§ 4-2. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases listed herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them below:
Abuse: To mistreat through intent or neglect any animal, fowl, livestock or wildlife in a manner that causes or is likely to cause stress or physical injury or as otherwise stated in this chapter.
Animal: Any living creature other than Homo sapiens. Unless indicated otherwise, the term shall include livestock, fowl and wildlife as well as dogs, cats and other creatures commonly owned as pets.
Animal services: The office of the city, which is primarily responsible for the enforcement of regulations regarding animals.
Animal services officer: Any employee of the city attempting to carry out the provisions of this chapter. Also referred to in this chapter as ASO.
Animal shelter: A facility designated by the city council to be used for the impoundment of animals, fowl, livestock and wildlife taken up by the animal services officers. Sometimes referred to as shelter.
Authority: See local rabies control authority.
Brand: A mark made on the skin of any animal, which indicates the ownership of the animal. Typically used with livestock.
Cat: The male and female of any domesticated member of the feline species of animals.
Circus: A commercial variety show featuring animal acts for the public.
City: The City of Hurst.
Commercial animal enterprise: A commercial enterprise or business that involves the sale, trade or performance of animals or involves providing a service by animals or involves providing a service by animals or for animals. It is an enterprise that involves the exchange of money or some other item of value. Includes pet stores, kennels and similar businesses as well as the breeding of animals for sale or trade.
Day: A workday; excludes Sundays and holidays.
Distance between structures: Where a minimum setback or distance between any enclosure for animal, fowl or livestock from a residence is required, it shall mean the most direct line distance between the two (2) structures unless otherwise provided.
Dog: The male and the female of any domesticated member of the canine species of animal.
Fish: Any of the cold-blooded animals that extract oxygen from water through the use of gills.
Fowl: All birds, i.e., chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, guineas, geese, ducks, peafowl and other domestic feathered creatures and nondomestic feathered creatures, regardless of age or sex.
Governmental entity: An agency or political subdivision of the State of Texas or an agency or department of the federal government.
Harbor: Any animal, fowl, livestock or wildlife shall be deemed harbored if it is fed, sheltered or maintained for three (3) days or more.
Livestock: Regardless of age, sex or breed: Horses and all equine species, including mules, donkeys and jackasses; cows and all bovine species; sheep and all ovine species; llamas; goats and all caprine species; and pigs and all swine species.
Local rabies control authority: The senior animal services officer.
Marine animal: Any animal, other than a mammal or bird, that lives in a marine environment.
Neutered: Any animal, male or female, rendered incapable of breeding or being bred, i.e., castration in the male and spaying or ovarian-ectomy in the female.
Owner: Any person, partnership, association, company or corporation owning, keeping, maintaining, harboring or having the care, custody or control of one (1) or more animals, fowl, livestock or wildlife.
Performing animals: Any spectacle, display, act or event in which animals, fowl, livestock or wildlife perform.
Person: An individual, partnership, associate, company or corporation.
Residence: Any place of human habitation at anytime, day or night, including but not limited to any residence, church, school, convalescent center or nursing home.
Restrained: Any animal, fowl, livestock or wildlife secured by a leash of some sort or confined within the property limits of its owner.
Tag: A vaccination tag attached to a collar as required by this chapter or some other permanent identifying device attached to a collar or to an animal.
Tattoo: A permanent mark which is made on the skin of any animal by puncturing the skin and inserting indelible color and which is used to show ownership.
Vaccination: An injection of a vaccine for rabies administered by a licensed veterinarian or at an approved anti-rabies clinic.
Veterinarian: Any person duly licensed to practice veterinary medicine by the Texas Board of Veterinary Examiners or who is exempt from such licensing.
Wild animal or wildlife: Any nondomestic creature (mammal, amphibian, reptile or fowl) which is of a species which is wild by nature, which can normally be found in a wild state and which is not naturally tame or gentle or which, because of its size, vicious nature and other characteristics, constitutes a danger to human life or property. Such creatures shall include but are not limited to all animals prohibited by the State of Texas or federal law and shall include but are not limited to the following animals:
(1)
Class mammalian: Order carnivora, family felidae (such as lions, tigers, ocelot, cougar, leopard, cheetah, jaguars, bobcat, lynx, serval and caracal) except commonly accepted domesticated cats and hybrids involving same; family canidae (such as hyena, coyote, jackal, wolf and fox) except domesticated dogs and hybrids involving the same; family mustelidae (such as weasels, martins, fishers, skunks, wolverines, mink and badgers) except ferrets; family procyonidae (such as raccoons); family ursidae (such as bears); order primata (such as baboon, orangutan, gorilla, monkey and chimpanzees); and order chiroptera (such as bats).
(2)
Reptiles: Poisonous reptiles, cobras and their allies (elapidae, hydrophiidae); vipers and their allies (crotiladae, viperidae); Boonsland and Kirtland's tree snakes, gila monsters (heleodermatidae); and crocodiles, alligators and their allies (order loricata).
(3)
Spiders: Brown recluse (loxosceles) and black widow (latrodectus) spiders.
Zoological park or zoo: Any facility, other than a pet shop or kennel, displaying or exhibiting one (1) or more species of animals, fowl, livestock and wildlife, operated by a person, partnership, company or corporation or under the auspices of a governmental entity shall be a licensed or accredited member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.
(Ord. No. 2026, § 1(Exh. A), 8-14-07)