Legal Documents of Rockford

Code of Rockford

Table of Contents » Title 10 Animal Control » Chapter 2 Vicious Dogs And Cats » § 10-206 Requirements for keeping a vicious dog or cat.
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10
Title 10
10-1
Title 10, Chapter 1
10-101
§ 10-101
Rockford
Title 10 : Animal Control
Chapter 2 : Vicious Dogs And Cats

10-206 : Requirements for keeping a vicious dog or cat.

  1. Confinement. All vicious dogs or cats shall be securely confined indoors or in an enclosed and locked pen or structure upon the premises of the owner that is suitable to prevent the entry of children and is designed to prevent the dog or cat from escaping. The pen or structure shall have minimum dimensions of five feet (5') in width and length by ten feet (10') in height and must have secure sides and a secure top attached to the sides. If no bottom is secured to the sides, the sides must be embedded into the ground no less than two feet (2'). All pens and structures must be kept clean and sanitary. The enclosure must provide shelter and protection from the elements and must provide adequate exercise room, light, and ventilation. Under no circumstances may any vicious dog or cat be confined by a fence, whether it is electronic, a similar underground wire system, or otherwise. Under no circumstances may more than one (1) vicious dog or cat be kept in any one (1) pen or structure.
  2. Indoor confinement. No vicious dog or cat may be kept on a porch, patio, or in any part of a house or structure that would allow the dog or cat to exit the structure on its own volition. In addition, no vicious dog or cat may be kept in a house or structure when open windows or screens doors are the only obstacle preventing the dog or cat from exiting the house or structure.
  3. Number of vicious dogs or cats per residence. Only one (1) animal that has been declared vicious may be owned per residence.
  4. Leash and muzzle. The owner of a vicious dog or cat shall not allow the dog or cat to go outside its kennel, pen, or structure unless the dog or cat is muzzled, under the physical control of a capable adult, and/or restrained by a leash not more than four feet (4') in length and of sufficient strength to control the dog or cat. The muzzle must not cause injury to the dog or cat or interfere with its vision or respiration, but must prevent the dog or cat from biting any human being or animal.
  5. Signs. The owner of a vicious dog or cat shall display, in a prominent place on the owner's premises, a clearly visible warning sign reading "Beware of Vicious Dog or Cat." The sign shall be readable from the driveway entrance or street. The owner shall also display a sign with a symbol warning children of the presence of a vicious dog or cat. Similar signs shall be posted on the dog or cat kennel, pen, or structure. The sign shall be at least twelve inches by twelve inches (12" x 12") in size.
  6. Insurance. The owner of a vicious dog or cat shall obtain public liability insurance of at least one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00), per dog or cat, insuring the owner for any damage or personal injury that may be caused by the owner's vicious dog or cat. The policy shall contain a provision requiring the City of Rockford and the Maryville Animal Control Facility to be notified immediately by the agent issuing the policy that the policy is in effect and in the event that the policy is cancelled, terminated, or expired. If there is a lapse in insurance or a cancellation, the owner will be in violation of this title.
  7. Compliance: consequences for failure to comply. For the safety and welfare of the general public, an owner of a vicious dog or cat must comply with the requirements for keeping a vicious dog or cat within the following timeframe:
    1. Immediate. Immediately upon the owner's receipt of the declaration notice, the owner shall comply with all of the requirements set forth in § 10-206.
    2. Failure to comply. Failure of an owner to comply with any of the requirements for keeping a declared vicious dog or cat, or failure of an owner to continue compliance with said requirements, shall result in the vicious dog or cat being apprehended by the Maryville Animal Control Facility. Said vicious dog or cat shall remain in the custody and control of the Maryville Animal Control Facility until such time as the owner can prove, to the city's satisfaction, compliance the requirements for keeping a vicious dog or cat. If the declared vicious dog or cat is impounded for more than five (5) working days the declared vicious dog or cat becomes the property of the city and may be destroyed.
    3. Costs for impoundment. At any time that said dog or cat is apprehended by Maryville Animal Control Facility and held in custody, whether it is after an unprovoked attack and before the declaration of vicious or after the declaration as vicious, the owner of the dog or cat is solely responsible for all of the costs incurred for the boarding, veterinarian or other professional services for which the dog or cat needs as determined by animal control officers and animal control shelter staff. (as added by Ord. #010809, Feb. 2009)