§ 6-1. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Administrator shall mean the Chief of Police for the City of Effingham.

Animal shall mean every living creature, other than man, which may be affected by rabies.

Animal control officer shall mean an employee of the Effingham County Animal Control Department, and those designated by the Chief of Police for the City of Effingham.

Animal control warden shall mean any person appointed by the County of Effingham to perform the duties set forth in this chapter.

At large shall mean off of the premises of the owner and not under the control of a leash.

Cat shall mean all members of the family Felidae.

Confined shall mean the restriction of an animal at all times by the owner, or his agent, to an escape-proof building, house, or other enclosure away from other animals and the public.

Dangerous dog shall mean any individual dog when unmuzzled, unleashed, or unattended by its owner or custodian that behaves in a manner that a reasonable person would believe poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical injury or death to a person or a companion animal in a public place.

Dog shall mean all members of the family Canidae.

Enclosure shall mean a fence or structure of at least six (6) feet in height, forming or causing an enclosure suitable to prevent the entry of young children, and suitable to confine a vicious dog in conjunction with other measures that may be taken by the owner or keeper, such as tethering of the vicious dog within the enclosure. The enclosure shall be securely enclosed and locked and designed to secure sides, top, and bottom and shall be designed to prevent the animal from escaping from the enclosure. If the enclosure is a room within a residence, the door must be locked. A vicious dog may be allowed to move about freely within the entire residence if it is muzzled at all times.

Has been bitten shall mean has been seized with the teeth or jaws so that the person or animal seized has been nipped, gripped, wounded, or pierced, and further includes contact of saliva with any break or abrasion of the skin.

Impounded shall mean taken into the custody of the animal control facility in the City of Effingham.

Leash means a cord, rope, strap, or chain which shall be securely fastened to the collar or harness of a dog or other animal and shall be of sufficient strength to keep such dog or other animal under control.

Licensed veterinarian shall mean a veterinarian licensed by the State of Illinois.

Owner shall mean any person having a right of property in any animal, or who keeps or harbors an animal, or who has in its care, or acts as its custodian.

Person shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, society, association or other legal entity, any public or private institution, the State of Illinois, municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state, or any other business unit.

Police animal shall mean any animal owned or used by a law enforcement department or agency in the course of the department or agency's work.

Pound or animal control facility may be used interchangeably and shall mean any facility approved for the purpose of enforcing this chapter and used as a shelter for seized, stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted dogs or other animals.

Physical injury shall mean the impairment of physical condition.

Serious physical injury shall mean a physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes death, serious or protracted disfigurement, protracted impairment of health, impairment of the function of any bodily organ, or plastic surgery.

Vicious dog shall mean a dog that, without justification, attacks a person and causes serious physical injury or death, or any individual dog that has been found to be a dangerous dog upon three (3) separate occasions.

(Ord. No. 35-2007, § II, 11-6-2007)