6.04.010 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter:
A. “Animal control officer” means that person designated as the animal control program manager of the division of animal control services for the town and duly authorized officers or deputies, as well as the president of the contract agent for the county of San Mateo (“county”) and duly authorized officer or deputies.
B. “Animal control program” means that program within the division of animal control services of the environmental services agency of the county, or the county’s designated contract agency or both, which is specifically charged with regulating and enforcing laws dealing with animal control within its jurisdiction.
C. “Animal control shelter” means the facilities provided for the impounding of animals.
D. “Dangerous animal” means any animal, except a trained dog assisting a peace officer engaged in law enforcement duties, which because of its disposition, behavior, training or other characteristic constitutes a danger to persons or property, or which demonstrates any or all of the following behaviors:
1. Any attack, or other behavior which requires a defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury or property damage or that results in an injury to a person or property;
2. Any aggressive attack or other behavior that constitutes a substantial threat of bodily harm to a person or animal where such attack, injury or behavior occurs in a place where such person or animal is conducting himself or itself peaceably and lawfully; or
3. An attack, without provocation, on another animal or livestock which occurs off of the property of the owner of the attacking animal;
4. Any animal that has been deemed by another governmental jurisdiction as “potentially dangerous,” “dangerous,” “vicious,” or any other similar designation.
E. “Director of environmental services agency” means that person so designated by the governing body of the county.
F. “Dog licensing program” means that program within the division of revenue services of the employee and public services agency of the county which is specifically charged with regulating, and selling animal licenses and registrations in the county.
G. “Health officer” means that person who has been designated by the board of supervisors as the health officer of the county and any person duly authorized by the health officer to act on his behalf.
H. “Impoundment” means the picking up and confining of an animal by the animal control program.
I. “Owner” means that person eighteen years of age or over who holds the license to the animal concerned or if the animal is not licensed, that person eighteen years of age or over legally entitled to possession of the animal concerned and who has primary responsibility for the care of the animal.
J. “Severe injury” means any physical injury directly caused by an animal attack that consists of muscle tears, multiple punctures, broken bones or disfiguring lacerations, or which requires multiple sutures or corrective or cosmetic surgery.
K. “Vicious animal” means any animal, except a trained dog assisting a peace officer engaged in law enforcement duties, which meets any or all of the following criteria:
1. Any animal previously designated as “dangerous,” that after investigation by an animal control officer and/or peace officer is found under conditions which constitute a violation of this chapter or applicable dangerous animal permit and which demonstrates a significant danger to the public health or safety;
2. Any animal seized under Section 599aa of the Penal Code and/or upon the sustaining of a conviction of the owner or caretaker under subdivision (a) of the Section 597.5 of the Penal Code;
3. Any animal which inflicts severe injury on or kills a human being or another animal;
4. Any animal which has engaged in any aggressive behavior which demonstrates that the animal represents a clear and present substantial danger to the public health or safety and that due to substantial risk to the public health or safety it is unlikely that the animal could be safely maintained under a dangerous animal permit.
L. “Wolf hybrid” means any offspring of domestic dogs bred to wild canids (e.g., wolves or coyotes) and their subsequent generations. (Ord. 561 § 1, 2005; Ord. 431 § 2 (part), 1987)