(A) When dogs, cats, or other animals are apprehended and impounded, they must be scanned for the presence of a microchip and examined for other currently acceptable methods of identification, including, but not limited to, identification tags, tattoos, and rabies license tags. The examination for identification shall be done within 24 hours after the intake of each dog, cat, or other animals.
(B) The Administrator shall make every reasonable attempt to contact the owner, agent, or caretaker as soon as possible. The Administrator shall give notice of not less than seven business days to the owner, agent, or caretaker prior to adoption, transfer, or humane euthanasia of the animal. Such notice shall be mailed to the last known address of the owner, agent, or caretaker. Testimony of the Administrator, or his or her authorized agent, who mails such notice shall be evidence of the receipt of such notice by the owner, agent, or caretaker of the animal. A mailed notice shall remain the primary means of owner, agent, or caretaker contact; however, the Administrator shall also attempt to contact the owner, agent, or caretaker by any other contact information, such as by telephone or email address, provided by the microchip or other method of identification found on the dog, cat, or other animal. If the dog, cat, or other animal has been microchipped and the primary contact listed by the chip manufacturer cannot be located or refuses to reclaim the dog, cat, or other animal, an attempt shall be made to contact any secondary contacts listed by the chip manufacturer prior to adoption, transfer, or humane euthanasia.
(C) Prior to being made available for adoption, transferring the dog, cat, or other animal to another humane shelter, pet store, rescue group, or humanely euthanizing, the dog, cat, or other animal shall be scanned again for the presence of a microchip and examined for other means of identification. If a second scan provides the same identifying information as the initial intake scan and the owner, agent, or caretaker has not been located or refuses to reclaim the dog, cat, or other animal, the animal control facility may proceed with the adoption, transfer, or humane euthanasia.
(D) A cat or dog may be transferred to another animal welfare organization prior to seven business days if the animal is transferred with life-saving purpose for the animal's survival. The cat or dog will be scanned a second time for the presence of a microchip and examined for other means of identification prior to the transfer. If a second scan provides the same identifying information as the initial intake scan and the owner, agent, or caretaker has not been located or refuses to reclaim the cat or dog, the Director may proceed with the transfer. The Administrator may make an immediate determination of placement for any impounded animals besides cats and dogs.
(E) In case the owner, agent, or caretaker of any impounded dog, cat, or other animal desires to make redemption thereof, he or she may do so by doing the following:
(1) Presenting proof of current rabies inoculation and registration, if applicable.
(2) Paying for the rabies inoculation and registration, if applicable.
(3) Paying for the board of the dog, cat, or other animal for the period it was impounded.
(4) Paying into the Animal Control Fund an additional impoundment fee as prescribed by the Board as a penalty for the first offense and for each subsequent offense.
(5) Paying a $25 public safety fine to be deposited into the county Animal Control Fund; the fine shall be waived if it is the dog's or cat's first impoundment and the owner, agent, or caretaker has the animal spayed or neutered within 14 days.
(6) Paying for microchipping and registration if not already done, if applicable.
(F) The payments required for redemption under this section shall be in addition to any other penalties invoked under this chapter.
(G) If an impounded dog, cat or other animal has bitten a person, the impoundment period shall be ten days unless a reduced period is authorized by the Administrator as provided by this chapter.
(H) Animals suffering because of severe physical disability may be humanely euthanized at the discretion of the Administrator.
(1980 Code, § 90.15) (Res. 99-61, adopted 2-18-1999; Res. 06-122, adopted 3-16-2006; Ord. 24-19, passed 1-18-2024) Penalty, see § 90.99
Statutory reference:
Impoundment; redemption, see 510 ILCS 5/10
Animal placement, see 510 ILCS 5/11