§ 14-1. Definitions.

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:

Abandon means to abandon an animal in the person's custody without making reasonable arrangements for assumption of custody by another person.

Abuse means to torture, inflict unnecessary pain or suffering, or overwork an animal, or to abandon, neglect, or cause or allow an animal in the person's custody to fight with another animal.

Adequate shelter means a structure specifically designed to shelter animals, according to the size and type of such animal, that protects the interior from the elements, permits the animal to stand or lie on a dry surface, and allows egress from the shelter onto dry ground that is free of mud.

Agricultural area means a tract including no less than five acres of space not occupied by structures, designated as agricultural exempt property for the purpose of ad valorem taxes and zoned by the city as residential or industrial, that is used for agricultural purposes such as raising vegetables, fruits, trees, or grain, or raising farm poultry, horses, sheep or cattle.

Animal means any living vertebrate, domestic or wild, excluding the human species.

Animal control officer means an employee of the City of Palestine designated by the local health officer to enforce the provisions of this chapter.

Animal shelter means a location designated by the city council to confine and care for animals impounded under this chapter.

At large means every instance in which an animal is found to be beyond the physical restraint of its owner or other person responsible for the animal.

Domestic animal includes dogs, cats, horses, cows, swine, sheep, goats, ferrets, llamas, fish and birds.

Exotic animal means a wild or exotic animal not commonly found as a domestic animal that creates a potential risk to public safety, including, but not limited to, bears, wolves, lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, cougars, alligators, crocodiles, caimans, snakes and reptiles that are venomous, apes or any other nonhuman primate, macaques, skunks, bats, bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, wild hogs, cheetahs, panthers, foxes, and hybrids of such animals.

Fowl means chickens, ducks, geese, pheasants, turkeys, grouse, guineas, or other common domestic fowl, but not including caged pet birds such as parakeets, cockatiels, parrots, and canaries maintained inside a building.

Guard dog means a dog which has been specifically trained to attack that is used or is intended to be used for the purpose of protection of person or property.

Harbor means to, shelter, feed, or allow an animal to remain for more than 72 hours on property owned, occupied, or controlled by the harborer.

Household pet means any domestic animal typically maintained at the owner's residence, including dogs, domestic cats, domestic caged birds, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and similar rodents maintained in a cage, fish, reptiles and other species customarily and legally sold in a local pet shop, but not including livestock or pot-bellied pigs.

Impound means to take into custody and place in an animal shelter.

Livestock means an animal other than fowl raised for agricultural purposes. Livestock includes, but is not limited to, horses, mules, donkeys, hogs, sheep, goats, cattle, emus, ostriches or rheas.

Neglect means to fail to provide adequate food, shelter and medical care.

Owner means any person owning, keeping or harboring any animal or animals.

Pack means a group of more than two dogs that are at large and not under the control of any individual.

Physical restraint means to restrain by physical means, and does not include the use of an electrical or invisible fence.

Police dog means a dog owned or used by a governmental law enforcement agency for law enforcement purposes.

Restrain means to physically control by holding, a leash, or enclosure within a fence, cage or building.

Restraint means a chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or other device that attaches a dog to a stationary object or trolley system.

Service dog means a domestic dog trained to provide assistance to a disabled person.

Tag means an identification tag issued by the City of Palestine to an owner of an animal when the animal has been registered by the City of Palestine.

Tethered means secured by a rope, chain, or similar restraint in a way that permits a limited radius within which the tethered animal may move about.

(Ord. No. O-50-10, § I, 9-27-2009; Ord. No. O-2-11, § I, 1-24-2011; Ord. No. O-34-11, § I, 7-25-2011; Ord. No. O-32-12, § I, 8-27-2012)