Everyone has an idea of what is a pet, but the term "pet" itself is vague, at best. People may have a pet peeve, a pet project, or a pet rock. A student may even be a teacher's pet. People usually consider cats and dogs to be pets. Most people would not consider spiders or snakes to be pets, but some people do.
Legal definitions will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and sometimes even within the context of different statutory schemes. Here you will find a few legal definitions that cover both pets and creatures other than pets.
You may search through all Louisiana state laws here at the Louisiana Legislature's website. You may search through local municipal laws here at Municode.com.
PART II. COMMERCIAL FEEDS
For the purposes of this Part the following definitions shall apply:
(11) "Livestock" means cattle, buffalo, bison, oxen, and other bovine; horses, mules, donkeys, and other equine; sheep; goats; swine; domestic rabbits; fish, turtles, and other animals identified with aquaculture that are located in artificial reservoirs or enclosures that are both on privately owned property and constructed so as to prevent, at all times, the ingress and egress of fish life from public waters; imported exotic deer and antelope, elk, farm-raised white-tailed deer, farm-raised ratites, and other farm-raised exotic animals; chickens, turkeys, and other poultry; and animals placed under the jurisdiction of the commissioner of agriculture and forestry and any hybrid, mixture, or mutation of any such animal.
(19) "Pet" means any domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner thereof.
(20) "Pet food" means any commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by pets.
§39. Negligent injuring
E. For the purposes of this Section:
(1) "Harboring or keeping" means feeding, sheltering, or having custody over the animal for three or more consecutive days.
(2) "Livestock" means any animal except dogs and cats, bred, kept, maintained, raised, or used for profit, that is used in agriculture, aquaculture, agritourism, competition, recreation, or silvaculture, or for other related purposes or used in the production of crops, animals, or plant or animal products for market. This definition includes but is not limited to cattle, buffalo, bison, oxen, and other bovine; horses, mules, donkeys, and other equine; goats; sheep; swine; chickens, turkeys, and other poultry; domestic rabbits; imported exotic deer and antelope, elk, farm-raised white-tailed deer, farm-raised ratites, and other farm-raised exotic animals; fish, pet turtles, and other animals identified with aquaculture which are located in artificial reservoirs or enclosures that are both on privately owned property and constructed so as to prevent, at all times, the ingress and egress of fish life from public waters; any commercial crawfish from any crawfish pond; and any hybrid, mixture, or mutation of any such animal.
For the purpose of this title, the following definitions, terms, phrases, words and derivations shall have the following meaning herein, unless it shall be apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended:
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Animal: Any live or dead vertebrate creature, not to include fish or Homo sapiens.
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Cat: The term "cat" shall mean any member of the species Felis domesticus, excluding any and all other members of the family felidae or hybrids of Felis domesticus.
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Dog: The term "dog" shall mean any member of the species Canis familiaris, excluding any and all other members of the family canidae or hybrids of Canis familiaris.
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Wild animal: Any living member of the kingdom Animalia, including those born or raised in captivity, occurring naturally either presently or historically, within the boundaries of the United States, including hybrids thereof, except the following:
(1) The species Homo sapiens (human beings).
(2) Licensed and legally anti-rabies vaccinated ferrets.
(3) a. The species Canis familiaris (domestic dogs, excluding hybrids and other wild canids).
b. The species Felis domesticus (domestic cats, excluding hybrids).
(4) The species Equus caballus (domestic horses or hybrids thereof).
(5) The species Equus asinus (asses/donkeys or hybrids thereof).
(6) The species Bos domesticus, Bos indicus, Bos taurus (cattle).
(7) The sub-species Ovis ammon aries (sheep).
(8) The species Capra hircus (goats).
(9) The sub-species Sus scrafa domestica (swine).
(10) Domesticated races of the species Gallus gallus or Meleagris gallopavo (poultry).
(11) Domesticated races of the species Mesocricetus auratus (golden hamsters).
(12) Domesticated races of the sub-species Cavia aperea procelus (guinea pigs).
(13) Domesticated races of rats or mice, gerbils (white or albino, trained, laboratory raised).
(14) Domesticated races of the species Oryctolagus cuniculus (rabbits), chinchillas.
(15) Avians (birds).
(16) Nonpoisonous reptiles, excluding alligators and crocodiles.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
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Cat means any felis catus four months of age or older.
Community cat means a feral or free-roaming cat that is without visibly-discernible identification of any kind and has been sterilized, vaccinated, and ear-tipped. Community cats are exempt from licensing, feeding bans and registration requirements.
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Dog means any canis lupis familiaris over four months of age.
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Wild or exotic animals means:
(1) Any live monkey (nonhuman primate), raccoon, skunk, wolf, squirrel, coyote, fox, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx, serval cat, or any other warm-blooded animal not otherwise defined;
(2) Any venomous or constricting snake (such as Boidae family) that will grow to an adult size greater than three feet;
(3) Any tarantula which can normally be found in the wild state;
(4) Any member of crocodilian including, but not limited to, alligators, crocodiles, caimans and gharials;
(5) Any exotic animal hybrid; or
(6) Any rooster, cockerel, cock, or chanticleer.
Ferrets, nonvenomous snakes (other than constricting snakes that will grow to an adult size larger than three feet), rabbits, box or aquatic turtles, laboratory rats and skunks which have been bred and raised in captivity which have never known the wild, and pocket pets or pet rodents including, but not limited to, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, chinchillas, sugar gliders or hedgehogs shall be excluded from this definition.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
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Pet means a domestic companion animal, including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, ferrets, and guinea pigs. Amphibians and reptiles may also be considered "pets," except for any prohibitions or exclusions noted in this ordinance.
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Prohibited animal means any mammal, amphibian, reptile, or bird, which is of a species usually not domesticated, due to size, wild nature or other characteristic, or which is dangerous to humans, including, but not limited to: simians of all types, including monkeys, apes, and chimpanzees; felines, other than domestic cats; opossums; skunks; raccoons; poisonous reptiles; poisonous amphibians; or any snakes not indigenous to the state.
