“Agent” means any person(s) 18 years or older authorized by an owner to act in the owner’s behalf.

“Animal Control Officer” means designated employees of the animal shelter charged with enforcing this chapter.

“Cat” means a domestic cat (Felis catus) commonly kept as a house pet or farm cat. The term does not include feral cats.

“Cat at large” means any cat found to be roaming aimlessly away from the premises of its owner or keeper. The term does not include farm cats and feral cats.

“Dangerous dog/cat” means any dog or cat which constitutes a potential threat to the health and safety of its owner or others because of its species, size, strength, temperament, training, behavior (normal or abnormal), disease carrier status or circumstances of confinement, except a dog so trained by duly constituted police or law enforcement authority, and includes any dog or cat that demonstrates a vicious and aggressive nature against person(s), property of others, or by repeatedly being at large, thereby causing a hazard to the community.

“Dog at large” shall mean any dog found to be roaming aimlessly away from the premises of its owner or keeper, excepting however a hunting or working dog which may have been lost or strayed away from its owner or keeper temporarily while engaged in lawful hunting or training.

“Dog/cat shelter” shall mean any dog/cat shelter established by any lawful authority within the County, or by the action of the Board of Commissioners or County Council in the County, to keep, care for or legally dispose of dogs/cats impounded as provided for herein.

“Feral cat” means an unowned domestic cat (Felis catus) that lives outdoors and avoids human contact; it does not allow itself to be handled or touched, and usually remains hidden from humans.

“Fostering agency” means any group or organization who has Board approval to remove animals from the shelter for the purpose of finding acceptable and approved homes for them. They must be approved by the Jasper County Animal Control Board.

“Hybrid” means the offspring of a cross between a wolf and a dog, a coyote and a dog, or among a wolf, coyote and dog.

“Keeper” shall mean any person having lawful custody of a dog/cat with the permission, expressed or implied, of such owner.

“Licensed dogs” shall mean any dog on which a tax has been assessed and paid and for which a license tag has been issued as required by the laws of the State of Indiana.

“Nonimmunized dog/cat” shall mean any dog/cat over six months of age which has not been vaccinated or immunized against rabies, or if a booster shot thereafter has not been administered for a period of 12 months from the date of the last vaccination.

“Owner” shall mean any person having a property right in any dog/cat or one in whose name such dog/cat has been licensed.

“Peace officer” shall mean but not be limited to the County Sheriff, his deputies, the marshal of every town, the police officers of every city, the constable of every township, members of the State Police and Game Wardens.

“Rabies vaccination” means the injection by a licensed veterinarian of a dog or cat with a rabies vaccine licensed by the U.S.D.A. and approved by the Indiana State Board of Health.

“Veterinarian” means any person licensed and accredited to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Indiana. [Ord. 01-03-23 § 1; Ord. 9-8-09A §§ 1 and 2; Ord. 7-6-99B; Ord. 12-1-97D § 1; Code 1988 § 74.01.]