Chapter Definitions

  1. Law
  2. Tennessee Code
  3. Health, Safety and Environmental Protection
  4. Rabies
  5. Chapter Definitions

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As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

  1. “Cat” means all domesticated members of the feline family;
  2. “Commissioner” means the commissioner of health or a duly authorized representative;
  3. “Compendium or rabies compendium” means the most recent issue of the national “Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control” published by the Association of State Public Health Veterinarians;
  4. “Confinement” means housed in a building, pen or by some other suitable escape-proof method or enclosure or being leashed;
  5. “Department” means the Tennessee department of health;
  6. “Dog” means all domesticated members of the canine family;
  7. “Hybrid animal” means the offspring of wild animals crossbred to domestic dogs or cats or any of their progeny for which the owner has records substantiating that their genetic heritage consists of twenty-five percent (25%) or more from wild animals. Crossbred dogs or cats with less than twenty-five percent (25%) documented genetic heritage from wild animals will be considered as domestic dogs or cats for purposes of this chapter;
  8. “Observation period” means the time following a bite incident during which the biting animal's health status must be monitored;
  9. “Owner” means any person having a right or property in a dog or cat, or who keeps or harbors a dog or cat, or who has it in such person's care or acts as its custodian, or who permits a dog or cat to remain on or about any premises;
  10. “Peace officer” means animal control officer, police, rabies control officer, sheriff, wildlife officer, or similar duly appointed law enforcement officer of the state or any political subdivision thereof, authorized by the Constitution, statutes, charter, or ordinances to enforce statutory, rule, charter or ordinance violations. It does not include employees of the department assigned to implement this chapter;
  11. “Quarantine” means a state of strictly enforced isolation from other animals or the public imposed to prevent the spread of disease;
  12. “Shelter” means animal or humane shelter, dog pound or animal pound;
  13. “Vaccination” means the injection of a rabies vaccine for animals, which meets the standards prescribed by both the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) license granted to the vaccine for interstate sale and by the department; and
  14. “Veterinarian” means any individual licensed by the state board of veterinary medical examiners to practice veterinary medicine in this state.


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