As used in this part:

(1) “Abuser” or “animal abuser” means a person who has been convicted in this state of committing an animal abuse offense;

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 40-39-102

  • Animal: means a companion animal, and a "non-livestock animal" as defined in §. See Tennessee Code 40-39-102
  • Animal abuse offense: means :
    (A) Aggravated cruelty to animals, under §. See Tennessee Code 40-39-102
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Companion animal: means any dog, defined as any live dog of the species Canis familiaris, or cat, defined as any live cat of the species Felis catus. See Tennessee Code 40-39-102
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Director: means the director of the TBI. See Tennessee Code 40-39-102
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • TBI: means the Tennessee bureau of investigation. See Tennessee Code 40-39-102
(2) “Animal” means a companion animal, and a “non-livestock animal”, as defined in § 39-14-201. “Animal” does not mean “livestock”, as defined in § 39-14-201, or “wildlife”, as defined in § 70-1-101;
(3) “Animal abuse offense” means:

(A) Aggravated cruelty to animals, under § 39-14-212;
(B) Animal fighting, under § 39-14-203, where the defendant‘s act constitutes a felony; and
(C) A criminal offense against animals, under § 39-14-214;
(4) “Companion animal” means any dog, defined as any live dog of the species Canis familiaris, or cat, defined as any live cat of the species Felis catus;
(5) “Conviction” means a judgment entered by a Tennessee court upon a plea of guilty, a plea of nolo contendere, or a finding of guilt by a jury or the court, notwithstanding any pending appeal or habeas corpus proceeding arising from the judgment. Conviction includes a disposition of pretrial diversion under § 40-15-105, a disposition of judicial diversion under § 40-35-313, or the equivalent dispositions from other jurisdictions;
(6) “Director” means the director of the TBI; and
(7) “TBI” means the Tennessee bureau of investigation.
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