Sec. 1.
As used in this act:
(a) “Adoption” means a transfer of ownership, with or without remuneration, of a dog, cat, or ferret from an animal control shelter or animal protection shelter to an individual for the purpose of being a companion animal for that individual. As used in this subdivision, a companion animal includes but is not limited to a dog that is used for hunting or as a guard dog.
(b) “Alteration” means a professional sterilization procedure performed by a veterinarian that renders a dog, cat, or ferret incapable of reproducing.
(c) “Altered”, in reference to a dog, cat, or ferret, means having undergone alteration.
(d) “Animal” means a mammal except livestock as defined in 1937 PA 284, MCL 287.121 to 287.131, and rodents.
(e) “Animal control shelter” means a facility operated by a municipality for the impoundment and care of animals that are found in the streets or at large, animals that are otherwise held due to the violation of a municipal ordinance or state law, or animals that are surrendered to the animal control shelter.
(f) “Animal protection shelter” means a facility operated by a person, humane society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or any other nonprofit organization for the care of homeless animals.
(g) “Cat” means a domestic cat of any age of the species felis catus.
(h) “Department” means the state department of agriculture.
(i) “Director” means the director of the department or his or her authorized representative.
(j) “Dog” means a domestic dog of any age of the species canis familiaris.
(k) “Ferret” means an animal of any age of the species mustela furo.
(l) “Health certificate” means a certificate in a form prescribed by the department in which a veterinarian attests to the age, sex, breed, and description of an animal, and to the fact that at the time of preparation of the certificate, the veterinarian examined the animal and found the animal free from visual evidence of communicable disease.
(m) “Municipality” means a county, city, village, or township.
(n) “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or other legal entity.
(o) “Pet shop” means a place where animals are sold or offered for sale, exchange, or transfer.
(p) “Veterinarian” means a person licensed to practice veterinary medicine under article 15 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.16101 to 333.18838.
History: 1969, Act 287, Eff. Mar. 20, 1970 ;-- Am. 1980, Act 214, Imd. Eff. July 18, 1980 ;-- Am. 1997, Act 7, Eff. Jan. 1, 1998
Last modified: October 10, 2016