[Amended 6-19-1984; 1-21-1986; 12-20-1988; 7-17-2008; 10-16-2012; 10-21-2014; 2-17-2015; 12-20-2016]
Every person residing in McLean County who is
the owner of a dog or cat shall register said dog or cat with the
County of McLean.
A.
The registration fee shall be as set forth in Chapter 205, Fees, § 205-87. Registration fees shall be discounted a maximum of $1 per registration for:
(1)
Any
dog or cat registered by a not-for-profit animal care/rescue organization
at an approved rabies vaccination clinic operated in accordance with
rules promulgated by the County Administrator; or
(2)
Any
dog or cat registered at a rabies vaccination clinic offered by the
McLean County Animal Control Center.
B.
Registration tag.
(1)
Any person owning or having a dog or cat in his or
her possession or custody shall have displayed upon the dog or cat
a County rabies registration tag or, in the immediate possession of
the person then in control of the dog or cat, proof that the dog or
cat has been officially vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian and
registered with McLean County, which must be displayed upon demand
by any person or agent of the Animal Control Center duly authorized
to enforce this chapter or any Illinois law enforcement officer.
(2)
The tag commonly called a "County rabies registration
tag" shall create a presumption that the dog or cat is vaccinated
and registered with the County of McLean; however, this presumption
shall not apply if any duly authorized personnel of the Animal Control
Center or any Illinois law enforcement officer has information that
the dog or cat is in fact not registered.
C.
Any duly authorized personnel of the Animal Control
Center or any Illinois law enforcement officer is authorized and may
summarily seize and impound as a public nuisance any dog or cat for
which proof of current vaccination for rabies and registration is
not displayed on or is not in the immediate possession of the person
then in custody or possession of such dog or cat for which the duly
authorized personnel or law enforcement officer has information that
the dog or cat is not officially vaccinated and registered with the
County of McLean. A dog or cat which is not claimed after seven business
days from the date of seizure (not counting the date the dog or cat
is seized) shall become the property of the County of McLean.
D.
The requirement that a dog or cat be vaccinated and
registered with the County of McLean shall not apply to persons owning
or possessing a dog or cat which is temporarily in the County as an
entrant in a public exhibition, contest or show sponsored by a dog
or cat club association or similar organization held in the City of
Bloomington, Town of Normal or McLean County. However, for this exception
to apply the sponsor of the exhibition, contest or show must have
given prior written notice of the public exhibition, contest or show
to the McLean County Animal Control Center. The following are exempt
from this penalty: feral cat caretakers who are participating in an
approved trap, neuter release program, assistance dogs, guide dogs,
hearing dogs, and any service dog for a municipality or governmental
agency.
E.
The Administrator is authorized to enter into agreements with veterinarians
for the submission of approved McLean County registration forms and
fees.
F.
The fee charged for the registration of dogs or cats shall be paid
at the McLean County Animal Control Center or at veterinarian offices
that have entered into agreements with the McLean County Animal Control
Center for registration and collection of fees.
G.
Every owner of a dog or cat which is inoculated against rabies in the County of McLean shall be issued a County rabies registration tag by the inoculating veterinarian. Replacement tags will be issued at McLean County Animal Control Center at a fee set forth in Chapter 205, Fees, § 205-87.
[Amended 6-19-1984; 1-21-1986; 7-17-2008]
No registration fee shall be assessed to those
owners who are using a dog as an assistance dog, guide dog, hearing
dog, and any service dog for a municipality or governmental agency
or feral cat caretaker.
[Amended 6-19-1984; 7-17-2008]
Any person found in violation of any of the
provisions of this article regarding the registration of dogs or cats
shall be guilty of a petty offense for the first or second offense
and shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $250, and for
a third and subsequent offenses is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor,
punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not
more than 30 days, or both. All fines shall be used for animal control
and to otherwise effectuate the intent and purpose of this chapter.
