The following words or terms, when used in this Chapter, shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Adult animal" means an intact female animal twelve (12) months of age or older;
"Animal" means a dog or a cat;
"Animal shelter" means any facility that maintains ten or more dogs and cats operated by or under contract for the state, a county, a municipal corporation, or any other political subdivision of the state for the purpose of impounding or harboring seized, stray, homeless, abandoned or unwanted dogs or cats; and any facility that maintains ten or more dogs and cats operated, owned, or maintained by any person or organization for such purpose, but not including any facility that does not house or harbor dogs or cats on the premises and only operates through a system of fostering in private homes;
"Animal shelter license" means a license issued to any applicant that qualifies and is licensed as an animal shelter operator;
"Animal shelter operator" means any individual, entity, association, trust, or corporation that operates a facility that maintains ten or more dogs and cats for the purpose of impounding or harboring seized, stray, homeless, abandoned or unwanted dogs or cats, but not including any facility that does not house or harbor dogs or cats on the premises and only operates through a system of fostering in private homes;
"Board" means the State Board of Agriculture;
"Cat" means a mammal that is wholly or partly of the species Felis domesticus;
"Commercial breeder" and "commercial pet breeder" mean any individual, entity, association, trust, or corporation who possesses eleven or more intact female animals for the use of breeding or dealing in animals for direct or indirect sale or for exchange in return for consideration;
"Commercial pet breeder license" means a license issued to any person that qualifies and is licensed as a commercial pet breeder;
"Department" means the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry;
"Dog" means a mammal that is wholly or partly of the species Canis familiaris;
"Facility" means the premises used by one or more animal shelter operators orcommercial breeders . The term includes all buildings, property, and confinement areas in a single location used to conduct the animal sheltercommercial breeding business;
"Family member" means the parent, spouse, child, or sibling of an individual;
"Humane society" means a nonprofit organization exempt from federal income taxation as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, that has as a principal purpose the prevention of animal cruelty or the sheltering of, caring for, and providing of homes for lost, stray, and abandoned animals;
"Inspector" means an authorized agent of the Board or any other qualified person authorized by the Department to conduct inspections;
"Intact female animal" means a female animal, nine (9) months of age or older, and not spayed;
"Kitten" means a cat less than twelve (12) months old;
"Local animal control authority" means a municipal or county animal control office with authority over the premises in which an animal is kept or, in an area that does not have an animal control office, the county sheriff;
"Marketing" means the solicitation for sale of animals;
"Necessary veterinary care" means at least one personal visual inspection annually by a veterinarian licensed in Oklahoma, guidance from a licensed veterinarian on preventative care, an exercise plan is approved by a licensed veterinarian, normal and prudent attention to skin, coat, and nails, prompt treatment of any illness or injury, and where needed, humane euthanasia by a licensed veterinarian using lawful techniques deemed acceptable by the American Veterinary Medical Association. If, during the course of a routine personal visual inspection, the licensed veterinarian detects signs of disease or injury in an animal, then a physical examination of the animal shall be conducted by the licensed veterinarian.
"Noncommercial breeder" means any individual, entity, association, trust, or corporation who possesses ten or fewer intact female animals for the use of breeding or dealing in animals for direct or indirect sale or for exchange in return for consideration;
"Owner" means a person who owns ten percent (10%) or more of the ownership interest in a commercial pet breeder facility, directly or indirectly, in an entity.
"Person" means any individual, association, trust, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity;
"Pet" means a dog or cat, including a puppy or kitten;
"Possess" means to have custody of or control over, but shall not include custody or control over an animal by a person who is not a resident of Oklahoma and is in Oklahoma for the sole purpose of attending a competitive show or event held in Oklahoma;
"Puppy" means a dog less than twelve (12) months old;
"Recipient" means a purchaser, adopter, or any other person who receives a pet.
"Veterinarian" means a person currently licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Oklahoma.
Okla. Admin. Code § 35:55-1-2
Added at 29 Ok Reg 1747, eff 6-21-12 (emergency); Added at 30 Ok Reg 829, eff 7-1-13