<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 6-1. - Definitions.</div>
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            <p class="p0">
               The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the
               meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates
               a different meaning:
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Adoption</span> means the act of acquiring a dog or cat from the animal shelter by someone other
               than the owner of the dog or cat.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Animal</span> means every living creature, domestic or non-domestic, but does not include humans.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Animal control</span> means the county animal control department. This is the department responsible for
               enforcing state and county animal control laws.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Animal shelter</span> means any premises designated by the county for the purpose of impounding and caring
               for all dogs and cats found running at large or otherwise subject to impounding in
               accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">At large</span> means any dog or cat off the property of its owner and not under restraint of a competent
               person.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Cat</span> means any domestic feline species.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Dangerous dog,</span> as defined in G.S. 67-4.1, means:
               
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                  (1)
                  </p>
               		
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                  A dog that:
                  </p>
               		
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                  a.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  Without provocation, has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person; or
                  </p>
               		
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                  b.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  Is determined by the person or board designated by the county or municipal authority
                  responsible for animal control to be potentially dangerous because the dog has engaged
                  in one or more of the behaviors listed in subsection (2) of this definition. (See
                  definition of potentially dangerous dog.)
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (2)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting, or
                  any dog trained for dog fighting.
                  </p>
               		
               
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Dog</span> means any domestic canine species.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Exposed to rabies</span> means, within the meaning of this chapter, an animal bitten by or exposed to any
               animal known or suspected to have been infected with rabies.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Fully enclosed pen</span> means a pen with four secure sides, minimum of six feet high, with a secure top attached
               to the sides and a secure bottom or floor attached to the sides of the structure or
               the sides must be embedded in the ground no less than two feet or the sides must be
               turned under within the pen area for no less than 18 inches. The length and width
               of the pen must be large enough to allow for daily vigorous exercise.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Humane organization</span> means a duly licensed, non-profit organization (NPO) with a charter to humanely place
               animals.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Intact female</span> means any female dog or cat which has not been surgically altered to prevent conception.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Intact male</span> means any male dog or cat which has not been surgically altered to prevent reproduction.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Kennel</span> means any person, group of persons, partnership, or corporation engaged in boarding,
               breeding, selling, or buying of animals.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Neutered male</span> means any male dog or cat that has been surgically altered to prevent reproduction.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Nuisance animals</span> means animals that:
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (1)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  Damage public or private property.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (2)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  Chase or harass pedestrians, livestock, fowl, bicyclists, vehicles or other domestic
                  animals.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (3)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  By virtue of number are dangerous to public health, safety, and welfare.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (4)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  Are diseased and a threat to public health.
                  </p>
               		
               
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Owner</span> means any person, firm, corporation, or organization having custody, control, possession,
               or legal interest in an animal, including an animal's keeper or caretaker.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Potentially dangerous dog,</span> as defined in G.S. 67-4.1, means a dog that the person or board designated by the
               county or municipal authority responsible for animal control determines to have:
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (1)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  Inflicted a bite on a person that resulted in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations
                  or required cosmetic surgery or hospitalization;
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (2)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  Killed or inflicted severe injury upon a domestic animal when not on the owner's real
                  property; or
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (3)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  Approached a person when not on the owner's property in a vicious or terrorizing manner
                  in an apparent attitude of attack.
                  </p>
               		
               
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Reclaim</span> means the act of reacquiring an animal from the shelter by the owner of the animal.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Restraint.</span> A dog or cat is under restraint within the meaning of this chapter if it is:
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (1)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  Controlled by means of a chain, leash, or other like device;
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (2)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  Is within an enclosed vehicle while being driven or parked (not the bed of a truck
                  that is not enclosed);
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (3)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  Within a secure enclosure; or
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (4)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  Within the dwelling house of the owner or keeper.
                  </p>
               		
               
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Spayed female</span> means any female dog or cat that has been surgically altered to prevent conception.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Stray</span> means any dog or cat that is uncared for, homeless, or unwanted, that is not wearing
               a collar with identification or current rabies tag and/or the owner is not known.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Suspected of rabies</span> means an animal which is unvaccinated against rabies or has bitten a person.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Unprovoked attack</span> means an attack that occurs when a dog attacks, bites, or inflicts injury, or causes
               a person to be injured, such as laceration or broken bone, upon a person or another
               domestic animal without being teased, molested, provoked, beaten, tortured, or otherwise
               harmed.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Unspayed female</span> means any female dog or cat which has not been surgically altered to prevent conception.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Veterinarian</span> means an individual licensed in the state to treat diseases and injuries of animals.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Veterinarian hospital</span> means any establishment maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian for surgery,
               diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and injuries of animals.
               </p>
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. No. 008-01, Â§ 1, 6-16-2008)
               </p></div>