Scroll down to find information on the Village's laws pertaining to animals
and to find links to animal-related sites.
On October 28, 2008, the Village Board passed Ordinance No. 08-058 regulating
animal nuisances in the Village of Homer Glen. The ordinance addresses
noise made by animals for extended periods (15 minute). Residents are
encouraged to be responsible animal owners and not leave pets outside
unsupervised.
In the event an animal is deemed a public nuisance, the owner of the animal
shall be issued a citation by the Code Enforcement Officer or Sheriff's
Department. The first citation shall act as a notice with no associated
fine; however, fines will be imposed for subsequent violations.
From OR08-058 An Ordinance Regulating Animal Nuisances
Section 3: Animals Disturbing the Peace - Prohibited
It is unlawful for owners to allow their animals to become public nuisances at any time during the day or night. In the event an animal is deemed a public nuisance, the owner of the animal shall be issued a citation by the Code Enforcement Officer or an authorized agent of the Village and be subject to the penalties described in Section 4.
Section 4: Penalty
Any person found liable for violating any provision of this Ordinance shall be subject to a fine in accordance with the following schedule:
- First violation shall result in an issuance of a warning;
- A fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $100.00 for the second violation;
- A fine of not less than $100.00 nor more that $750.00 for any subsequent violation within one year after the first violation.
Each occurrence of a violation shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
Section 5: Enforcement
Proceedings to enforce violations of this ordinance may be initiated and conducted in accordance with and pursuant to the provisions of the Village Ordinances providing for Administrative Adjudication of Code Violations or by any other means provided by law.
Homer Glen "Leash Law" & More...
The Village Board of Trustees approved Animal Control Ordinance No. 07-041 on
July 24, 2007. The ordinance addresses animals running at large, feeding
feral animals, and more.
Under the new ordinance, dogs within the Village of Homer Glen are not
permitted to "run at large" or to be on any street or public right-of-way
without being on a leash. However, dogs do not need to be leashed on their
owner's property or on other private property where the owner has given
permission.
To report complaints:
During regular business hours contact:
Will County Animal Control
(815) 462-5633
After business hours contact:
Will County Sheriff's Department
(708)
301-9274
If you would like additional information or clarification, please contact
Village Hall.
Animal Control Ordinance No. 07-041 Pamphlet (PDF)
The Village of Homer Glen has contracted with Will County Animal Control
to provide an animal control program for Village residents. A staff of
animal control officers responds to complaints regarding animal control.
Will County Animal Control will pick up stray
domestic animals only.
For issues concerning local wildlife, see that
section on this page.
Please refer to the Village's 2007 "leash law",
Animal Control Ordinance No.
07-041 above. It addresses animals running at large, feeding feral animals, and
more.
Will County Animal Control
1200 S. Cedar Road
New Lenox, IL 60451
Phone: (815)
462-5633
Animal Control Ordinance No. 07-041 Pamphlet ("Leash Law") PDF
There currently is no governmental program within the Village of Homer Glen
to assist residents who are having difficulties with local wildlife. Will County
Animal Control does not handle nuisance wildlife. If you have a problem
with nuisance wildlife, you can call a private trapper.
For other assistance with wildlife or to get a license to trap wildlife, you
can contact the Department of
Natural Resources (815) 476-2523.
For your convenience we have listed a few agencies that you may contact for
assistance at your own expense. Listing the agencies on this website is
for your convenience and does not imply an endorsement of the companies'
services by the Village of Homer Glen. (See
Disclaimer)
Animal Welfare League
10305 Southwest Highway
Chicago Ridge, IL 60415
Phone: (708) 636-8586
24-Hour Drop-Off
They work with several animal rehabilitators to pick up some types of wild
animals from this location in Chicago Ridge. (For example, a tiny duckling
was found in a parking lot and the mother duck could not be located. The
duckling was dropped off at the Animal Welfare League. They called an
animal rehabilitator to pick the duckling up for care and relocation.)
A & B Wildlife
Plainfield
(815) 254 5036
A-1 Wildlife Removal
Joliet
(815) 725-0730
Animal Encounters Wildlife Control
Hinckley
(630) 355-4001
Critter Control
Will County
(630) 264-1044
Guardian Pest
Control Services
(Service & Supplies)
(708) 364-0360
Nuisance Wildlife Control
Lockport
(815) 836-8380
T & C Trapping Animal Damage
Control
Joliet
(815) 467-4039
Shih Tzu Rescue, Adoption & Education Safehouse or S.T.R.A.E.S., is an
all local volunteer, not for profit, no kill, humane organization established to
provide shelter, care and an adoption program for abandoned and relinquished
purebred Shih Tzu.
Shih
Tzu Rescue, Adoption & Education Safehouse
Phone (708) 645-0730
TLC is located in Homer Glen. Additional information is available by clicking
on the link below:
T.L.C. Animal
Shelter
13016 West 151st Street
Homer Glen, IL 60491
Phone (708) 301-1594
Will County Humane Society is a no-kill shelter that receives no outside
government or county funding assistance of any kind. Therefore, we rely on the
generosity of our supporters. It doesn't matter where you are in the
nation... you can make a difference in the quality of animal's lives.
