A. Impoundment And Disposition: Whenever an officer or agent for the City observes or is informed that an animal is a stray or is running at large and not under the control of the owner, the animal shall immediately be apprehended and/or impounded if possible. Any person may apprehend a stray animal and inform animal control so that the stray can be impounded. Any animal observed on private property by the animal control officer, a police officer, the Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized official that appears to be feral, stray or abandoned by not being constrained in some fashion, does not have a collar, and has no identification tag may be taken into custody and confined in the City animal control facility for a minimum of seven (7) days. If such animal is not claimed by someone professing to be its owner, it may be disposed of in such manner as the animal control officers deems fit.
1. Records: All stray animals impounded shall have a record. The record shall include the owner’s name, address, and telephone number, if known; species or breed, color, sex, if known, and physical condition of the animal; license, tag, or microchip number, if known; and the time and date impounded.
2. Notice: When owners of stray animals impounded are known, notice shall be given by phone, if known, of by mail to the last known address. Stray animals shall be held not less than seven (7) days, if the owner is known. All unclaimed apprehended animals shall be placed for adoption, rescue, transport, or humanely euthanized in accordance with the Illinois State law.
3. Microchipped: Any animal found to have been impounded due to being stray and/or running at large three (3) or more times shall be microchipped for future identification at a cost payable by the animal’s owner before being released from impound.
4. Responsibility: The stray animal’s owner is responsible for all costs related to the apprehension and impoundment of the animal found not under control.
5. Restrictions For Feeding Stray Animals: Feeding or allowing stray feral or uncontrolled animals on public property right-of- way, abandoned structures of unknown person or persons without permission and accessible by such animals is prohibited.
a. Any animals observed on private property by the animal control officer, police officer, Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized official that appears to be feral, stray or abandoned by virtue of not being constrained in some fashion, does not have a collar and has no identification tag may be taken into custody and confined in the City’s animal control facility. If such animal is not claimed by someone professing to be its owner, it may be disposed of in such manner as the animal control officer deems fit.
b. Any person violating the provisions of this section may be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) and not more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00). Each day such violation occurs is a separate violation of this section. (Ord. 3497, 3-7-2019; amd. Ord. 3561, 8-26-2019; Ord. 3902, - -2023)