(a) Generally. Any dog not inoculated as required by the rabies control law of the State, any dog running at large at any time of the year regardless of whether registered and inoculated, any dangerous or vicious dog, any dog which shall disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or any dog which shall bite or so injure a person as to cause an abrasion of the skin, shall be impounded.
(b) Kennel License Fees. Any person owning or keeping more than four dogs, four months of age or older, at any one premises within the City of Freeport, is required to obtain a City of Freeport Kennel License. All applicants must comply with all zoning and health requirements before a license will be issued. Any person keeping in excess of four (4) dogs shall be deemed to be operating a kennel. A separate offense shall be deemed to have been committed for each day upon which such kennel is kept and maintained without a license therefor as herein provided.
(1) Any person wishing to obtain a kennel license must make written application to the City Clerk. The name, mailing address and phone number of the application along with the proposed location and size of the kennel must be stated.
(2) Dogs will be required to have proper shelter, adequate water and food, and be enclosed by an adequate fence or tethered to prevent the dogs from running at large. All kenneled dogs over the age of four months will require proof of current anti-rabies vaccinations. Animal waste will be removed from the premises at least once a week. A City of Freeport Kennel License will not be approved for persons proposing breeding or boarding more than 20 dogs per year for profit or compensation. Failure to comply with the above conditions during the licensing period will subject the licensed person to have their license canceled. The property used for kenneling dogs will be subject to random inspections for compliance with the above conditions.
(3) The kennel license will be issued upon compliance with the following requirements:
A. Payment of the license fee in the amount of thirty dollars ($30.00), payable annually.
B. Approval of the License officer of the City of Freeport.
C. Compliance with all applicable provisions of this chapter.
D. Approval of the Public Works Director.
E. Compliance with all other properly promulgated rules and regulations relating to the care and keeping of animals.
F. Approval of the Animal Control Officer.
(4) The Animal Control Officer or the License Officer may revoke the kennel license for any violation of this chapter.
(c) Litter Registration Fees. For the purposes of ensuring that an owner is not operating a kennel, each litter of puppies shall be registered with the City Clerk, within ten days of birth. A fee of five dollars ($5.00) per litter shall accompany such registration. Failure to register a litter under this Section shall be a violation of this chapter.
(d) Microchip or Tattoo. Each person owning a dog four months of age or older, shall at his or her expense, have an identifying microchip installed under the animal's skin by a licensed veterinarian or in the alternative have a permanent identification tattoo as accepted by the American Kennel Club. Failure to do so shall be a violation of this chapter. This subsection shall take effect twelve months from the effective date of this chapter.
(e) Display of Identification. Every dog shall be provided, by its owner, with a collar to which a license tag, showing registration as required under the Stephenson County Code, shall be securely fastened, and such collar shall be worn at all times.
(f) Limitation on Number. No household within the city limits shall be allowed to keep or maintain more than four dogs. This limitation shall not apply to holders of kennel licenses. Individuals owning or fostering animals trained or to be trained for service to persons with disabilities are excepted. Any individual keeping a service animal must provide documentation of fostering and training from a certified training organization.
(Ord. 2004-26. Passed 5-3-04; Ord. 2012-24. Passed 4-16-12.)