— Also termed creature.
domestic animal.
1. An animal that is customarily devoted to the service of humankind at the time and in the place where it is helped. See DOMITAE NATURAE; MANSUETAE NATURAE.
2. Any animal that is statutorily so designated.
feral animal. A domestic animal that has returned to a wild state. • Feral animals, unlike others of their species, are usu. unsocialized to people.
vicious animal.
1. An animal that has shown itself to be dangerous to humans.
2. Loosely, one belonging to a breed or species that is known or reputed to be dangerous. • A vicious animal may be domestic, feral, or wild. See VICIOUS PROPENSITY.
wild animal.
1. An animal that, as a matter of common knowledge, is naturally untamable, unpredictable, dan-gerous, or mischievous. See FERAE NATURAE.
2. Any animal not statutorily designated as a domestic animal.
— Also termed wild creature.
“Wild creatures, such as game, are part of the land and pass with it, though it cannot be said that they are within the ownership of any particular person. Wild creatures which have been tamed belong to the person who has tamed them, and animals too young to escape belong to the owner of the land on which they are, but in each case the owner has only a qualified property in them, for the moment they gain or regain their natural liberty the ownership is lost.” G.C. Cheshire, Modern Law of Real Property 118 (3d ed. 1933).
