§ 6-2. Definitions.

When used in this chapter, the following words and/or phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them herein, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Animal control officer: The person appointed to serve in the capacity of animal control officer of the city or any deputy or assistant of the animal control officer of the city.

At large: The going upon public or private property by an animal without the owner or person in charge thereof having direct physical control over such animal. In addition, any animal which is staked or tied down shall be considered to be at large, unless such animal is confined in a fenced yard or other fenced enclosure. Further, any animal left unattended in any vehicle in such manner that such animal is capable of extending his head beyond the physical bounds of such vehicle or outside such vehicle shall be considered to be at large.

Barnyard animal: A cow, calf, steer, bull or other ruminant; a chicken, goose or duck; a horse, mule, donkey or other animal of the equine family; a lamb; or a goat.

Cat: All domestic species or varieties of the genus felis catus, male or female, six (6) months of age or older.

Department: The animal control department of the City of Pearland.

Dog: All domestic species or varieties of the genus canis familiaris, male or female, six (6) months of age or older.

Humane organization: A nonprofit organization or corporation which maintains a permanent shelter facility within the city for the care and custody of sick, injured, lost, abandoned or strayed animals and which provides veterinary services for the care of the animals kept there, which services are provided by a licensed veterinarian.

Kennel: Any lot, premises, building, structure or enclosure whereon or wherein six (6) or more dogs, cats, rabbits, or any combination thereof, are kept or maintained. This definition shall include shelter facilities operated by humane organizations, but shall exclude veterinary hospitals.

Owner: Any person or persons owning, possessing, harboring, keeping or sheltering any animal.

Unprovoked attack: Unprovoked with respect to an attack by an animal shall mean that the animal or the person in control of the animal was not hit, kicked or struck by a person with an object or part of a person's body, nor was any part of the animal's body pulled, punched or squeezed by a person.

Veterinarian: Any person duly licensed to practice as a doctor of veterinary medicine by the licensing authority of the State of Texas or other jurisdiction whose licensing is reciprocal with the State of Texas.

Wild animal: Any mammal, amphibian, reptile or fowl which is of a species that is wild by nature and of a species which, due to size, vicious nature or other characteristics is dangerous to human beings, but shall not include raptors and falcons that are licensed or that are properly permitted by the State of Texas. Such animals shall include, but not be limited to, lions, tigers, leopards, panthers, bears, wolves, raccoons, skunks (whether deodorized or not), apes, gorillas, monkeys, foxes, elephants, rhinoceroses, crocodiles, alligators and all forms of venomous reptiles, but such term shall not include animals expressly allowed in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 528-8, § 1, 11-11-13)