§ 7-1. 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:

Adequate care means normal and prudent attention to the needs of an animal, including that care which is normally necessary to maintain good health in a specific species of animal. Grooming of animals is also required so that they are free from dangerous matting and nail overgrowth which can affect their health and may be painful.

Adequate food means supplying at suitable intervals (not to exceed 24 hours) of a quantity of wholesome foodstuff, suitable for the animal species and age, and sufficient to maintain a reasonable level of nutrition in each animal.

Adequate health care means the provision to each healthy animal of all immunizations and preventative care required to maintain good health, space adequate to allow the animal rest and exercise sufficient to maintain good health, and the provision to each sick, diseased or injured animal of necessary veterinary care or humane death.

Adequate shelter means a structurally sound, properly ventilated, sanitary and weatherproof shelter suitable for the species, condition and age of the animal which provides access to shade from direct sunlight and regress from exposure to inclement weather conditions.

Adequate water means a continual access to a supply of clean, fresh, potable water.

Animal means any live vertebrate creature except a human.

Animal control director means the program coordinator of the unified government animal shelter and/or his designee.

Animal control officer means an officer or employee of the office of director of animal control, and officer or employee of the unified government public health department, whose duties involve the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, or an officer of the police department.

Animal euthanasia means the humane destruction of an animal that may be accomplished by any of those methods authorized by K.S.A. 47-1718.

Animal shelter means the facility or facilities operated by the unified government or its authorized agent for the purpose of impounding or caring for animals held under the authority of this chapter or state law.

Cat means any member of the species, felis domesticus.

Commercial animal establishment means any pet shop, grooming shop, auction, riding school, stable, kennel, guard dog service, dog trainer, animal dealer, or any establishment performing one or more of the principal activities of the aforementioned establishments.

Dog means any members of the species, canis familiaris.

Ear-tipped feral cat means a cat that is unsocialized to humans and has a temperament of extreme fear or resistance to contact with humans that exhibits a straight-line cutting of the tip of its ear to indicate that it has been sterilized and vaccinated against rabies.

Fowl shall mean those domestic birds commonly kept for the production of meat, eggs, or feathers. Fowl shall include, but not be limited to, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, swans, peafowl, guinea fowl, ostriches, and emus.

Health director or director of health means the director of the unified government public health department. The term includes the director's authorized representative.

Owner means any person having a right of property in an animal or who keeps or harbors an animal, or who has it in his care or residence, or acts as its custodian. A parent or legal guardian shall be deemed to be an owner of animals owned or maintained by minors upon their premises.

Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, organization, or institution commonly recognized by law as a unit.

(Code 1988, § 7-1; Ord. No. O-22-03, § 1, 6-5-2003; Ord. No. O-8-15 , § 1, 1-29-2015; Ord. No. O-63-16 , § 1, 10-27-2016)

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-2.