§ 10-101. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Animal means any live, vertebrate creature, domestic or wild.

Animal control authority (ACA) means the agency or department empowered to enforce this chapter.

Animal control officer/humane officer means the person(s) employed by the Morristown Hamblen Humane Society (MHHS) as its enforcement officer(s).

Animal shelter means any facility operated by the Morristown-Hamblen Humane Society (MHHS) for the purpose of caring for all animals held under the authority of this chapter or state law.

At-large means any animal shall be deemed to be at large when it is off the property of its owner and not under the control of a competent person.

Dangerous animal means:

(1)

Any animal which, according to the records of the Morristown-Hamblen Humane Society (MHHS) and/or the Morristown Police Department (MPD), Hamblen County Sheriff's Department (HCSD) and/or the Hamblen County Health Department (HCHD), has inflicted severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property; or

(2)

Any animal which, according to the records of the appropriate authority listed above, has killed a domestic animal without provocation while off the owner's property; or

(3)

Any animal owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of fighting or any animal trained for fighting; or

(4)

Any animal not owned by a governmental or law enforcement unit used primarily to guard public or private property; or

(5)

Any animal with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury, or to otherwise threaten the safety of human beings or another domestic animal.

(6)

Exemptions for animals that are provoked. No animal may be declared dangerous if the threat, injury or damage was sustained by a person who, at the same time, was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises occupied by the owner or keeper of the animal, or was teasing, tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the animal or has, in the past, been observed or reported to have teased, tormented, abused or assaulted the animal or was committing or attempting to commit a crime.

Euthanize means to give a painless death.

Humane society means the Morristown-Hamblen Humane Society ("MHHS").

Humane society agent means any properly designated officer of the MHHS.

Impound means to confiscate or seize and hold.

Owner means any person, groups of persons, or corporation owning, keeping, or harboring an animal. An animal shall be deemed to be harbored if it is fed or sheltered for three consecutive days or more, or allowed to stay on property unreported as a stray.

Severe injury means any animal that causes physical injury that results in a broken bone or lacerations requiring sutures or cosmetic surgery.

Wild animal means any live, warm-bloodied animal that cannot be domesticated, or any reptile.

( Ord. No. 3560, 8-2-2016 )