Chapter 8.01
DEFINITIONS
Sections:
8.01.011 Animal services shelter or animal shelter.
8.01.012 Animal services manager.
8.01.013 Commercial establishment.
8.01.071 Veterinary facilities.
8.01.120 Potentially dangerous animal.
8.01.000 Generally.
The words and terms used in this title shall have the meanings stated as set forth in this chapter, unless the meaning is clearly intended to be otherwise. [Ord. 4-2007 § 2].
8.01.010 Animal services.
“Animal services” means that division of the city government which is specifically charged with the regulation of animals and the enforcement of laws dealing with animals within the incorporated area of the city of Rancho Cordova. [Ord. 4-2007 § 2].
8.01.011 Animal services center or animal shelter.
“Animal services center” or “animal shelter” means the facilities provided by the city, or designated by the city, for the impoundment, relinquishment, quarantine, and adoption or sale of animals. [Ord. 8-2009 § 2].
8.01.012 Animal services manager.
“Animal services manager” means the administrative head of the city of Rancho Cordova animal services and his or her duly authorized deputies. [Ord. 8-2009 § 2].
8.01.013 Commercial establishment.
“Commercial establishment” means a place where commodities are exchanged, bought or sold, including, but not limited to, pet stores or other commercial businesses selling animals. [Ord. 8-2009 § 2].
8.01.015 Domestic animal.
“Domestic animal” means dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, mules, burros, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, llamas, emus, ostriches, camels, rabbits and fowl commonly kept or raised in the city as farm or livestock animals. [Ord. 8-2009 § 2].
8.01.016 Farm.
“Farm” or “ranch” means any land zoned and used for agriculture purposes. [Ord. 8-2009 § 2].
8.01.017 Farm cat.
“Farm cat” means any cat residing on a farm or ranch as defined herein whose presence is for the purpose of rodent control on such farm or ranch as identified under RCMC 8.01.016 and whose ownership cannot be determined based on the definition contained in RCMC 8.01.040. [Ord. 8-2009 § 2].
8.01.018 Feral animal.
Except as modified by RCMC 8.01.019, “feral animal” means any domestic animal which is known to live in a wild or semi-wild state without benefit of an owner, or any domestic animal which has escaped for a substantial period of time from the care of its owner and is existing in a wild state without benefit of domestication. [Ord. 8-2009 § 2].
8.01.019 Feral cat.
“Feral cat” means a cat which is known to live in a wild or semi-wild state without benefit of an owner or a cat which has escaped for a substantial period of time from the care of its owner and is existing in a wild state without benefit of domestication. [Ord. 8-2009 § 2].
8.01.020 Impoundment.
“Impoundment” means the taking and holding of an animal by an animal services officer. [Ord. 4-2007 § 2].
8.01.030 Licensing authority.
“Licensing authority” means the city clerk or such other city official or department designated by resolution of the city council. [Ord. 4-2007 § 2].
8.01.040 Owner.
“Owner” means a person who owns, possesses, harbors or controls an animal for 30 or more consecutive days, except a veterinarian or an operator of a kennel or a pet shop engaged in the regular practice of this business as such. [Ord. 4-2007 § 2].
8.01.050 Person.
“Person” means one or more human beings and all fictional entities such as corporations, estates, associations, partnerships and trusts. [Ord. 4-2007 § 2].
8.01.060 Rabies vaccination.
“Rabies vaccination” means the inoculation of an animal with a rabies vaccine approved by and in the manner prescribed by the California State Department of Public Health. [Ord. 4-2007 § 2].
8.01.070 Veterinarian.
“Veterinarian” means a person licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state. [Ord. 4-2007 § 2].
8.01.071 Veterinary facilities.
“Veterinary facilities” means all premises where veterinary medicine, veterinary dentistry, veterinary surgery, and the various branches thereof are being practiced. [Ord. 8-2009 § 2].
8.01.080 Guide dog.
“Guide dog” means any guide dog or seeing-eye dog which was trained by a person licensed under the provisions of the Business and Professions Code or as defined in the regulations implementing Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. [Ord. 4-2007 § 2].
8.01.090 Signal dog.
“Signal dog” means any dog trained to alert a deaf person, or person whose hearing is impaired, to intruders or sounds. [Ord. 4-2007 § 2].
8.01.100 Service dog.
“Service dog” means any dog individually trained to the requirements of the individual including, but not limited to, minimal protection work, rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.
A “service dog” is also any dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, or any dog approved by the manager of animal services which he/she believes to come within the definitions listed, after consultation with knowledgeable professionals. [Ord. 4-2007 § 2].
8.01.101 Working ranch dog.
“Working ranch dog” means a dog that has been trained and is used to herd and/or guard livestock, and the dog owner resides on or is the owner of property designated in the city of Rancho Cordova Zoning Code for agricultural use. [Ord. 8-2009 § 2].
8.01.110 Vicious animal.
“Vicious animal” means any of the following (except a dog assisting a peace officer engaged in law enforcement duties):
A. Any animal which, when unprovoked and in an aggressive manner, inflicts severe injury (as defined in RCMC 8.01.140) on, or kills, a human being.
B. Any animal previously determined to be, and currently listed as, a potentially dangerous animal which, after its owner or keeper has been notified of this determination, continues the behavior described in RCMC 8.01.120, or is found in violation of RCMC 8.07.055 or 8.07.060. [Ord. 7-2021 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 20-2014 § 1; Ord. 8-2009 § 2].
8.01.120 Potentially dangerous animal.
“Potentially dangerous animal” means any animal including a dog (except a dog assisting a peace officer engaged in law enforcement duties) which:
A. When unprovoked, on two separate occasions within the prior 36-month period, engages in any behavior that requires a defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury to a human or an animal, when the person and the dog are off the property of the owner or keeper of the dog.
B. When unprovoked, bites a person causing a less severe injury than as defined in RCMC 8.01.140.
C. When unprovoked, on two separate occasions within the prior 36-month period, has inflicted injury or otherwise caused injury by attacking a domestic animal off the property of the owner or keeper of the offending animal. Nothing in this section shall prevent an animal which commits an offense described in RCMC 8.01.110 from being determined vicious.
D. When unprovoked, and off the property of the owner or keeper of the offending animal, has killed a domestic animal, or causes injury to a domestic animal for which a licensed veterinarian has recommended euthanasia. Nothing in this section shall prevent an animal which commits an offense described in RCMC 8.01.110 from being determined vicious. [Ord. 7-2021 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 8-2009 § 2].
8.01.130 Vicious behavior.
“Vicious behavior” means any acts committed by an animal as defined in RCMC 8.01.110. [Ord. 8-2009 § 2].
8.01.140 Severe injury.
“Severe injury” means any physical injury to a human being or animal that results in muscle tears or disfiguring lacerations, or requires multiple sutures or corrective or cosmetic surgery. [Ord. 8-2009 § 2].