Chapter 5.08
DEFINITIONS
Sections:
5.08.010 Definitions.
For the purposes of this title and to clarify the intent and meaning of certain words or terms, the following list of definitions is provided:
A. Animal Control Authority. Any person, firm, association or corporation appointed or authorized by the Chief of Police to enforce or assist in the enforcement of the provisions of this title. The term shall specifically include, but not necessarily be limited to, any designated animal control officers, police officers, and employees of the animal shelter.
B. Adult Animal. An animal six months of age or older.
C. Animal. Any insect, fish, reptile, bird or mammal which is compatible with the residential character of the City of Lake Stevens. The term shall not include wild animals which, because of size, temperament, habits or any combination of the same, are not compatible with the City’s character. The keeping of such wild animals is prohibited.
D. Animal Shelter. Any facility operated by the Humane Society or a governmental agency or a City authorized agency, especially any such agency with whom the City has a contractual relationship, the purpose of which is the impounding or destruction of and/or caring for animals regulated under the authority of this title or state law.
E. Animal Shelter Building. A building used partially or exclusively for the shelter or housing of animals.
F. Areas of Concentrated Use. Areas where the concentration of animals has or will destroy the vegetation cover and natural infiltrative capacity of the soil.
G. At Large. Outside the premises of the owner and not under the physical control of the owner or a person designated by the owner, either by leash, cord, chain or other device no longer than eight feet.
H. Cat. Includes either male, female, neutered or juvenile animals of the biological genus felis domestica.
I. Covered Animal. Any hoofed animal usually found on farms, such as horses, ponies, mules, bovine animals, sheep and goats.
J. Dog. Includes both male, female, neutered, altered or juvenile animals of the biological genus canine.
K. Domestic Animal. Any animal that is usually tamed and bred for the uses of humans.
L. Exotic Animal. Any animal that is not native to or usually found in the United States.
M. Farm Animals. Any animal typically found on farms and kept predominantly outdoors, including but not limited to horses, ponies, mules, cows, sheep, goats, fowl, and rabbits. (See Section 14.44.075.)
N. Fowl. Birds which are sometimes raised for their eggs or meat including but not necessarily limited to, chickens, turkeys, pigeons, doves, ducks, geese, pheasants, and peacocks.
O. Guard Dog. Any member of the dog family which has been trained or represented as trained to protect persons and/or property by virtue of exhibiting hostile propensities and aggressiveness to unauthorized persons.
P. Guide Dog. A dog that is trained for the purpose of guiding blind persons or a dog trained for the purpose of assisting hearing impaired persons.
Q. Household Pet. Any domestic or exotic animal which because of its relatively small size, generally gentle temperament, and ability to learn from or serve man is normally bred and raised to live in or around a residence. The term does not include fowl, livestock or bees.
R. Inherently dangerous animal. Any live member of the Canidae, Felidae, Ursidae, and Reptilia families, including hybrids thereof, which, due to its inherent nature, may be considered dangerous to humans. Inherently dangerous animals include but are not limited to:
1. Canidae, meaning and including any member of the dog family not customarily domesticated by man, to include wolf hybrids (cross between a wolf and a domestic dog).
2. Felidae, meaning and including any member of the cat family not customarily domesticated by man, or any hybrids thereof, not including domestic cats.
3. Ursidae, meaning and including any member of the bear family, or any hybrids thereof.
4. Reptilia, meaning venomous and “devenomized” reptiles, including but not limited to all members of the following families: Helodermidae (gila monster), Viperidae (pit vipers), Crotalidae (rattlesnakes), Atractaspidae (mole vipers), Hydrophiidae (sea snakes), and Elapidae (coral snakes and cobras).
5. Colubridae snakes which are rear fanged, including, but not necessarily limited to dispholidus typus (boomslangs), thebtornis kirtlandii (African twig or vine snake), and rhabdophis (keelbacks).
6. Colubridae snakes which reach a length of 10 feet and over, including but not necessarily limited to green anaconda, reticulated pythons, Burmese python, albino Indian python, and African rock python.
7. Crocodilia, meaning and including crocodiles, alligators, and caimans.
S. Inhumane Treatment. Every act, omission or neglect whereby unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain or suffering is caused or permitted.
T. Kennel. A commercial operation that: (i) provides food and shelter and care of animals for purposes not primarily related to medical care (a kennel may or may not be run by or associated with a veterinarian), or (ii) engages in the breeding of animals for sale.
U. Leash. Leash, cord or chain no longer than eight feet. Under controlled training conditions the leash, cord, or chain may be up to twenty feet in length.
V. Livestock. Domestic or farm animals which are sometimes raised for their meat or milk or for man’s riding pleasure, including but not necessarily limited to rabbits, goats, horses, cattle and sheep.
W. Nuisance. Under this title, any act or situation injurious to the public health, safety or welfare which can result from an animal, specifically including but not necessarily limited to being vicious or by its action potentially vicious, excessive animal noises, such as barking, whining or howling, molesting a passerby, chasing a vehicle, attacking other domestic animals, excreting on property other than that of the animal’s owner, damaging property, biting or attacking a human being, being the victim of a communicable disease, running at large, being unlicensed or without metal license tag attached.
X. Own. Owning, leasing, keeping, possessing, harboring or being otherwise in the control of an animal.
Y. Owner. Any person, firm, association, or corporation having control, custody or possession of an animal or by reason of the animal being seen residing consistently at a location, shall be presumed to be the owner.
Z. Person. Any individual, firm, or corporation or association.
AA. Pasture/Waste Management Plan. A mechanism to develop and regulate animal keeping practices with respect to variables which influence the correlation between land use, animal numbers and water quality. An approved pasture/waste management plan is required for any farm animal or livestock keeping within the City limits.
BB. Poultry. Domestic fowl normally raised for meat or eggs and specifically includes chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese.
CC. Service Animal. An animal that is trained for the purposes of assisting or accommodating a disabled person’s sensory, mental, or physical disability.
DD. Wild Animal. An animal living in its natural state and native to the United States and not normally domesticated, raised or bred by humans. (Ord. 1124, Sec. 2 (Exh. A), 2021)
5.08.020 Generally.
All other words used in this title carry their customary meaning. Words in the present tense include the future and past tense, the singular includes the plural, and pronouns of one gender refer to both genders, unless the context indicates otherwise.
(Ord. 717, 2005)