A. At Large: It shall be the duty of the police department or its authorized representative, to take up and impound any animal that is not restrained as provided in this chapter. Any animal taken up and impounded as above provided shall be considered to have been at large in violation of this chapter and designated a stray on records of the village.
B. Nuisance Animals: It shall also be the duty of the police department or its authorized representative, to take up and impound any animal present on private property, including the private property of the owner of that animal, if such animal is molesting, injuring, damaging or threatening to injure or damage persons or property.
C. Holding Periods:
1. The police department, or any agency designated by the village to take possession of animals for the purpose of impounding, shall hold impounded animals, other than biter animals as provided by section 5-1-8 of this chapter, for the following periods of time:
Unidentified dogs and cats | 7 days, unless sooner redeemed by owner |
Identified dogs and cats | 10 days, unless sooner redeemed by owner |
2. The owner, if known, shall be given written notice of the impoundment of such animal within forty eight (48) hours of said impoundment. Such notice shall be mailed to the last known address of the owner and it shall state the place of impoundment and the date after which the animal may be disposed of.
3. Holding periods shall not apply to animals received for impounding in critical physical condition or for which immediate euthanasia shall be prescribed for humane reasons by a licensed veterinarian.
4. Animals other than dogs and cats shall be held for a minimum of twenty four (24) hours or for such other length of time as the police department or its authorized representative may deem necessary to permit tracing to and redemption by the rightful owner, unless same be a biter animal, as covered in section 5-1-8 of this chapter.
5. Each animal remaining unredeemed after the prescribed holding period shall at once become the property of the village and may be disposed of in a humane manner by a licensed veterinarian, or such disposition as decided upon by the shelter manager or his designated representative.
D. Forest Park Animal Shelter: The Forest Park animal shelter will be maintained in the building located at 7233 Madison Street, Forest Park, Illinois. Any and all stray domestic animals will be accepted for care and storage at that facility.
E. Submission Of Animals:
1. By Residents: Any resident of the village may, upon approval of shelter staff, submit any domestic animal to the shelter at no charge. The submitting party must complete an animal turn-in form and must provide a recent certificate of health completed by a licensed veterinarian. Animals not accompanied by a certificate of health, may also be submitted, provided that the person submitting the animal pay the costs of intake protocol for that animal. In the case of that person's inability to pay, the shelter manager or assistant manager may waive the fee.
2. By Municipalities: Municipalities, which subscribe to the village's consortium for stray animal care, may submit their prescribed limit of animals according to the shelter's intake procedures for that municipality.
3. By Nonresidents: Nonresident persons wishing to submit an animal to the shelter for care, may do so, provided they also provide a health certificate for that animal or pay the costs of the intake protocol.
F. Adoption Fees And Charges:
1. Upon completion of an adoption form and survey and approval, person(s) may adopt animals from the shelter. Shelter staff members will ascertain which animals are fit for adoption according to the shelter's operating policy.
2. A minimum charge of thirty five dollars ($35.00) for one cat or kitten or one dog or puppy will be charged. Additional charges for intake protocol tests, spaying or neutering of the animal and required shots such as rabies, distemper and feline leukemia will be levied along with the adoption fee. (Ord. O-48-01, 11-19-2001)
3. Adoption and submission fees may be waived at the discretion of the shelter management with the approval of the director of public works. (Ord. O-36-04, 9-13-2004)
G. Impoundment And Redemption Fees: Charges for impounded animals are as follows:
1. Redemption fee for a dog or cat impounded as an unlicensed stray shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00) plus a charge to the owner of fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each day of impoundment. In addition, the animal must be licensed within ten (10) days of said impoundment.
2. Redemption fee for a dog or cat impounded as a licensed stray shall be ten dollars ($10.00) plus a ten dollar ($10.00) charge to the owner for each day of impoundment.
H. Disposition Of Unredeemed Animals: Any impounded animal not redeemed as provided herein, shall in the sole discretion of the Forest Park animal shelter or its authorized representative: 1) be disposed of in a humane manner; 2) be immediately placed for adoption; 3) be immediately placed with a humane society licensed under the animal welfare act of the state of Illinois; or 4) be immediately placed for adoption in cooperation with the program of the animal control act of the state of Illinois. (Ord. O-48-01, 11-19-2001)