§ 7-6-2. Definitions.

In construing the provisions of this ordinance, except where otherwise plainly declared or clearly apparent from the context, words used herein shall be given their common and ordinary meaning. In addition, the following definitions shall apply:

A.

Animal shall mean any living creature, domestic or wild, excluding man or woman.

B.

Animal Control Officer shall be the designated representative of the Police Department.

C.

Authorized person shall mean the Police Department, Animal Control Officer, Health Officer, or any person under supervision of the Police Department.

D.

Biting shall mean seizing with the teeth or jaws or scratching by the teeth or nails or wounding or piercing the skin and includes contact of saliva with any break or abrasion of the skin.

E.

Cat shall mean all members of the species Falis Catus.

F.

Dog shall mean all members of the species Canis Familiaris.

G.

1.

"Vicious dog" means:

a.

Any dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury to, or otherwise threaten the safety of human beings or domestic animals; or

b.

Any dog which, without provocation, attacks or bites, or has attacked or bitten, a human being or domestic animal; or

c.

Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting, or any dog trained for dog fighting.

2.

"Dangerous" or "vicious" other than a dog shall mean either an animal that is known to attack a person at any time without provocation whenever any person is peacefully conducting himself where he lawfully may be or any animal that bites or otherwise injures a person two or more times when the animal was not under proper control.

H.

Other animal shall mean any domestic animal whether kept for pleasure, profit or any other reason including but not limited to dogs and cats.

I.

Owner shall mean any person having a right in property in a dog, cat or any other animal or who keeps or harbors a dog, cat or other animal or who has in his care or acts as its custodian or who knowingly permits a dog, cat or other animal to remain on or about any premises occupied by him.

J.

Proper control shall mean an animal on the premises of its owner or on a leash no longer than six feet and under the control of a responsible person.

K.

Running at large shall mean those animals which are off the premises of the owner and not under control of the owner or other responsible person.

L.

Severe bite shall mean a penetrating wound or wounds anywhere on the body or any wound on the face.

M.

Vaccination (inoculation) shall mean the injection of a rabies vaccine as approved by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

N.

Village shall mean the Village of Hoffman Estates.

(Ord. No. 3836-2006, § 1, 7-6-06)