(A) The owner of any dog, cat, or other animal shall not permit such animal to run at large within the county.
(B) No person shall cause or permit any animal owned by him or her to run at large on any public place or on any privately owned premises, other than the owner’s.
(C) Whenever the Administrator or Deputy Administrator, or his or her authorized representative, observes or is informed that any dog, cat, or domestic animal is roaming freely and not under control of the owner, it shall be considered running at large within the county and shall be deemed and considered to be a public nuisance. The animal shall immediately be apprehended and impounded.
(D) Any person may apprehend an at large animal and inform local police or an animal control officer and hold so that such animal may be impounded.
(E) All stray/at large animals impounded shall be scanned for the presence of a microchip upon arrival, and a record of impoundment entered into a database containing but not limited to location of apprehension, time and date of impoundment, license/tag information, species, owners information, and the physical condition of the animal.
(F) When a stray/at large animal is impounded, notice shall be made by telephone, if unattainable by phone, given by mail to the last known address of the owner. Stray/at large animals shall be held not less than seven days. All unclaimed animals deemed adoptable by the animal control facility shall be offered for adoption, or made available to a licensed humane society or rescue group. If no placement is available, it shall be humanely dispatched pursuant to the Humane Euthanasia in Animal Shelters Act, being 510 ILCS 72/1 et seq.
(G) The owner of a stray/at large animal is responsible for all costs relating to the apprehension and impoundment of the animal.
(H) The provisions of this subchapter shall not apply to:
(1) Dogs being used in hunting or field trials;
(2) Dog shows while on public lands set aside for those purposes;
(3) While on private property of others with the actual, implied, customary, or constructive consent of the owner of such private premises;
(4) While going to or from a hunting, field trial, or dog show site;
(5) Dogs used in tracking in conjunction with police activities; and
(6) Dogs of the Canine Corp of any law enforcement agency or Armed Forces while being used to conduct official business.
(Prior Code, § 5-1-7) (Ord. 2005-1116, passed 11-15-2005) Penalty, see § 91.999