§ II. Definitions and terms.

A.

Animal: Any live, vertebrate creature, wild or domestic, other than human beings, endowed with the power of voluntary motion.

B.

Animal Control Officer: Any person or persons designated by the Union County Health Director to pick-up, restrain, impound, destroy, care for, sell or dispose of animals, and who is responsible for discharging such other duties or functions as may be prescribed by this or any other County ordinance or by state law or by the Health Director.

C.

Animal Shelter: The facility provided and operated by Union County for the purposes of the impoundment, restraint, care and disposition of animals.

D.

At Large: An animal shall be deemed to be at large when it is off the real property of its owner or keeper and not under physical restraint.

E.

Board: Union County Board of Commissioners.

F.

Cat: A domestic feline of either sex.

G.

Dangerous Dog: (1) A dog that without provocation has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person; or (2) Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of fighting, or any dog trained for dog fighting; or (3) A potentially dangerous dog.

H.

Dog: A domestic canine of either sex.

I.

Health Director: The director of the Union County Health Department or authorized representative.

J.

Keeper: A person having custody of an animal, or who keeps or harbors an animal, or who knowingly permits an animal to remain on or about any premises occupied or controlled by such person.

K.

Neutered Male: Any male which has been operated upon to prevent reproduction.

L.

Owner: Any person or legal entity that has a possessory property right in an animal.

M.

Owner's or Keeper's Real Property: Any real property owned or leased by the owner or keeper of the dog, but does not include any public right-of-way or a common area of a condominium, apartment complex, or townhouse development.

N.

Potentially Dangerous Dog: A dog that the Chief Animal Control officer determines to have:

a.

Inflicted a bite on a person that resulted in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations or required cosmetic surgery or hospitalization; or

b.

Killed or inflicted severe injury upon a domestic animal when not on the owner's real property; or

c.

Approached a person when not on the owner's property in a vicious or terrorizing manner in an apparent attitude of attack.

O.

Restraint: Any animal shall be considered under restraint if it is within the real property limits of its owner, or secured by an adequate leash or lead, or confined within a secure enclosure.

P.

Secure Enclosure: A locked enclosure from which an animal cannot escape. An Animal Control Officer may, in his sole discretion, determine that there is a suitable secure enclosure on the premises.

Q.

Severe Injury: Any physical injury that results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations or required cosmetic surgery or hospitalization.

R.

Spayed Female: Any female which has been operated upon to prevent reproduction.

S.

Stray Animal: A domestic animal that roams at large with no apparent ownership.

T.

Vaccination: The administration of rabies vaccine issued by the United States Department of Agriculture and approved for use in North Carolina by the Commission for Health Services.

U.

Veterinary Hospital: An establishment maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian for surgery, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of animals.

V.

Wild Animals: Those animals whose habitat is generally the woods or wilds, or whose disposition is untamable, to include exotic or unusual pets.