§ 10-51. Definitions.

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

Board means the animal control board.

County governing authority means the board of commissioners.

Dangerous dog means any dog that, according to the records of an appropriate authority:

(1)

Inflicts a severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property at any time after March 31, 1989; or

(2)

Aggressively bites, attacks or endangers the safety of humans without provocation after the dog has been classified as a potentially dangerous dog and after the owner has been notified of such classification.

Dog control officer means an individual selected by a local government pursuant to the provisions of O.C.G.A. § 4-8-22(c) to aid in the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this division.

Owner means any natural person or any legal entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, firm or trust owning, possessing, harboring, keeping or having custody or control of a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog within the county.

Potentially dangerous dog means any dog that, without provocation:

(1)

Bites a human being on public or private property at any time after March 31, 1989.

(2)

Attacks and bites another animal or fowl and is of sufficient size, at least 15 pounds, and has sufficient aggressive behavior to endanger the safety of other domestic animals, farm animals and human beings on public or private property at any time after March 31, 1989.

Proper enclosure means an enclosure for keeping a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog while on the owner's property securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen, fence or structure suitable to prevent the entry of young children and designed to prevent the dog from escaping. Any such pen or structure shall have secure sides and a secure top, and, if the dog is enclosed within a fence, all sides of the fence shall be of sufficient height and the bottom of the fence shall be constructed or secured in such a manner as to prevent the dog's escape either from over or from under the fence. Any such enclosure shall also provide protection from the elements for the dog.

Records of an appropriate authority means records of any state, county or municipal law enforcement agency; records of any county or municipal animal control agency; records of any county board of health; records of any federal, state or local court; or records of a dog control officer as provided for in this division and by the laws of the state.

Severe injury means any physical injury that results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery or a physical injury that results in death.

(Ord. of 5-9-1995(3), § 1)

State law reference

Similar provisions, O.C.G.A. § 4-8-21.

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-2.