Definitions; A to S.

(1) "Abandoned by its owner" means any of the following: (a) Failure of an owner to return to regain custody of an animal left in the custody of a veterinarian by its owner for treatment, boarding, or other services at the scheduled time for the animal's return or at completion of the services. (b) Refusal of an owner to accept custody of an animal left in the custody of a veterinarian by its owner for treatment, boarding, or other services at the scheduled time for the animal's return or at completion of the services. (c) Failure of an owner to provide payment for treatment, boarding, or other services on an animal left in the custody of a veterinarian by its owner as agreed upon by the owner and the veterinarian. (2) "Animal" means an animal other than a human being and includes all fowl, birds, fish, and reptiles, wild or domestic, living or dead, which may be carriers of infectious diseases. (3) "Owner" means the actual owner of an animal, an agent of the owner of the animal, or a person with the apparent authority to act as the owner or as the agent of the owner of an animal. (4) "Supervision" includes that degree of close physical proximity necessary for the supervising veterinarian to observe and monitor the performance of a veterinary technician.