[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Dwight as Ch. 13 of the 1999 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. IV)]
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this article:
ANIMAL
A nonhuman vertebrate.
AT LARGE
Any animal off the premises of its owner and on other premises against the wishes of the person in possession of such other premises or upon the public streets, alleys, public grounds, school grounds or parks within the Village. An animal shall not be deemed at large if:
A. 
The animal is on the owner's property or a neighbor's property with that neighbor's consent; or
B. 
The animal is confined in a cage or motor vehicle; or
C. 
The animal is restrained by a leash of sufficient strength to control its action; or
D. 
A dog is actively engaged in training in dog obedience, for hunting or for other service under continual control of the owner or trainer, provided that the owner or trainer is conducting the training in an open public area, is not endangering other users or animals in the area, has the dog within 30 yards and under continual voice control and has in his/her possession a dog leash appropriate to control the dog; or
E. 
The animal is a draft animal engaged in drawing vehicles or conveyances.
OWNER
Any person having a right of property in an animal, or who keeps or harbors an animal, or who has it in his care, or acts as its custodian, or who knowingly permits a dog to remain on any premises occupied by him or her. "Owner" does not include a feral cat caretaker participating in a trap, spay/neuter, vaccinate for rabies, and return program.
A. 
All owners and keepers of any animal shall comply with the following standards of care. Failure to comply with any standards shall be a violation of this section.
B. 
It shall be the duty of each person keeping an animal, and no person keeping an animal shall fail in that duty, to provide:
(1) 
Food, shelter and water for that animal. No person keeping an animal shall abandon any such animal. "Abandon" shall mean ceasing to provide control over, shelter, food and water for an animal without having made responsible arrangements for such care, custody, and physical control to be provided by another person;
(2) 
Adequate food, which shall mean providing at intervals appropriate for the species a quantity of wholesome foodstuff suitable for the physical condition and age of the animal, served in a clean receptacle or container, sufficient to maintain an adequate level of nutrition for such animal;
(3) 
Adequate outdoor shelter for such animal when it is kept outdoors, tangle free, which shall mean a structurally sound, weatherproof, properly ventilated shelter which provides access to shade from direct sunlight and regress from exposure to weather conditions. The shelter should be appropriate for the particular species and breed;
(4) 
Adequate indoor shelter for such animal when it is kept indoors, which shall mean a properly ventilated and illuminated facility, sufficiently regulated by heating or cooling to protect the animal from extremes of temperature and to provide for its health and comfort. The shelter should be appropriate for the particular species and breed;
(5) 
Adequate sanitation, which shall mean periodic cleaning or sanitizing of housing facilities and any area where the animal is confined or restrained to remove excreta and other waste materials and dirt, so as to minimize vermin infestation, odors and disease hazards;
(6) 
Adequate space, which shall mean primary enclosures and housing facilities constructed and maintained so as to provide sufficient space to allow each animal to make normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement to maintain physical condition. The space shall be appropriate for the particular species;
(7) 
Adequate veterinary care, which shall mean that a sick, diseased, or injured animal shall be provided with a proper program of care by a veterinarian, or humanely euthanized. All animals shall be provided with proper immunizations and preventive health care including parasite control;
(8) 
Adequate water, which shall mean reasonable access to a supply of clean, fresh, potable water, provided in a sanitary manner. If potable water is not accessible to the animal at all times, it shall be provided daily, for such duration and of sufficient quantity as appropriate for the species; and
(9) 
Proper grooming as appropriate for the species and to keep the animal clean.
No person shall cruelly treat any animal in the Village in any way; any person who inhumanely beats, overloads, underfeeds or abandons any animal shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this section.
No person shall knowingly expose any poisoned meat or other poisoned substances on public or private property where the same may be taken by any human being or domestic animal.
The following acts and circumstances are hereby declared to be nuisances and, therefore, prohibited:
A. 
The keeping of an animal on private property in such number or in such manner that allows for the accumulation of solid waste of such animal, which becomes a detriment to or menace to the health of the animal or an annoyance to humans.
B. 
Allowing any dog to habitually bay or bark or any cat or other animal or bird to habitually screech, yell or make a sound of any kind or nature for prolonged periods in such manner as to unreasonably disturb the peace and quiet of the vicinity.
C. 
Allowing a pet animal to cause any damage or defilement to public or private property.
D. 
Allowing a pet animal to molest any person or animal on public or private property who has a legitimate reason to be thereon.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. IV)]
Any person who walks an animal on private or public grounds shall be responsible for the proper and immediate disposal of the solid waste from that animal, except when the animal is on the owner's property. This section shall not apply to an animal used by a person with a disability, especially trained for the purpose of assisting a person with a disability.
