Title
Animal Control - Village Code Amendment 8-4 - Ordinance
History
The police department is requesting that the animal control ordinance be amended to address several issues.
We would like additional language to allow for "reasonable restraint requirements to safeguard the public from dangerous animals in addition to such things as muzzles, chains, cages and warning signs that is already in the ordinance.
We would also like to clarify the ordinance to provide that an officer has the authority to slay an animal that poses an imminent threat of loss of life not only to humans but to domestic animals also.
The county animal control ordinance has also recently added ferrets to the list of domestic animals that must have a rabies vaccination and we are proposing this change in our ordinance also.
Finally, we are proposing the elimination of section 16, 17, 18, and 19 from Title 8, Chapter 4 related to the requirement to register and license cats and dogs in Orland Park. The purpose of this licensing is to help insure cats and dogs have their rabies vaccinations. The requirement for rabies vaccination will still be in the ordinance. The dog/cat tag is rarely used for identification. We keep a list and description of lost animals that are reported to us which is used more often for identification.
Finally, this ordinance will eliminate a group of fees for our residents and the biannual requirement to register and license their animals.
On February 9, 2009, this item was reviewed and approved by the Public Safety Committee and referred to the Board for approval.
Financial Impact
The finance department has calculated the biannual revenue for the licenses is approximately $6,000 however the staff time saved as well at the elimination of the purchase of these licenses will compensate for the loss of revenue.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to pass Ordinance Number 4458, entitled: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 8, CHAPTER 4 OF THE ORLAND PARK VILLAGE CODE - ANIMAL CONTROL
Body
WHEREAS, the Cook County Animal and Rabies Control Ordinance requires that every owner of an animal (as defined in said Ordinance) four (4) months or more of age shall cause said animal to be inoculated with rabies vaccine and a serially numbered tag evidencing such inoculation be attached to the collar or harness worn by the animal; and
WHEREAS, it has not been cost effective for the Village to require resident owners to obtain Village licenses for their pet animals; and
WHEREAS, the elimination of the Village animal licensing requirement will not impair the effort to prevent rabies as such animals subject to licensing will continue to be required to be inoculated pursuant to the said Cook County Ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Ordained by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Orland Park, Cook and Will Counties, Illinois, as follows:
SECTION 1
Title 8, Chapter 4, Section 8-4-5(B) of the Orland Park Village Code is hereby amended to delete and repeal in its entirety the present wording and substitute therefor the following:
“(B) If a confined dog is declared to be dangerous, fierce, or vicious by either a licensed veterinarian, or the Chief of Police or his/her designee, the owner or keeper of such dog shall immediately provide extraordinary precautions such as muzzles, chains, cages, warning signs or any reasonable constraint or requirement as may be necessary to safeguard the public. Any dog at large which by its actions is deemed by the Chief of Police, or his/her designee, to be dangerous, fierce, or vicious, and cannot safely be taken up and impounded, may be tranquilized by the Police Department. It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police, or his/her designee to forthwith deliver such tranquilized dog to a licensed veterinarian provided, however, that a police officer shall have the right to slay any dog or animal when in his/her determination it poses an imminent threat of loss of life or serious bodily injury to humans, dogs, cats or other domesticated animals.”
SECTION 2
Title 8, Chapter 4, Section 8-4-9(B) and (C) of the Orland Park Village Code is hereby amended to delete and repeal in its entirety the present wording and substitute therefor the following:
* * *
“(B) Any animal not bearing a serially numbered tag evidencing inoculation as required by the Cook County Animal and Rabies Control Ordinance which has been impounded shall be separated from other impounded animals that do bear a serially numbered tag evidencing inoculation as required by the Cook County Animal and Rabies Control ordinance and shall be disposed of by delivery to a chartered animal humane society as soon as is practicable.
(C) The Chief of Police or his/her designee shall within eight hours of such impounding, attempt by telephone, or if unsuccessful by regular mail, to notify the last-known owner of the animal that the animal has been impounded. The animal may be redeemed by the owner only upon the payment of a fine for violation of the Village Code and any other applicable fees or costs and the execution of a certificate that the animal so impounded will voluntarily be impounded by the owner should the animal later be suspected of having bitten or injured any person during the period the animal was at large. In the event any such animal remains unredeemed and unwanted for a period of eight hours (or such lesser period if the Chief of Police or his/her designee determines that facilities are not available for continued impoundment), then the animal shall be disposed of by delivery to a chartered animal humane society.”
SECTION 3
Title 8, Chapter 4, Sections 8-4-16, 8-4-17, 8-4-18 and 8-4-19 are hereby repealed in their entirety, and the remaining Sections renumbered accordingly.
SECTION 4
Title 8, Chapter 4, Section 8-4-21 (now renumbered to 8-4-17) of the Orland Park Village Code is hereby amended to delete and repeal in its entirety the present wording and substitute therefor the following:
“8-4-17: VACCINATION REQUIRED:
Except as otherwise in this section provided, it shall be unlawful to own or keep within the Village any animal required to be vaccinated under the Cook County Animal and Rabies Control Ordinance which has not been vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian within the then calendar year; provided, however, that it shall not be unlawful to keep an unvaccinated dog or cat which is under four months of age; and further provided, however, it shall not be unlawful if the animal has been vaccinated in accordance with the Cook County Animal and Rabies Control Ordinance and lawful regulations promulgated thereunder. Evidence of vaccination shall be the serially numbered tag issued by Cook County, or a lawful authorized and licensed veterinarian, and attached to the collar or harness worn by the animal.”
SECTION 5
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage, approval and publication as required by law.
SECTION 6
The Village Clerk is hereby ordered and directed to publish this Ordinance in pamphlet form, said pamphlet to be deposited in the office of the Village Clerk for general distribution.