§ 6-1. 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:

Animal: Any animal of a species that is susceptible to rabies, except man.

At large: Off premises of owner or custodian and not under leash restraining control of owner or persons acting for the owner. Any animal in a suitable enclosure or confined shall not be considered to be running at large.

Attack: A violent or aggressive physical contact or violent or aggressive behavior that confines the movement of a person.

Custodian: Any person keeping, possessing, harboring or maintaining any animal.

Enforcement Agent: That person who is responsible for the enforcement of this chapter and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Pound: Any establishment authorized for the confinement, maintenance, safekeeping and control of dogs and other animals that come into the custody of the enforcement agent in the performance of his official duties.

Department: The state department of health services.

Impound: The act of taking or receiving into custody by the enforcement agent any dog or other animal for the purpose of confinement in an authorized pound in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

Kennel: An enclosed, controlled area, inaccessible to other animals, in which a person keeps, harbors or maintains five (5) or more dogs under controlled conditions.

Livestock: Neat animals, horses, sheep, goats, swine, mules and asses.

Owner: Any person keeping an animal other than livestock for more than six (6) consecutive days.

Rabies quarantine area: Any area in which a state of emergency has been declared to exist due to the occurrence of rabies in animals in or adjacent to this area.

Rabies vaccination certificate: A method of recording and duplicating vaccination information that is in compliance with the county enforcement agency licensing system and uses county enforcement agency prescribed forms.

Stray dog: Any dog four (4) months of age or older running at large that is not wearing a valid license tag.

Vaccination: The administration of an anti-rabies vaccine to animals by a veterinarian, or in any authorized pound by employees trained by a veterinarian.

Veterinarian: Any veterinarian licensed to practice in Arizona or any veterinarian employed in Arizona by a governmental agency.

Veterinary hospital: Any establishment operated by a veterinarian licensed to practice in the state that provides clinical facilities and houses animals or birds for dental, medical or surgical treatment. A veterinary hospital may have adjacent to it or in conjunction with it or as an integral part of it, pens, stalls, cages or kennels for quarantine, observation or boarding.

Vicious animal: A vicious animal is:

(1)

Any animal that has attacked without reasonable provocation, caused injury or otherwise endangered the safety of human beings or other domestic animals; or

(2)

Any animal that approaches people in a "vicious or terrorizing manner"; or

(3)

Any animal in the care of a custodian or owned primarily or in part for the purpose of animal fighting or any animal trained for fighting.

Vicious or terrorizing manner: A vicious or terrorizing manner is displayed by an animal when it exhibits conduct which includes, but is not limited to, growling, showing teeth, snapping, biting, charging, circling, cornering a person or creating a reasonable fear of imminent attack.

(Code 1963, § 5-1; Ord. No. 1045, § 2, 10-10-78; Ord. No. 1453, § 1, 10-14-86; Ord. No. 1541, § 2, 4-24-88; Ord. No. 2454, § 1, 7-26-05)

State law reference

Similar provisions, A.R.S. 24-361.