It shall be unlawful to engage in harassment of an animal except when such action is deemed necessary to protect persons or their property from the animal. No person except the owner of an animal or authorized agent shall willfully open any door or gate on any private or public premises for the purpose of enticing or enabling any animal to leave such premises.
When animal cruelty, abuse, or neglect as defined in this chapter is suspected and, if in the judgment of a police officer or county animal control officer, the well-being of the animal is jeopardized, such officer may enter upon any premises upon which the animal is kept and remove the animal from the premises.
It shall be unlawful to keep a dangerous animal except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
A. 
For purposes of this chapter, "dangerous animal" means:
(1) 
Any animal which has inflicted serious injury on a person without provocation;
(2) 
Any animal that has, at the animals own initiative, killed a domestic animal;
(3) 
Any animal owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of animal fighting; or
(4) 
Any animal which, by breeding, training, disposition or behavior, may pose a potential risk of attacking and inflicting injury without provocation upon people or other animals.
B. 
Questions or disputes as to whether a certain animal shall be considered dangerous shall be judged by a police officer or county animal control officer on the basis of reasonable evidence. If the police or county animal control officer has reason to believe that the animal threatens the safety of the public or other domestic animals, the officer may enter upon any premises upon which the animal is kept and remove the animal from the premises.
[Amended 3-10-2008]
It shall be unlawful to harbor or keep any dangerous wild or exotic animal which is known to have caused serious injury, death, or disease to humans or is manifestly capable of doing so. Questions or disputes as to whether a certain animal shall be subject to this section shall be determined by the Village Board of Trustees.
No person shall be permitted to keep venomous reptiles unless they have first demonstrated two years of secure and humane keeping of harmless snakes. Thereafter, the person shall be restricted for one year to the keeping of non-lethal venomous reptiles, e.g., copperheads, pygmy rattlesnakes, and sidewinders.
A. 
No venomous reptile may be kept in buildings containing more than one dwelling unit.
B. 
Venomous reptiles shall be kept in locked cages in locked rooms and the cage shall be labeled to identify the reptile contained.
C. 
Venomous reptiles that have had duct legation surgery shall nevertheless be regarded as subject to this section.
D. 
Cages shall be so constructed as to not break or give way as a result of reasonable foreseeable accident or misuse.
No person shall be permitted to keep a non-venomous snake in excess of six feet in length unless the person can show two years of experience in the secure and humane keeping of constricting snakes.
A. 
All non-venomous constricting snakes shall be kept in locked cages in locked rooms.
B. 
Cages shall be so constructed as to not break or give way as a result of reasonable foreseeable accident or misuse.
C. 
No person shall be permitted to keep a reticulated python, African rock python or an anaconda except after demonstrating they have sufficient knowledge and experience to keep such reptiles in a safe and humane manner.
D. 
No non-venomous reptile may be kept in buildings containing more than one dwelling unit.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to set and maintain animal or bird traps upon public or private property at any time except as follows:
(1) 
Traps set and maintained by the police or county animal control officers, or by persons acting under written permission of such officers, for the purpose of controlling animals determined by such officers to be a public hazard or nuisance; or
(2) 
Humane live box traps on public or private property, with the written permission of the police or county animal control officers. Such permission shall be withheld if the traps used and/or the locations of placement are deemed to be cruel or a hazard to people or domestic animals; or
(3) 
Instant kill snap traps designed for small rodent pest control.
B. 
The use of cannibear traps, snare traps, steel jaw traps, leg hold traps, spring traps, or any similar device designed to catch and hold the animal by the leg or other part of the body or which is likely for any reason to cause injury, pain and suffering before death are prohibited.
[Amended 3-10-2008; 2024 by Ord. No. 1520]
It shall be unlawful to keep any cattle, horse, swine, sheep, goats, or any other animals commonly recognized as livestock within the corporate limits. Any one-time events, such as a petting zoo or circus, are allowed.
[Added 2024 by Ord. No. 1520; amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. IV)]
Chickens may be kept in the Village of Dwight, provided the following conditions are met:
A. 
An annual permit shall be obtained by the property owner for the keeping of chickens, said permit being renewed on an annual basis as based upon the Village fiscal year, and said cost of permit as set by the Village Clerk as deemed appropriate, but in no event shall such permit have an annual cost of more than $200. Prior to said permit being approved by the Village, an employee of the Village shall come to inspect the location of the coop in which chickens are to be kept.
B. 
No person shall keep more than a total of five chickens at any residence. Should a party have chickens on their property pursuant to this section, they shall also have no less than two chickens at any given time. All chickens must be fed and watered at least once per day.
