“Adult” means any animal over the age of seven months.

“Animal” means and includes female, spayed female, male and neutered male animals, excepting any goat, horse, mule, cattle, swine, ass, or other livestock, and excepting any dog or cat.

“Animal control agency” means that animal control organization authorized by the City of Lakewood to enforce its animal control provisions.

“Animal control officer” means any individual employed, contracted or appointed by the City of Lakewood for the purpose of enforcing this title or any other state or local codes or regulations relating to animal control, animal licensing, and/or animal impounding.

“Animal shelter” means the animal control facility authorized by Pierce County or such other shelter as may be authorized by the City.

“At large” means off the premises of the owner or keeper of the dog, cat, or animal, and not under restraint by leash or chain by a competent person.

“Cat” means and includes female, spayed female, male and neutered male cats.

“Competent person” means a person who is able to sufficiently care for, control, and restrain his/her dog, cat, or other animal, and who has the capacity to exercise sound judgment regarding the rights and safety of others.

“Court” means the court which has jurisdiction over the animal control matters involved, and could refer to either a court of limited jurisdiction or the Pierce County Superior Court unless a specific court is indicated.

“Dangerous dogs” means any dog that (1) inflicts severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property, (2) kills a domestic animal without provocation while the dog is off the owner’s property, or (3) has been previously found to be potentially dangerous because of injury inflicted on a human, the owner having received notice of such and the dog again aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of humans.

“Dog” means and includes female, spayed female, male and neutered male dogs.

“Dog guide” means a dog that is trained for the purpose of guiding blind persons or a dog that is trained for the purpose of assisting hearing impaired persons.

“Humane trap” means a live animal box enclosure trap designed to capture and hold an animal without injury.

“Impound” means to receive into the custody of the animal shelter, or into the custody of authorized agent or representative.

“Infraction” means a civil (noncriminal) violation with penalties as defined in LMC 1.48.010.

“Juvenile” means any animal from weaning to seven months of age.

“Misdemeanor” means a criminal offense with a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail or a fine of $1,000 or both.

“Owner” means any person, firm, or corporation owning, having an interest in, or having control or custody or possession of any dog, cat, or animal.

“Potentially dangerous dog” means any dog that when unprovoked: (1) inflicts bites on a human or a domestic animal either on public or private property, or (2) chases or approaches a person upon the streets, sidewalks, or any public grounds or private property in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, or any dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked to cause injury or otherwise to threaten the safety of humans or domestic animal on any public or private property.

“Securely enclosed and locked” means a pen or structure which has secure sides and a secure top. If the pen or structure has no bottom secured to the sides, then the sides must be embedded in the ground no less than one foot.

“Service animal” means an animal of any type that has been trained at a recognized school or training facility for the purpose of assisting or accommodating a disabled person’s sensory, mental or physical disability.

“Unconfined” means not securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure upon the premises of the person owning, harboring or having the care of the animal. [Ord. 360 § 2, 2004; Ord. 319 § 1, 2003; Ord. 313 § 1, 2003; Ord. 205 § 1, 1999; Ord. 40 § 1, 1996.]