(A) Impoundment of dogs running at large or unlicensed dogs; citation of owner or keeper.
(1) It shall be the duty of such employees and officers of the Police Department, as shall be designated for that purpose by the Mayor, to take up and impound in such place as may be designated and set apart for that purpose, any dog found running at large or unlicensed in the city, contrary to any of the provisions of this chapter or other regulations of the city or state.
(2) When dogs are found running at large or unlicensed and their ownership is known to the designated employee(s), such dogs may be impounded at the discretion of such employee(s), but the employee(s) may cite the owner of such dog to answer charges of violation of this chapter.
(3) Any dog permitted to run at large within the city is hereby declared to be a nuisance.
(4) Any impounded dog which shall not be redeemed within seven days shall be humanely destroyed or otherwise disposed of by the Poundkeeper.
(5) The City Council may establish a reasonable fee, by motion, for each day that a dog is housed in the pound.
(Prior Code, § 3-2-8)
(B) Impoundment of dogs which have bitten persons.
(1) Any dog which shall have bitten or otherwise injured any person so as to cause an abrasion of the skin shall be immediately taken, impounded, and kept separated from other dogs for ten days. If, during that period, such dog develops symptoms of illness, a veterinarian shall be called to diagnose its condition. If the symptoms disclosed are such as to indicate the presence of rabies, such dog shall be destroyed in such a manner, however, as to preserve intact the head, which shall, thereupon, be detached and immediately sent to the diagnostic laboratory of the Department of Agriculture. In case such dog cannot be safely taken up and impounded, it may be shot, care being taken to preserve the head intact, which shall, thereupon, be immediately detached and be delivered to the diagnostic laboratory of the Department of Agriculture.
(2) If, at the expiration of the ten days, no symptoms of rabies have developed in such dog so impounded, the same may be redeemed by the owner upon payment of the redemption fees and charges specified by this chapter; provided, however, in case any dog so impounded for biting a person shall have previously bitten any person, such dog shall be humanely destroyed by the Poundkeeper. After having been notified that his or her dog has bitten or otherwise injured any person, the owner or keeper thereof shall not, under any circumstances, permit such animal to be at large unless securely muzzled.
(Prior Code, § 3-2-11)
(C) Impoundment. Those persons charged with the duty of enforcing this subchapter may employ any method found practical and humane in capturing and impounding any dog found running at large.
(Prior Code, § 3-2-12)
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see 510 ILCS 5/10 and 510 ILCS 5/13