C. 
Roosters, guinea fowl, turkeys, ducks, peacocks, and any unreasonably loud species of chicken are prohibited.
D. 
No person shall slaughter any chickens except at a state- or county-licensed slaughtering facility, nor shall chickens be sold as a business. No eggs produced on residential property housing chickens may be sold.
E. 
No person shall keep chickens except in a fenced-in area in the back of a property, with a covered enclosure specifically constructed for protection of the animals, said enclosure requiring at least 75 square feet. No enclosure for chickens shall be allowed in the front or side yard of a property. All enclosures shall require a building permit, for which the permit fee is waived upon payment of the initial chicken permit fee, and must meet all requirements of accessory structures under the Village Code and ordinance. Any electrical permits required shall be made at additional cost.
(1) 
The enclosure must be designed to keep other opportunistic animals out, such as raccoons, coyotes, rodents or dogs. All owners must store feed supplies in a rodent-proof container and keep the enclosure and surrounding area free of excess vegetation, trash or debris. In the event that the Village employee does not believe the covered enclosure adequately protects the animals or fails to discourage opportunistic animals, the applicant's annual permit shall be denied or revoked by the Village.
(2) 
No person shall keep a chicken enclosure closer than 25 feet from any residential structure on an adjacent lot, unless written permission is given by the owner of such adjacent lot and submitted to the Village, and no closer than 15 feet from a property line.
F. 
No person shall allow the accumulation of waste material from chickens, including dead animals or waste eggs, nor shall waste be accumulated for purposes of composting.
G. 
Permits shall be issued for single-family residences only, as based upon a map of the location of the enclosures and a permit application. If the property is being rented for residential purposes, written permission of the owner must be submitted with the application for permit.
H. 
In the event a property has its water service shut off by the Village, during such periods of water shutoff, any permit for chickens shall be terminated and the chickens must be removed from the property.
I. 
In addition to the Village permit, all housing and ownership of chickens must be conducted according to any and all state and federal statutes and regulations as issued by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
J. 
By applying for a chicken permit, the permit applicant affirmatively agrees to grant permission to the Village inspector for purposes of ingress and egress in inspection of the chickens and/or chicken facilities.
K. 
No party shall be entitled to hold a chicken permit in the event they owe the Village of Dwight any fines, penalties or fees or there are liens held by the Village of Dwight on the property for which the chicken permit is made. In the event a party holding a chicken permit shall incur fines, penalties, fees or liens following being approved a chicken permit, such permit shall be revoked until such fine, penalty, fee or lien is fully paid.
L. 
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this section shall be subject to the penalty provided for this section in § 1-12 of the Village Code.
The members of the Police Department or any other person in the Village are authorized to kill any dangerous animal when necessary for the protection of any person or property.
A. 
No domestic animal afflicted with a contagious disease or an infectious disease shall be allowed to run at large, or to be exposed in any public place whereby the health of man or beast may be affected; nor shall such diseased animal be shipped or removed from the premises of the owner thereof except under the supervision of the Chief of Police.
B. 
It is hereby made the duty of the Chief of Police to secure such disposition of any diseased animal and such treatment of contagion of infection, except in cases where the State Veterinarian is empowered to act.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 13.118, Swine, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 3-10-2008.
Any animal running at large or for other reason as set forth in this chapter shall be impounded by a member of the Police Department or such other appropriate officer as designated by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Dwight. Such animals shall be impounded for a minimum period of five days. If the animal has bitten a person, the impoundment shall include five days from the date of biting, plus such other time period required by county or state health authorities.
When any animal has been impounded, the Chief of Police shall give written notice to the owner, if known, at such owner's last-known address.
The owner of any animal impounded under the provisions of this article may redeem such animal upon complying with the following conditions:
A. 
Obtaining and paying for the registration and vaccination of the animal, if required;
B. 
Paying all reasonable fees for the boarding and care of the animal incurred as a result of the impoundment; and
C. 
Payment of any fine as set forth herein.
Any animal impounded under the provisions of this article and not redeemed may be disposed of no sooner than five days after mailing notice to the owner or after determining that the owner cannot be identified, by either:
A. 
Placing the animal in an adoptive home;
B. 
Selling the animal; or
C. 
Destroying the animal in a humane manner.
Any person desiring to adopt an animal offered for adoption that has been impounded may do so upon payment of such reasonable fees for the boarding and care of the animal incurred as a result of the impoundment.
Any police officer or animal control officer shall have the authority to enter upon private property in a reasonable manner for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this article.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. IV)]
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this article shall be fined as designated in § 1-12 of the Village Code for each offense, and a separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. IV)]