94; Ord. No. 2010-O-029, § 1, 3-15-10; Ord. No. 2012-O-097, § 1, 7-16-12; Ord. No. 2016-O-132 , § 2, 9-12-16)