Animal Control

Dangerous Animals

The Chief of police may issue an order declaring an animal to be dangerous on any of the following grounds:
  1. The animal has attacked, bitten, injured, or killed another animal or human being.
  2. The animal has, off the property of its owner, chased, confronted or approached a person in a menacing fashion that would put a reasonable person in fear of being attacked.
  3. The animal, while on property of its owner, chases, confronts or approaches a person located on an adjacent public or private property in a menacing fashion that would put a reasonable person in fear of being attacked.
  4. The animal is trained for fighting or attack.
  5. The animal has acted in any manner demonstrating that the animal is a threat to public safety.
For more information please see Chapter 14-3.
 

Unlicensed Pet

It shall be unlawful for any person in the village to own, harbor, or keep any dog or cat of more than five months of age after April 1 of the license year without listing, licensing, and tagging the dog or cat. This ordinance can be found in Chapter 14-41.
  • View animal licensing for more information.

Animal Running at Large

No person having the possession or ownership of any animal or fowl shall allow the animal or fowl to run at large within the village. The owner of any animal, whether licensed or unlicensed, shall keep the animal tied or enclosed in a proper enclosure so as not to allow the animal to interfere with the passing public or neighbors. Any animal running at large unlicensed and required by state law or this chapter to be licensed shall be seized and impounded by a humane officer or law enforcement officer.

A dog or cat is not considered to be running at large if it is on a leash and under control of a person physically able to control it. This ordinance can be found in Chapter 14-3(c) (1-2)

Barking Dogs or Crying Cats

It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to keep or harbor any dog that habitually barks, howls, or yelps or any cat that habitually cries or howls to the great discomfort of the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or in such manner as to materially disturb or annoy persons in the neighborhood who are of ordinary sensibilities.

Such dogs and cats are declared to be a public nuisance. A dog or cat is considered to be in violation of this section when two formal, written complaints are filed with the Police Department within a four-week period. This ordinance can be found in Chapter 14-9.