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“Animal,” for the purposes of this chapter, shall mean dogs or any domesticated animal of the canine family. “Animal” does not include species of animals commonly kept or raised in Sierra County as “farm animals,” including cattle, sheep, horses, goats and swine.

“Animal control” means that section of the county government which is specifically charged with the regulation of, and the enforcement of, laws dealing with animals existing within the unincorporated territories of the county and incorporated areas thereof which may, from time to time, contract with the county for such services.

“Animal control center” means the facilities provided by the county for impounding of animals, either directly or on contract.

“At large” means an animal off the premises of its owner and not under restraint by leash, or not under control and in the immediate presence of the owner. “At large,” as applied to dogs, shall also mean any dog on any road or street, whether publicly or privately maintained, and not under restraint by leash, and not under the control and in the immediate presence of the owner. A privately maintained road or street shall not include any such road or street serving two or less residences or businesses. For animals other than dogs, it shall also mean any unattended animal not confined by an adequate fence or restrained by a tether. An adequate fence is any fence which is good, strong, substantial, and sufficient to prevent the ingress and egress of the unattended animal. Further, any fence which is intended to restrict the ingress or egress of any particular animal which has the capacity to go over, under, or through any fence in question is not a good and substantial fence unless its design and capacity is sufficient to prevent ingress and egress by the particular animal or animal in question. Livestock, including cattle, sheep, horses and those animals excluded under the definition of “animal” in this section, are not included in this definition of “at large” animals.

“Chief of Animal Control” means the person designated by the County Director of Health to serve such capacity.

“County” means, unless otherwise specified, Sierra County.

“Health Department” means the Health Department of the county.

“Health Officer” means the Health Officer of the county and any Health Department employee or other person duly authorized by the Health Officer to act on his behalf.

“Impoundment” means the taking up and confining of an animal under the authority of the Chief of Animal Control in a manner consistent with recognized standards of humane treatment.

“Kennel” means any enclosure, premises, building, structure, lot or area in or on which five or more dogs of at least four months of age are kept, harbored or maintained, for commercial or noncommercial purposes.

“Owner” means a person who possesses, has title to or an interest in, harbors, or has control, custody or possession of an animal. The verb form of “to own” includes all these shades of meaning.

“Person” means fictional entities such as corporations, estates, associations, partnerships and trusts, as well as one or more individual human beings.

“Vaccination” means the inoculation of a dog or other animal with a vaccine approved by and in the manner prescribed by the State Department of Public Health.

“Veterinarian” means a person licensed by the state of California to practice veterinary medicine. (Ord. 767, eff. 3/21/91; Ord. 757, eff. 4/19/90. Formerly 8.08.010 through 8.08.140)