Title
Proposed Revisions to the Lake County Code of Ordinances Chapter 172: Animals - Kritz
Body
Section 172.15 (B): Multiple Pet Permits
Proposed revisions to this section include the addition of Application Conditions [subsections 2(b) & 2(c)], which require applicants to list the number of pets proposed to be covered under the Multiple Pet Permit, as well as proof of current rabies inoculation and registration for each pet. This information is already collected on the application, but the requirement to do so is clarified and codified by this revision. A proposed addition to Section 172.15 (B)(3) clarifies that the annual inspection shall include a determination of the number of pets covered under the permit.
The proposed addition of Section 172.15 (B)(7) institutes a revocation process for a Multiple Pet Permit. The current ordinance provisions only provide the authority to refuse to issue or renew a permit when requirements are not met. Currently, if a Multiple Pet Permit holder is found to be in gross violation of the ordinance requirements for the permit during the course of a year, the only action that can be taken regarding the permit is to refuse to issue it the following year. The revocation language included in these revisions was taken, with modifications, directly from other Lake County ordinances, ensuring alignment and consistency. As is the case with the other ordinances, the provisions allow for a hearing prior to a revocation being final.
Section 172.16: Violations
When, in accordance with the provisions of Lake County Code of Ordinances Chapter 172 and/or the Illinois Animal Control Act, a dog is determined to be dangerous, animal-aggressive or vicious, there are additional restrictions placed on the owner to control the dog to prevent future occurrences. The most common restrictions are that the dog shall be on a leash when outside of the residence, and that a muzzle must be in place when on public premises. The current regulations, however, contain very limited enforcement provisions when an owner fails to comply with these restrictions. The Animal Control Act does authorize animal control officers to impound a dog if an owner fails to comply, but the most frequent manner in which the lack of compliance occurs is when the dog is running at large, and the officer already has impoundment authority in these cases. We believe that because dangerous, animal-aggressive or vicious dogs present a greater risk to the public, there needs to be greater incentive to control these dogs. To accomplish that objective, a revision to Chapter 172 is proposed to authorize the issuance of a citation and possible fines to a dog owner for failing to comply with dangerous, animal-aggressive or vicious restrictions, and to pursue enforcement through the Administrative Adjudication (AA) process.
The other proposed revision is to allow for the enforcement of any Chapter 172 provision through the AA process, not just those specified in Section 172.16. The Lake County AA Ordinance allows the enforcement of any County ordinance provision through the AA process, but only if the ordinance authorizes it. This proposed change is in keeping with all other Lake County ordinances, which have had this provision added when being revised.
Suggested Motion
To approve the revisions to Lake County Code of Ordinances Chapter 172 as proposed.