Chapter 6-08
DOGS
Sections:
6-08-090 Welfare League authority.
6-08-100 Released upon payment.
6-08-140 Violation deemed misdemeanor and penalty.
6-08-010 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
“Dog” includes any canine three months or more of age, but does not include foxes, wolves or other similar animals.
The terms “has bitten” or “has been bitten” means has been seized with the teeth or jaws, so that the thing seized has been nipped or gripped, or has been wounded or pierced.
The term “inoculation against rabies” means the injection, subcutaneously or otherwise, as approved by the Department of Agriculture, of canine antirabic vaccine approved by the Department of Agriculture.
The term “owner” means any person having a right of property in a dog, or who keeps or harbors a dog, or who has it in his care, or acts as its custodian, or who knowingly permits a dog to remain on or about any premises occupied by him. (Ord. 2220, 1980: prior code § 8-11-13)
6-08-020 License required.
No dog shall be permitted to be or remain in the city without being registered in accordance with state law and the provisions of Chapter 6-05 of this code. (Ord. 3383 § 2 (part), 2019: prior code § 8-11-1)
6-08-030 License fee.
Every person who harbors or keeps any dog shall pay the license fee as indicated in Section 6-05-160 of this code. (Ord. 3383 § 2 (part), 2019: Ord. 3354 § 1 (part), 2017: Ord. 3316 § 2 (part), 2015; Ord. 2544 § 1, 1988: Ord. 2541 § 1, 1988: prior code § 8-111)
6-08-040 Record—Tags.
A. The clerk shall keep a record of all dog licenses issued, the names and addresses of the owners thereof and shall deliver to the person paying such license fee a dog license tag stamped thereon with the number and the year for which the license is paid; and it shall be the duty of every such person to cause said license tog to be securely attached to a collar around the dogs neck and kept there at all times when such dog is on any public street or other public place.
B. A duplicate to replace a lost or destroyed tag may be issued by the clerk upon payment of one dollar ($1.00).
C. The fee herein required to be paid shall be turned over to the treasurer by the clerk. (Ord. 2541 § 2, 1988; Ord. 1924, 1972; prior code § 8-11-3)
6-08-050 Inoculation.
It shall be the duty of every owner who harbors or keeps any dog which is not confined at all times to an enclosed area or on a leash, to have such dog inoculated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian on or before the first day of June of each year. (Prior code § 8-11-4)
6-08-060 Leash required.
It is unlawful for any owner to permit any dog to run at large. Any dog found upon any public street, parkway, sidewalk, park, school yard, in any store or place of public gathering, or in any place other than in an enclosed area, shall be deemed running at large, unless said dog is firmly held on a leash. (Prior code § 8-11-5)
6-08-070 Nuisances.
A. Dog Fights. It is unlawful for any owner to train a dog for or to permit a dog to engage in an organized dog fight. For the purposes of this section, an organized dog fight shall mean an event held demonstrating the dogs’ strength or skill in combat against another dog or animal.
B. Disturbing the Peace. It is unlawful for any owner to permit any dog to disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood by barking or making loud or unusual noises, or by running through or across cultivated gardens, fields, lawns and shrubbery of others.
C. Certain Dogs Prohibited. No breed of dog which has a propensity to attack human beings without provocation, including the breed commonly known as the pit bull dog, and no dog trained as an attack dog may be kept within the city. (Ord. 2501 § 2, 1987: prior code § 8-11-6)
6-08-080 Impounding required.
Any dog found either without a license tag attached, running at large, disturbing the peace or damaging property is declared to be a nuisance and shall be impounded as hereinafter provided. (Prior code § 8-11-7)
6-08-090 Welfare League authority.
A. The council does grant permission to the Illinois Animal Welfare League, its agents and drivers to patrol the streets and other public ways to apprehend and pick up all dogs in violation of the provisions of this chapter, and does further consent and approve of the impounding of any such dogs by the Animal Welfare League.
B. All dogs so apprehended, if not sick or injured, shall be impounded for a period of time not to exceed four days to afford the owner thereof an opportunity to make redemption. No dogs shall be released from the animal ambulance subsequent to its apprehension and prior to its arrival at the Animal Welfare League. (Prior code § 8-11-8)
6-08-100 Released upon payment.
A. Any owner, whose dog has been impounded hereunder, may redeem such dog within the time limit herein established upon payment to the Animal Welfare League of all of the costs, charges and fees that have accrued up to the time of making such redemption, and shall be paid for by the owner at the place said dog is impounded.
B. The Animal Welfare League shall release such impounded dog to the owner thereof upon receipt of the redemption charges; provided, that such dog has been inoculated for the prevention of rabies and is licensed as herein provided. (Prior code § 8-11-9)
6-08-110 Record by chief.
A. The chief of police shall cause to be entered in a book to be kept for that purpose every dog so impounded, a description thereof, the date impounded, and whether or not such dog was licensed and tagged as hereunder required.
B. Public notice shall be given by posting a description of such impounded dogs and the date apprehended, on the bulletin board within the police station at the city hall. Failure to redeem any such dog by the owner within the time allotted and in the manner herein provided, such dog is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and shall be immediately destroyed or disposed of in the manner prescribed by the Animal Welfare League.
C. Notice by the chief of police shall be mailed to the owners of all dogs that had a license tag attached when apprehended and impounded, and shall designate the place and time in which any such dog may be redeemed. (Prior code § 8-11-10)
6-08-120 Rabies tests.
A. It shall be the duty of every person who harbors or keeps a dog, or is the owner thereof, or has the custody of any dog that has bitten any person to make a report thereof to the police department immediately, and shall cause such dog to be delivered to and placed in the custody of a licensed veterinarian at such person’s expense. Every such dog shall be confined for a period of ten days for examination and observation by such veterinarian immediately following the time such person has been bitten.
B. After the period of custody or confinement of such dog has expired, and upon the reexamination of such dog, if the veterinarian is convinced that the dog is then free from rabies, such dog shall be released to the owner, upon payment of the veterinarian’s fees. However, should the dog die in the meanwhile, the veterinarian shall immediately notify the chief of police or the health officer and cause the head of any such deceased dog to be sent to the state department of health for examination of rabies. (Prior code § 8-11-11)
6-08-130 Dangerous dogs.
The members of the police department are authorized to kill any vicious, dangerous or ferocious dog when necessary for the protection of any person; or may destroy any injured dog or any sick dog liable to communicate hydrophobia or other contagious or infectious disease running at large within the city. (Prior code § 8-11-12)
6-08-140 Violation deemed misdemeanor.
A. Any owner or person violating or aiding in or abetting the violation of any provision of this chapter, or counterfeiting or forging any certificate, permit or tag, or making any misrepresentation in regard to any matter prescribed by this chapter, or resisting, obstructing, or impeding any authorized officer or person in enforcing this chapter, or refusing to produce for inoculation any dog in his possession, not confined at all times to an enclosed area, or on leash, is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
B. Any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall result in a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) and no more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each day the violation exists. (Ord. 3316 § 2 (part), 2015; prior code § 8-11-14)