§ 10-2. Definitions.

In construing this article, the singular shall include the plural and the masculine shall include the feminine. Except as otherwise provided herein, all words shall be construed in accordance with their established dictionary meaning. For the purpose of this article, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated:

Abandonment shall mean the desertion of an animal or the failure, neglect or refusal of an animal's owner or custodian to care for and maintain such animal, except under circumstances provided under F.S. § 705.19.

Animal shall mean any living dumb creature.

Animal control center shall mean any facility maintained by Manatee County or any municipality within Manatee County for the confinement and maintenance of domesticated animals that, pursuant to the provisions of this article, come into the custody of Manatee County or a municipality within Manatee County.

Animal control division or Division shall mean the division of Manatee County government established by the board, or the division of government established by any municipality within Manatee County charge with the responsibilities and vested with the powers, established in this article.

Animal control manager shall mean that person in charge of an animal control division or his duly authorized designee.

Animal control officer shall mean any person employed or appointed by the county who is authorized to investigate, on public or private property, civil infractions relating to animal control or cruelty and to issue citations as provide herein.

At large shall mean any dog or cat off the premises of the owner or custodian and not under the direct control of the owner or custodian.

Board of county commissioners or Board shall mean the board of county commissioners of Manatee County, Florida, or the governing body of any municipality within Manatee County.

Cat shall mean the domestic cat, Felis catus.

Citation shall mean a written notice, issued to a person by an officer when the officer has probable cause to believe that the person has committed a civil infraction in violation of this article, and that the county court will hear the charge.

City shall mean the City of Bradenton Beach, Florida.

Control shall mean the regulation of the possession, ownership, care and custody of an animal.

County shall mean Manatee County, Florida.

County Administrator shall mean that person appointed by the board of county commissioners to manage the operational affairs of the county.

Cruelty shall mean any act of neglect by omission or commission, torture or torment that causes unjustifiable pain or suffering of an animal.

Dangerous dog shall have the same meaning as provided by section 767.11(1), Florida Statutes.

Direct control shall mean immediate and continuous physical control of an animal at all times by means such as a fence, animal carrier or cage, leash, cord or chain of sufficient strength to restrain the animal; or, in the case of specially trained animals, including hunting dogs, shall also mean and include direct aural and oral control if the owner or custodian is at all times fully and clearly within the unobstructed sight and hearing of the animal and the animal immediately responds to such controls.

Dog shall mean the domestic dog, Canis familiaris.

Domestic animal shall mean and include any equine or bovine animal, dog, cat, goat, sheep, swine, poultry or other domesticated beast or bird.

Euthanasia shall mean the humane or merciful killing or painless death of any animal, performed in accordance with the provisions of all applicable laws.

Harboring shall mean the act of keeping or caring for an animal, or of providing a premises to which an animal returns for food, shelter or care.

Law enforcement officer shall mean any law enforcement officer defined in § 943.10, Florida Statutes (1987), as may be amended.

Motor vehicle shall mean any vehicle which is self-propelled, including a vehicle propelled by electric power, in, upon or by which, any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway.

Officer shall mean any law enforcement officer as defined herein; any veterinarian defined in § 474.202, Florida Statues (1987), as may be amended, or any animal control officer, as defined herein.

Ordinance shall mean this article.

Owner or custodian shall mean and include any natural person, firm, association, corporation, organization or department, or any agent or employee thereof, who owns, keeps, harbors, maintains, has charge of, controls, possesses, or who in any way exercises care or custody of, or dominion over, any animal; or who permits any animal to remain on property owned and/or occupied by that person. The knowledge or acts of agents or employees of the aforementioned entitles in regard to animals transported, owned, employed by, or in the custody of said entity, shall be held to be the knowledge or act of such entity.

Rabies vaccination shall mean the vaccination of a dog, cat or other domestic animal with an anti-rabies vaccine approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by a veterinarian, as defined herein.

Veterinarian shall mean a person who is licensed to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine in Florida under the authority of Chapter 474, Florida Statutes (1987), as may be amended.

(Ord. No. 98-312, §§ B, C, 8-6-98)