6.02.010 Definitions.
As used in this Title, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"Adult" means any animal seven months of age or over.
"Adequate care" means providing the following to animals:
1. Food or feed appropriate to the species for which it is intended. Both food and water must be in sufficient quantity, quality, and form appropriate to sustain the animals and should be in containers designed and situated to allow the animal easy access; and
2. A shelter that keeps the animals in a healthful, sanitary, warm, dry, and safe condition, and allows the animal to turn around freely, sit, stand, and lie without restriction, and by application does not cause injury, disfigurement, or physical impairment to the animal.
3. Adequate veterinary medical care.
"Altered" shall mean to permanently render incapable of reproduction (i.e., spayed or neutered).
"Animal" means any nonhuman mammal, bird, reptile or amphibian including livestock and poultry as defined herein.
"Animal Control Authority" or "Animal Control Agency" means Pierce County Animal Control.
"Animal Shelter" means that animal control facility authorized by Pierce County.
"At large" means off the premises of the owner or keeper of the animal, and not under restraint by leash or chain or not otherwise controlled by a competent person.
"Auditor" means Pierce County Auditor.
"Cat" means and includes female, spayed female, male and neutered male cats.
"Competent adult" means a person 18 years of age or older who is able to sufficiently care for, control, and restrain his/her animal, and who has the capacity to exercise sound judgement regarding the rights and safety of others.
"County" means Pierce County.
"Court" means District Court or the Superior Court, which courts shall have concurrent jurisdiction hereunder.
"Dangerous Animal" means any animal that:
A. inflicts severe injury on or kills a human being without provocation; or
B. inflicts severe injury on or kills an animal without provocation; or
C. has been previously found to be potentially dangerous, the owner having received notice of such and the animal again bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of humans or other animals.
Provocation exception: an animal is a dangerous animal when it enters onto private property without the consent of the owner or occupant and inflicts a severe injury on or kills a human or animal regardless of provocation.
If two or more animals participate in an attack that results in a severe injury or death to a human being or animal, then all such animals may be deemed to be a dangerous animal.
"Dog" means and includes female, spayed female, male and neutered male dogs.
"Gross Misdemeanor" means a type of crime classification that, while not a felony, is ranked as a serious misdemeanor. The maximum penalty for a gross misdemeanor is 364 days in jail and/or a $5,000.00 fine.
"Humane trap" means a live animal box enclosure trap designed to capture and hold an animal without injury.
"Impound" means to receive into the custody of the Animal Control Authority, or into the custody of the Auditor or designee.
"Juvenile" means any animal from weaning to seven months of age.
"Livestock" means all cattle, sheep, goats, or animals of the bovidae family; all horses, mules, other hoof animals, or animals of the equidae family; all pigs, swine, or animals of the suidae family; llamas; and ostriches, rhea, and emu.
"Misdemeanor" means a crime classification with a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000.00 fine, pursuant to PCC 1.12.010.
"Muzzle" means a muzzle made in a manner that will not cause injury to the animal or interfere with its vision or respiration but shall prevent it from biting any person or animal.
"Owner" means any person, firm, or corporation owning, having an interest in, or having control or custody or possession of any animal.
"Potentially Dangerous Animal" means any animal that, without provocation:
A. bites a human or animal; or
B. chases or approaches a person in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack; or
C. any animal with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury or otherwise to threaten the safety of humans or domestic animals.
Provocation exception: an animal is a potentially dangerous animal when it enters onto private property without the consent of the owner or occupant and bites a human or animal or chases or approaches a person in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack regardless of provocation.
If two or more animals participate in an attack that results in a bite being inflicted upon a human or animal, then all such animals may be deemed to be a potentially dangerous animal.
"Poultry" means domestic fowl normally raised for eggs or meat, and includes chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese.
"Proper Enclosure" means, while on the owner's property, the animal shall be confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure, suitable to prevent the entry of young children and designed to prevent the animal from escaping. Such pen or structure shall have a locking door with a padlock, secure sides, a concrete floor, and a secure top attached to the sides, and shall also provide protection from the elements for the animal. The structure must comply with all applicable provisions of local Building and Zoning Codes.
"Provoke" or "Provocation" means to intentionally torment, agitate, or harass an animal prior to the attack, chase, or menacing behavior. "Provoke" or "Provocation" does not include actions taken to defend oneself, other humans, animals, or property.
"Severe injury" means any physical injury which results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations.
"Unconfined" means not securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure upon the premises of the person owning, harboring or having the care of the animal.
"Vicious" means chasing or approaching a person or animal in a menacing or apparent attitude of attack or the known propensity to do any act which might endanger the safety of any person, animal, or property of another.
"Warning Sign" means a clearly visible and conspicuously displayed sign containing words and a symbol (to inform children or others incapable of reading) warning that there is a dangerous animal on the property.