Elgin, IL: Elgin toughens pet law, won’t target pit bulls

Previous alerts for Elgin: http://stopbsl.com/?s=elgin%2C+il

Additional article: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=365174

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/2096536,3_1_EL11_06COUNCIL_S1-100311.article

Elgin toughens pet law, won’t target pit bulls

March 11, 2010
By MIKE DANAHEY mdanahey@stmedianetwork.com

ELGIN — The city council unanimously adopted a tougher animal control ordinance Wednesday night, but without the bite of suggested pit bull-specific regulations.

“After hearing the various arguments, I have decided that for now it may be appropriate to allow pit bull owners the chance to demonstrate that they are every bit as responsible as they’ve assured me they are,” Councilman John Prigge read from a prepared statement to an audience of more than 250 people.

The city had not updated its animal control ordinance in more than 20 years, and after two pit bull dogs mauled a smaller dog to death last spring, started researching the matter.

As presented at a committee of the whole meeting Feb. 24, the new rules initially included requirements for pit bull owners to buy three-year licenses for their dogs at a cost of $100, put an identifying microchip in the dogs, and have at least $100,000 of homeowner’s or renter’s liability insurance coverage. Pit bulls would be deemed dangerous dogs and were to be evaluated, spayed or neutered, and would have been required to undergo obedience classes and be held on nonretractable leads and muzzled when taken for a walk. Only people age 18 or older were to be allowed to walk pit bulls.

That same night, after hearing from locals — most of whom opposed the breed-specific rules — the council voted 4-3 to move the measure forward for final consideration later.

But in a memo sent to council members March 3, Corporation Counsel William Cogley modified the suggestions, including reducing the license fee to $50 and the size of required signage; allowing smaller fences, provided a dog is muzzled or tethered and under adult supervision; and allowing pit bulls from outside Elgin to be in the city only with proof of registration and/or licensing elsewhere.

Now, all of the modified rules will apply only to any dog that a hearing officer or court deems to be dangerous or vicious. Vicious dogs would not be allowed to be taken for walks on Elgin streets. Owners of dangerous and/or vicious dogs would have to put signs up by their residences, warning others about their pets.

The new rules also give police more tools to address how people treat their dogs, with specifications for tethering and leaving pets outside, particularly in inclement weather. The revised ordinance is to go into effect in June.

Prigge told the audience he still feels pits bulls are dangerous, and “if there is another tragic pit bull attack in this city or if circumstances warrant, I will request we revisit this issue and suggest we implement all of the proposed pit bull regulations to prevent further attack.”

Mayor Ed Schock complimented pit bull owners on how they conducted themselves during the debate on the issue, and said the matter offered proof that democracy works. He also looked for their support in looking into licensing all dogs in Elgin.

For his part, longtime pit bull owner Will Alexander was happy with Wednesday’s outcome.

“The council listened to us, and the new laws will put people on warning they are serious about animal control,” Alexander said.