§ 6-79. Vicious and dangerous dogs.

(a)

Impoundment procedure.

(1)

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any dog which has been found to be a vicious dog within village limits.

(2)

Any dog in the village which has been found to be a vicious dog shall be impounded by order of the county animal control administrator, the administrator's duly authorized representative, or a law enforcement officer and shall be delivered over to a licensed veterinarian for humane destruction in compliance with the provisions of the Illinois Animal Control Act (519 ILCS 5/1 et seq.). Upon the taking of said vicious dog, the county animal control administrator, the administrator's duly authorized representative or a law enforcement officer taking the dog shall forthwith notify the owner or keeper of such vicious dog personally or by mail of such event and the location where the animal is being held, unless such owner is unknown or cannot be found.

(3)

If the owner of a vicious dog has not appealed the impoundment order to the circuit court of the county in which the animal was impounded within seven working days, the dog shall be humanely dispatched. A dog found to be a vicious dog shall not be released to the owner except upon final order of a court of competent jurisdiction. Any dog that has been found to be a vicious dog which is released to the owner upon final order of a court of competent jurisdiction shall be subject to enclosure.

(4)

It is unlawful for any person to maintain a public nuisance by permitting any dangerous dog or other animal to leave the premises of its owner when not under control by a leash or other control method.

(b)

Each occasion a person fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall constitute a separate offense.

(Ord. No. 03-05-12, § 2(5-48), 3-5-2012)

State law reference

Vicious or dangerous dogs, 510 ILCS 5/15 et seq.