The terms used in this article shall comply with §
159-2 of this chapter unless otherwise provided in this article.
The inoculation of dogs required by §
159-12A shall be performed by a veterinarian duly licensed to practice his profession in this state. Upon performing such inoculation, such veterinarian shall issue to the owner or keeper a certificate showing such fact and shall also deliver to the owner or keeper a metallic or other suitable tag to be attached to the collar or harness of the dog, which tag shall also certify to the fact of the inoculation against rabies.
The inoculation performed under the provisions of §
159-13 shall be effective until the expiration of the calendar year in which the vaccination was performed or the expiration of such period of time as may be promulgated by the Department of Agriculture.
The tag issued under the provisions of §
159-13 shall be in such form as shall be determined by the Department of Agriculture.
At any reasonable time upon request of any member of the Police Department or Village employee, the owner or keeper of any unmuzzled dog shall exhibit his certificate issued under the provisions of §
159-13, showing the inoculation against rabies of any dog owned or controlled by him.
The owner or keeper of a dog shall keep the dog under restraint at all times and shall not permit such dog to be at large, off the premises of the property of the owner or keeper, unless the dog is under complete control as defined in §
159-2. (65 ILCS 5/11-20-9)
In case of impounding and where the owner or keeper of such
dog is disclosed by any tax or license tag worn by it or is otherwise
known to the officers impounding the same, the designated official
shall make reasonable attempts to contact the owner, informing him
of the impounding of his dog, and shall cite the owner or keeper of
such dog to answer charges of violation of this chapter.
Any person(s) who shall bring any dog into the Village for the purpose of causing the same to be impounded or any person who shall resist, hinder or molest the poundmaster or dogcatcher or police officer while engaged upon the duties imposed upon them by this chapter or any person who shall break into the dog pound and release or deliver any dog therefrom without having first paid the fees herein specified, or any owner or keeper of any dog who shall permit any dog to run at large within the corporate limits of the Village, upon conviction of any part of this chapter shall be fined according to Chapter
93, Article
I, of the Village Code.
Those persons charged with the duty of enforcing this chapter
may employ any method found practical and humane in capturing and
impounding any dog found running at large.
The owner of any animal impounded under this chapter may redeem
the same by paying all the costs and charges assessed, if any, that
have accrued up to the time of making redemption. On paying the same,
it shall be the duty of the authorities to release the animal from
the pound and deliver it to its owner, or certify the release thereof
to any county authority having possession of the animal.
The Village Board designates the Vermilion County Animal Control
facility as the impoundment pound.
Any dog which may, in any manner, continually disturb the quiet
of any person or neighborhood or shall destroy or in any manner injure
any animal, plant, shrub or other property not on the premises of
its owner or keeper is hereby declared to be a nuisance, and such
dog shall be taken up and impounded and may be redeemed or disposed
of in the manner provided for under this chapter.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any vicious or dangerous dog as defined in §
159-2 or of any female dog, while in heat, to run at large within the limits of this Village.
No person in control or possession of a female dog, or permitting
the same to remain upon his or her premises, shall permit any such
female dog, while in heat, to consort with any other dog or dogs in
an indecent manner in any place of public view, whether upon his own
or any other premises.
There is hereby established the position of Animal Control Warden,
who shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of
the Village Board. He shall serve a term of four years or until his
successor is appointed and qualified.
The following regulations shall be applicable to owners and
guardians of dogs in their care.
A. Animals welfare. A dog that is outside for one hour or more, whether
fenced, kenneled, or tethered, shall have proper food, water, and
shelter. Owners and guardians shall be responsible for the welfare
of their pets in severe heat, cold, rain, snow, ice, and wind.
B. No dog shall be tethered within 50 feet of a school, day care, or
school bus stop.
C. No dog shall be tethered on any public easement or public access
to private property.
D. No dog shall be tethered on private property within 10 feet of public
or neighboring property.
E. No dog shall be tethered on land without a dwelling or a vacant dwelling.
F. No dog shall be left inside a vacant dwelling.
G. No more than two dogs may be tethered on one residential property.
H. No more than one dog shall be attached to a tether.
I. An electric dog containment system or a properly constructed fence,
of a height and strength or design that prevents the dog from jumping,
climbing, or digging out and running at large, is acceptable containment.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
J. A properly constructed kennel, of a height and strength that prevents
the dog from jumping, climbing, or digging out, and running at large
is acceptable containment if the following conditions are met. The
dimensions of the kennel shall be dictated by the size of the dog.
The kennel shall have a doghouse large enough for the dog to stand
and turn around, with a roof, four sides, and solid floor three inches
above the ground. The acceptable kennel size is 125 square feet per
dog under 50 pounds.
K. Tethering shall not be used as permanent means of containment for
any companion pet.
L. Tethering shall be acceptable under the following conditions:
(1) Trolley or pulley types of tethering systems are recommended.
(2) Fixed-point tethers shall be acceptable upon inspection and approval
by Animal Control.
(3) All tethers will be a minimum of 15 feet in length and no more than
1/8 the dog's weight.
(4) The tether shall have a swivel mechanism on both ends and attached
to a properly fitting, nonmetal, buckle-type collar or a harness.
(5) No pinch or choke collars shall be allowed.
(6) No tether shall be directly attached to the dog.
M. No dog shall be tethered longer than 10 continuous hours or 12 hours
in any twenty-four-hour period.
N. Owners shall be responsible to maintain a clean and healthy environment
on their property and provide medical treatment when needed.
It shall be unlawful for anyone to place or distribute any animal
feed on public property, public easements and accesses to public property.
It shall be unlawful for anyone to place or distribute animal feed
on vacant lots or in unoccupied structures in the county.
No owner or person shall confine any animal in a motor vehicle
in such a manner that places it in a life- or health-threatening situation
by exposure to a prolonged period of extreme heat or cold, without
proper ventilation or other protection from such heat or cold. In
order to protect the health and safety of an animal, an animal control
officer, law enforcement officer, or department investigator who has
probable cause to believe that this section is being violated shall
have authority to enter such motor vehicle by any reasonable means
under the circumstances after making a reasonable effort to locate
the owner or other person responsible. (510 ILCS 70/7.1)
It shall be unlawful for any person to bring or transfer into
the unincorporated area of the Village any dog or animal that has
been declared "vicious" by any unit of local government.