A. Inoculation Against Rabies Required: Every owner of a dog or cat four (4) months or more of age shall cause such dog or cat to be inoculated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Every dog or cat shall have a second rabies vaccination within one year of the first vaccination and every year thereafter. However, if the vaccine used is one recognized by the Illinois department of agriculture for a three (3) year period of immunity, and the dog or cat is over twelve (12) months of age at the time of inoculation, the interval between inoculations may be extended to three (3) years.
B. Dog License Required: It shall be unlawful for any dog to be or remain in the village without being licensed and tagged as provided. All dogs must be registered within thirty (30) days of the acquisition of the animal or within thirty (30) days of residency within the village.
1. The license fee shall be as follows: Ten dollars ($10.00) for an annual license or twenty dollars ($20.00) for a three (3) year license for each dog over six (6) months old. Such fees shall be used to defray the cost of tags and the animal shelter contractual agreement.
2. A three (3) year license will only be issued if the application for said license is accompanied by a certificate of rabies inoculation provided by a veterinarian which shows that the year of expiration of the rabies inoculation will coincide with the expiration of the three (3) year license.
3. All security animals which are kept or maintained on any premises in West Dundee for the purpose of providing watchdog or security purposes, and which have been trained to watch or guard property, shall be licensed under a special license classification with the village. Any owner of or person desiring to have, keep, control, or harbor any security animal, including those listed above, in said village, shall pay an annual license fee to the village of ten dollars ($10.00) for each animal.
4. Every dog shall be provided by its owner or keeper with a collar to which shall be secured, attached, or kept the license tag which shall be worn by the dog at all times.
C. Dogs Running At Large; Public Nuisance; Impoundment: Any dog not under the immediate control of its owner or the owner's agent, found straying or running at large within the village shall be deemed and considered to be a public nuisance. Any dog found running at large or straying may be apprehended and impounded.
1. Invisible Or Electronic Fencing: Persons who utilize "invisible" or "electronic" fencing to contain any animal must display prominently on their property immediately adjacent to the public right of way a sign which indicates that any animal located thereon is contained by way of "invisible fencing". Invisible fencing installed after April 6, 2015, must have a containment area of a minimum of four feet (4') from any public right of way and property lines. In cases where a side yard is less than four feet (4'), then the invisible or electronic fence shall be placed at the farthest point away from the structure on the property.
2. Impoundment And Redemption Fees: The cost of impounding the dog and all fines shall be paid before it shall be redeemed by the owner in the amount set forth in Section 6-3-1-8. The owner of any unlicensed dog kept in the village, which has been impounded, shall also be required to pay the annual license fee provided in subsection B of this section before redemption. If a dog is not redeemed within five (5) days after being impounded, such dog may be disposed of by the authorization of the department.
D. Prohibited Acts: It shall be unlawful:
1. For the owner or any person who has in his custody or control, any dog, cat or other animal to enter upon the premises of another within the village without the consent of the owner.
2. To permit any animal to damage or destroy any property.
3. To permit any dog to chase, run after or jump at motor or nonmotor vehicles and pedestrians using the public thoroughfares.
4. To permit any dog to habitually snap, growl, snarl, jump upon or otherwise threaten person lawfully using any common thoroughfare, sidewalk, passageway, bike path, play area, park or any place where people congregate or walk.
5. To allow any place where any animal is or may be kept to become unclean or unsanitary or become offensive to those residing in the vicinity.
6. To keep on the premises more than three (3) dogs or three (3) cats or any combination thereof over four (4) months of age.
7. To allow any female dog or cat to be outside of any building or secure enclosure while it is in heat except for planned breeding.
8. Boarding for compensation within any residentially zoned properties with the exception of regularly established and zoned veterinary hospitals, pet shops, pounds and shelters.
9. To permit any dog, even though on a leash, to bite, jump upon or otherwise cause injury to any person lawfully using any common thoroughfare, sidewalk, passageway, bike path, play area, park, or any place where people congregate or walk.
E. Dog Barking Or Other Animals Emitting Loud Noises: It shall be unlawful for any owner or other person to allow their dog or other animal to bark, howl, cry, whine, or otherwise emit loud noises day or night so as to disturb the peace or quiet of any person, place or neighborhood or family in the village while said dog or other animal is not within the confines of the owner’s residence or other enclosed building upon the owner’s property. Any dog or other animal emitting such noises shall be deemed and considered to be a public nuisance. Any person who shall fail, neglect or refuse to abate such nuisance after notice thereof, shall, for each twenty four (24) hours thereafter during which said nuisance continues, be deemed to have committed a separate violation of this chapter and be subject to like penalty as that originally incurred.
F. Dogs On Leash; Voice Or Sight Control:
1. No person shall cause or permit any dog owned or kept by him to be at large at any place within the village, other than on the property of such owner or keeper, unless such dog is securely fastened and restrained by a leash. Any dog not upon the owner’s or keeper’s property which is not fastened and restrained by a leash shall be deemed as being at large.
2. It shall be unlawful for any dog, even though on a leash, to be or enter upon any public hall, restaurant, confectionery shop, office, store, grocery or any other store for the sale of food, except any store for the sale of animal pets anywhere within the village during the time that any of said places are open for use by the public.
3. It shall be unlawful for any dog, even though on a leash, to go or be upon any school premises within the playground equipment area or public playground equipment area within the village.
4. No leash shall be longer than six feet (6') nor shorter than would allow the freedom of movement for at least three feet (3'). Leashes of extendable length must be restricted to no more than six feet (6') when used in any public area of the village.
5. The provisions of this section shall not apply to assistance dogs. (Ord. 2021-10, 4-19-2021; amd. Ord. 2021-20, 7-12-2021; Ord. 2022-23, 8-15-2021)