Oklahoma § 4-702 - Definitions

§ 4-702. Definitions

As used in the Care and Disposition of Disaster Animals Act:

1. "Animal shelter" means a physical facility or entity,

including those utilizing private homes, operating for the purpose

of providing temporary or long-term animal shelter to lost, unwanted

or abandoned animals, that is recognized and approved by the state

or local authority;

2. "Approved website" means a website approved by the State

Veterinarian;

3. "Class #1 Event" means a state-declared emergency for a

county or portion of a county requiring companion animals' owners to

leave their residences for more than twenty-four (24) hours;

4. "Class #2 Event" means a federally declared disaster

requiring companion animals' owners to leave their residences for

more than twenty-four (24) hours;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 4. Animals

5. "Companion animals" means domesticated animals, such as a

dog, cat, bird, rabbit, rodent or turtle, that are traditionally

kept in the home for pleasure rather than for commercial purposes,

can travel in commercial carriers and be housed in temporary

facilities. Companion animals do not include reptiles other than

turtles, amphibians, fish, insects, arachnids, farm animals

including, but not limited to, horses, animals kept for racing

purposes or animals held by a registered research facility under the

federal Animal Welfare Act. Feral animals, animals covered by the

federal Animal Welfare Act or by regulations issued under that act

and any other animals held for use in or used in research are

excluded from the Care and Disposition of Disaster Animals Act;

6. "Disaster animals" means domesticated companion animals that

have become separated from an owner as the result of a Class #1

Event or Class #2 Event. Disaster animals include those found on

private property or running at large, as well as owner-surrendered

or relinquished companion animals. Feral animals are excluded from

the Care and Disposition of Disaster Animals Act;

7. "Extension by contract" means extensions of the mandated

holding period based upon an agreement between the owner and animal

shelter for an additional time period;

8. "Feral animals" means animals that do not have an owner;

9. "Holding period" means the length of time that disaster

animals are cared for by an animal shelter and not disposed of;

10. "Owner" means the person having title to companion animals;

11. "Reclaim" means the taking back of possession of disaster

animals by the owner or an agent of the owner;

12. "Shelter animals" means companion animals living at an

animal shelter before a Class #1 Event or Class #2 Event; and

13. "Tracking information" means available information about

the owner, physical description and health history of the disaster

animal, photographs of the disaster animal, information about where

the disaster animal was found and transported to, recommended course

of treatment and communications with an owner, including a holding

period extension by contract.

Added by Laws 2015, c. 304, § 2, emerg. eff. May 12, 2015.