Will County Humane
Society
24109 W. Seil Rd.
Shorewood, IL 60431
Phone (815)
741-0695
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE CONTROL OF ANIMALS IN THE VILLAGE OF HOMER GLEN, WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the
Illinois Municipal Code, the corporate authorities of each municipality may
regulate and prohibit the running at large of animals (65 ILCS 5/11-1-1, 2006
State Bar Edition);and
WHEREAS, the Village of Homer Glen has
previously entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the Will County
Animal Control Department that provides for animal call out services as provided
under exhibit "A" and any renewal to the aforementioned agreement; and
WHEREAS, the President and Board of Trustees of
the Village of Homer Glen have determined that it is necessary and in the best
interests of the Village to regulate and control animals within the Village
under and pursuant to the provisions of the Illinois Municipal Code and the
general police powers of the Village.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE PRESIDENT AND VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OF THE VILLAGE OF HOMER GLEN, WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS, THAT:
SECTION 1: Recitals
The foregoing recitals are hereby incorporated into this Ordinance as if
fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2: Definitions
As used in this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires, the term
specified in this Section 2 has meanings ascribed to them in this Section.
- a. "Animal Control Officer" - The person
appointed, or hired, by the Village to properly apprehend, handle and care for
animals.
- b. "At Large" - means off the premises of the
owner and not under the control of a leash of the owner, a member of the owner's
family or an authorized person. For the purpose of this Ordinance, voice control
shall not be considered as control.
- c. "Feral" - means existing in a wild or
untamed state, or returning to an untamed state after domestication.
- d. "Leash" - means a cord, rope, strap or
chain which shall be securely fastened to the collar or harness of a dog and
shall be of sufficient strength to keep such dog under control.
- e. "Owner" - means any person having a right
of property in a dog, or who keeps or harbors a dog , or who has in his care, or
acts as its custodian, or who knowingly permits a dog to remain on or about any
premises occupied by him.
- f. "Person" - means any person, firm,
corporation, partnership, society, association or other legal entity, any public
or private institution, the State of Illinois, municipal corporation or
political subdivision of the State, or any other business unit.
- g. "Pound" - means any facility used as a
shelter for seized, stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted dogs or other
animals.
SECTION 3: Animals Running at Large-Prohibited
- a. It is unlawful to permit any dog to run at large or to be on any public
right-of-way or property other than that of such owner without being securely
restrained by a leash. A dog may be allowed on a property other than that of its
owner without a leash if the property owner gives permission. Dogs that are
running at large within the Village are deemed to be in violation of this
Ordinance and may be apprehended and impounded. The Animal Control Officer shall
utilize the Village's approved pound, or a public pound if necessary. The owner
or owners of the dog or dogs running at large shall be responsible for the dog's
conduct and subject to the penalty provisions of this Ordinance.
- b. It is unlawful for any person to regularly feed, water or otherwise
attract or create conditions within the Village, which allow dogs, cats or other
domesticated or feral animals to accumulate on the property and otherwise
endanger the health, safety, and welfare of the residents.
SECTION 4: Impoundment and Redemption
When such dogs are apprehended and impounded by the Animal Control Officer,
he shall give notice of not less than seven (7) days to the owner, if known.
Such notice shall be mailed to the last known address of the owner. An affidavit
or testimony of the Animal Control Officer, or an authorized agent of the
Village, who mails such notice shall be prima facie evidence of the receipt of
such notice by the owner of such dog. A reasonable attempt will be made to
contact all dog owners. In case the owner of any impounded dog desires to make
redemption thereof, he or she may do so on the following conditions:
- a. Present proof of current rabies inoculation, or
- b. Pay for the rabies inoculation of the dog, and
- c. Pay the pound for the board of the dog for the period it was impounded,
and
- d. If the incident is a first offense, the dog owner may be given a warning
rather than a citation, at the discretion of the Animal Control Officer. The
owner will not have to pay the administrative redemption fee to the Village, but
must cover the cost of boarding the dog for the period it was impounded.
- e. If the incident is not a first offense, the dog owner must pay an
administrative redemption fee of $20 for the second incident, $40 for the third
incident, and $80 for the fourth incident. Beyond four offenses, the dog owner
must pay a maximum fee of $100 per offense.
SECTION 5: Dogs not Redeemed
When not redeemed by the owner within seven (7) days of notice, a dog which
has been impounded in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance shall be
humanely dispatched, offered for adoption, or otherwise disposed of by the pound
as a stray dog in accordance with the Will County Animal Control Ordinance.
SECTION 6: Penalty
Any person found in violation of this Ordinance shall be fined a minimum of
One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) and a maximum of Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars
($750.00) for each offense.
SECTION 7: Severability
The various portions of this Ordinance are hereby expressly declared to be
severable, and the invalidity of any such portion of this Ordinance shall not
affect the validity of any other portions of this Ordinance, which shall be
enforced to the fullest extent possible.
SECTION 8: Repealer
All ordinances or portions of ordinances previously passed or adopted by the
Village of Homer Glen that conflict with or are inconsistent with the provisions
of this Ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION 9: Effective Date
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage
and approval. ADOPTED this 24th day of July, 2007