8.02.010 DEFINITIONS (County Code § 6.04.010).

(a) "Animal Control Officer" means any Person designated as the Animal Control Program Manager for the County, as well as the head of the County's animal control contractor and their duly authorized officers or deputies. In the event the County has no animal control contractor to provide Animal Control Officers, or in cases of emergency in which additional animal control officers are needed, "Animal Control Officer(s)" may include Persons so designated by the Animal Control Program Manager.

(b) "Animal Control Program" means that program established by the County and participating cities, and the Program's animal control contractor(s), if any, which contractor is specifically charged with regulating and enforcing laws dealing with animal control within the participating jurisdictions. Animal Control Program includes the Licensing Program.

(c) "Animal Control Program Manager" means that Person employed by the County to oversee the Animal Control Program or designee.

(d) "Animal Control Shelter" means a County facility operated by the County, or by another public entity, an accredited, tax-exempt humane non-profit organization contracted with the County, or a for-profit business contracted with the County for the purpose of impounding, sheltering, adopting, or euthanizing seized, stray, distressed, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted animals.

(e) "Caretaker" means any Person 18 years of age or older, who has assumed responsibility for the care, custody, or control of an animal(s).

(f) "County" means the County of San Mateo.

(g) "Dangerous Animal" means any animal, except a trained animal assisting a peace officer engaged in law enforcement duties, that constitutes a danger to Persons or animals, and/or demonstrates any of the following behavior(s):

(1) Behavior that results in bodily harm that is less serious than a "Severe Injury," or constitutes a substantial threat of bodily harm to a Person; or

(2) An attack on another animal which results in an injury that is sufficient to require veterinary care even if not received.

An animal which has been declared by an out of this County jurisdiction as "potentially dangerous," "dangerous," "vicious," or any other similar designation, may be deemed a Dangerous or Vicious Animal for the purposes of this Chapter, as determined by an Animal Control Officer.

(h) "Health Officer" means that Person so designated by the County.

(i) "Humane Officer" means any Person who is qualified to and appointed pursuant to California Corporations Code Section 14502, and who is an employee of the County and designated as such by the County or an employee of a society for prevention of cruelty to animals or humane society that has contracted with the County to provide animal control services.

(j) "Licensing Program" means that program within the County Health Department, including by not limited to, any County contractor specifically charged with regulating and selling animal licenses in the County.

(k) "Owner" means any Person 18 years of age or over who:

(1) holds the license to the animal; or

(2) if the animal is not licensed, is legally entitled to possession of the animal; or

(3) has exercised primary responsibility for the care of the animal for thirty (30) or more consecutive calendar days.

(l) "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, organization, trade or professional association, firm, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, estate, or any other legal entity, and any officer, member, shareholder, director, employee, agent, or representative thereof.

(m) "Severe Injury" means any physical injury to a human caused by an animal attack that involves tooth derived muscle tears, disfiguring wounds or laceration(s), multiple bites requiring sutures, broken bones and/or requires corrective surgery.

(n) "Service Animal" means any animal defined as such by federal or state law.

(o) "Vicious Animal" means any animal, except a trained animal assisting a peace officer engaged in law enforcement duties, which meets any or all of the following criteria:

(1) Any animal, at the time of the attack, is already designated as a Dangerous Animal and/or is the subject of a Dangerous Animal permit, and which is found to have engaged in any of the following:

(A) Behavior that results in bodily harm, or constitutes a substantial threat of bodily harm, to a Person; or

(B) An attack on another animal which results in an injury that is sufficient to require veterinary care, whether or not received.

(2) Any animal that inflicts Severe Injury to or kills a Person.

(3) Any animal which cannot be safely maintained with a Dangerous Animal permit. .

(4) Any animal designated by another governmental jurisdiction as, "dangerous", "vicious", or any other similar designation, if that prior designation is based on behavior which would meet the definition of a Vicious Animal under this Chapter, as determined by an Animal Control Officer.