It shall be unlawful for the owner of any domestic animal to
knowingly cause or allow the same to run at large or be exposed in
any public place anywhere in the Village, or to ship or remove such
animal from the owner's premises when same is afflicted with a contagious
or infectious disease, except under the supervision of the Chief of
Police. This provision shall not prevent taking a diseased animal
to a licensed veterinarian at the request of the veterinarian. It
shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to order the disposition
of such diseased animal and treatment of the affected premises to
prevent the communication and spread of contagion or infection, except
in cases where the State Veterinarian is empowered to act and does
act.
It shall be unlawful for any person to:
A. Beat, underfeed, overload, overwork, torment, abandon or otherwise
inhumanely treat any domestic animal anywhere in the Village; or
B. Knowingly poison or cause to be poisoned any domestic animal, except
that common rat poison mixed only with vegetable or grain substances
may be exposed for the protection of property.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, permit or have
custody of any of the following anywhere in the Village:
A. Any wild creature contrary to federal, state or local laws or regulations,
except that such a creature too young to survive without the presence
of specie adults native to the area may be temporarily kept, cared
for and protected in the same manner as domestic animals; or
B. An imported creature which is subject to special permit and licensing
by the State Department of Agriculture.
Exhibitions or parades involving ferae naturae or domestic animals,
or both, may be conducted only upon the issuance of a permit therefor
by the Village Board. Performing exhibits, circuses and parades must
be investigated in advance by the Village President as to purpose,
intent, animal care procedures and assurances for human health and
safety.
All female animals in heat shall be confined in a building or
secure enclosure or upon a leash in such a manner that the animal
cannot come into contact with a male animal except for planned breeding.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or harborer of an animal
involved in a biting incident to euthanize, sell, give away or otherwise
dispose of such animal until a full release on the incident has been
issued by the Chief of Police. Animals, other than dogs and cats,
must be examined by a veterinarian on the first and 10th days following
a bite.
All incidents of bites by a dog or cat suffered by a human shall
be reported to the Chief of Police or an agent within 24 hours. The
Chief of Police shall report all bite incidents to the Vermilion County
Department of Animal Control on forms and in the time sequence required
by that agency. Depending upon the circumstances in each case, the
following procedure shall apply:
A. Licensed dog or cat.
(1) The owner or harborer of a properly vaccinated biting dog or cat
shall have the dog or cat examined by a licensed veterinarian, who
shall submit a report to the Chief of Police within 24 hours of the
incident.
(2) The biting dog or cat may be impounded upon the owner's or harborer's
premises. "Impoundment" shall mean within a structure or secure enclosure
or upon leash only upon the premises of the owner or harborer. The
period of impoundment shall be 10 days.
(3) The owner or harborer of a properly vaccinated biting dog or cat
shall have the dog or cat examined by a licensed veterinarian again
on the 10th day of impoundment. A written report by the veterinarian
that the biting dog or cat is not affected by rabies, filed with the
Chief of Police, shall terminate the impoundment.
B. Unvaccinated dog or cat.
(1) The owner or harborer of a biting dog or cat which has not been vaccinated
shall have it examined immediately by a licensed veterinarian, who
shall submit a report to the Chief of Police within 24 hours of the
incident.
(2) The owner or harborer will then impound the biting dog or cat in
a licensed animal hospital for the required ten-day confinement period.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or harborer of any domestic
animal to cause or allow the same to run at large in the Village or
be picketed or tied in any public place for the purpose of grazing
or feeding. It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police or his agent
to apprehend and impound any animal not under control. In the event
any such animal cannot be safely taken up and the animal is deemed
to be a threat to any person or property, the Chief of Police is hereby
empowered to eliminate same. Depending upon circumstances, impounding
shall be in the Village pound as follows:
A. Known ownership.
(1) When the owner or harborer of a stray animal is known through licensing,
collar identification or other immediate means, the Chief of Police
shall notify such person of the impounding in the most expeditious
manner available.
(2) The release of an impounded animal shall not be made by the Chief
of Police until all expenses of apprehension, notification and impounding
have been paid by the owner or harborer.
(3) If the impounded animal is one requiring a license and/or rabies
vaccination, the owner or harborer shall have 48 hours in which to
present proof of licensing and/or rabies vaccination to the Chief
of Police.
(4) The known owner or harborer of the stray animal shall have seven
days from the time of notification in which to claim the animal. Failure
by the known owner or harborer to obtain release of the impounded
animal within this time period shall be deemed an act of disclaiming
and the Chief of Police shall consign said animal to a recognized
animal humane society or licensed animal shelter.
B. Unknown ownership.
(1) When the owner or harborer of a stray animal cannot be ascertained,
the animal shall be impounded for no less than 72 hours.
(2) If unclaimed beyond this time period, the Chief of Police shall consign
said animal to a recognized humane society or licensed animal shelter.
If, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian, such animal is not
suitable as a pet, it shall be euthanized.
C. Disclaimed animals.
(1) If, for any reason, the owner or harborer of any stray animal chooses
to disclaim ownership of same upon receipt of the impounding notification,
the Chief of Police shall proceed to consign the disclaimed animal
as provided herein, without regard to the time periods cited above.
(2) If, for any reason, the owner or harborer of an animal chooses to
disclaim ownership of same or voluntarily delivers the animal to be
disclaimed to the Chief of Police, executes formal acknowledgment
of such disclaimer, and pays the impoundment and consignment fees
involved, the Chief of Police shall process the consignment of the
animal to a recognized humane society or licensed animal shelter.