[Adopted 7-24-2007 by Ord. No. 07-041; amended in its entirety 11-25-2014 by Ord. No.
14-071]
As used in this article, unless the context otherwise required,
the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
The person appointed, or hired, by the Village to properly
apprehend, handle and care for animals.
ANIMAL CONTROL REVIEW GROUP
The group consisting of the Animal Control Officer, the Village
Code Compliance Officer, and a designee from the Will County Sheriff
assigned to gather information and evidence in making a determination
of dangerous dogs and vicious dogs.
AT LARGE
A dog off the premises of the owner and not under the control
of a leash by the owner, a member of the owner's family or an
authorized person.
BITE
To seize or cut with the teeth or jaws, so that the person
or animal seized has been gripped or has been wounded or pierced,
and further includes contact of saliva with any break or abrasion
of skin or mucous membrane.
CONFINEMENT STRUCTURE
A securely locked pen, kennel, structure or fence capable
of containing a dangerous dog and which shall be designed, constructed
and maintained to prevent the animal's escape and prevent the
entry of young children. The pen, kennel, structure or fence must
have secure sides, and any gaps or spaces present in the structure
must not allow the dog to escape or place its head through such gap
or space. All structures used to confine a dangerous dog must be securely
locked when such an animal is within the structure. Any fence used
to contain a dangerous dog must have a minimum height of six feet.
All structures erected to house a dangerous dog must comply with all
zoning and building regulations of the Village. All structures must
be adequately lighted, ventilated and kept in a clean and sanitary
condition. For the purpose of this article, voice control or electronic
fencing shall not be considered as a means of control.
DANGEROUS DOG
Any dog, other than a police dog, which when either unmuzzled,
unleashed or unattended by its owner or keeper:
A.
Approaches any person or any other controlled domestic animal
in a vicious or terrorizing manner in an apparent attitude of attack
upon streets, sidewalks, or any public ground or places, or on private
property other than that of the owner; or
B.
Has been used primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting,
or is trained for dog fighting.
DOG
All members of the canine family.
FERAL
Existing in a wild or untamed state, or returning to an untamed
state after domestication.
FIGHT
A prearranged conflict between two or more animals, but does
not include a conflict that is accidental.
LEASH
A cord, rope, strap or chain which shall be securely fastened
to the collar or harness of a dog and shall be of sufficient strength
to keep such dog under control.
MUZZLE
A device constructed of strong, soft material or a metal
muzzle. The muzzle must be made in a manner which will not cause injury
to the dog or interfere with its vision or respiration, but must prevent
it from biting any person or animal.
NIP
To pinch or squeeze with the teeth with no breaking of skin
or tissue.
OWNER
Any person having a right of property in a dog, or who keeps
or harbors a dog, or who has in his or her care, or acts as its custodian,
or who knowingly permits a dog to remain on or about any premises
occupied by the owner.
PERSON
Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, society, association
or other entity.
POLICE DOG
A professionally trained dog used by law enforcement officers
for law enforcement purposes and activities.
POUND
Any facility used as a shelter for seized, stray, homeless,
abandoned, or unwanted dogs or other animals.
VICIOUS DOG
A.
Any individual dog that, when unprovoked, inflicts bites on
or attacks a human being or other animal either on public or private
property.
B.
Any individual dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition
to attack, without provocation, to cause injury or to otherwise endanger
the safety of human beings or domestic animals.
C.
Any individual dog that has a trait or characteristic and a
generally known reputation for viciousness, dangerousness or unprovoked
attacks upon human beings or other animals, unless handled in a particular
manner or with special equipment.
D.
Any individual dog which has been found to be a dangerous dog
upon three separate occasions.
No person shall possess any dangerous dog unless the dog is
confined in accordance with this article.
A. Confinement indoors. No dangerous dog may be kept on a porch, patio
or in any part of a house or structure that would allow the dog to
exit the structure on its own.
B. Confinement in an exterior yard. No person shall confine a dangerous
dog in an exterior area unless the dog is confined in a confinement
structure constructed and maintained in accordance with this article.
C. Confinement on leash. No person shall permit a dangerous dog to go
outside a confinement structure, house or other structure unless the
dog is securely restrained with a leash no longer than three feet
in length and fitted with a muzzle. No person shall permit a dangerous
to be kept on a leash unless a person of at least 18 years of age
is in physical control of the leash. No leash restraining a dangerous
dog shall be attached to any inanimate object, including, but not
limited to, trees, posts, stakes and buildings.
Any person holding a license pursuant to this article shall
report the incidence of any of the following events to the Village:
A. The sale, barter, exchange, gift or death of any dangerous dog shall
be reported within 48 hours.
B. The escape from confinement or theft of any dangerous dog shall be
reported upon discovery of the escape or theft.
C. The biting or nipping of any person or animal by a dangerous dog
shall be reported upon occurrence.
D. The birth of any offspring of a dangerous dog shall be reported within
48 hours of the birth of the offspring.
E. The permanent removal of any dangerous dog from the Village shall
be reported within 48 hours of such removal by surrender of the license
of the owner to the Village.
All persons possessing a dangerous dog shall display in a prominent
place on the premises where the dog is kept a sign, which is legible
from a distance of not less than 100 feet, stating "BEWARE OF DOG."
A similar sign shall be posted on any confinement structure.
When a dog is apprehended and impounded by the Animal Control
Officer, he or she shall give notice of not less than 14 days to the
owner, if known. The notice shall be mailed to the last known address
of the owner. An affidavit or testimony of the Animal Control Officer,
or an authorized agent of the Village, who mails such notice shall
be prima facie evidence of the receipt of such notice by the owner.
A reasonable attempt will be made to contact the owner. In case the
owner of any impounded dog desires to make redemption thereof, he
or she may do so on the following conditions:
A. Present proof of current rabies inoculation; or
B. Pay for the rabies inoculation of the dog; and
C. Pay for the board of the dog for the period it was impounded; and
D. If the incident is a first offense pay an administrative redemption fee as set forth in Chapter
114, Fees, Article
II.
When not redeemed by the owner within seven days of impoundment,
a dog which has been impounded in accordance with this article shall
be humanely dispatched, offered for adoption, or otherwise disposed
of by the pound as a stray dog in accordance with the Will County
Animal Control Ordinance, as amended from time to time.
Any person found in violation of this article shall be fined
not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 for each offense.
[Adopted 10-28-2008 by Ord. No. 08-058]
For the purposes of this article, the following words, terms
and phrases, when used herein, shall have the meanings ascribed to
them in this section:
ANIMAL
Any living, vertebrate creature, domestic or wild, not including
man.
OWNER
Any person having a right of property in an animal, or who
keeps or harbors an animal, or who has in his/her care, or acts as
its custodian, or who knowingly permits an animal to remain on or
about any premises occupied by him/her.
PUBLIC NUISANCE
Includes any unattended animal that barks, howls, cries,
or makes any other loud or unusual noises for a period of time in
excess of 15 minutes.
It is unlawful for owners to allow their animals to become public nuisances at any time during the day or night. In the event an animal is deemed a public nuisance, the owner of the animal shall be issued a citation by the Code Enforcement Officer or an authorized agent of the Village and be subject to the penalties described in §
69-14.
Proceedings to enforce violations of this article may be initiated
and conducted in accordance with and pursuant to the provisions of
the Village ordinances providing for administrative adjudication of
code violations or by any other means provided by law.