Tails in the News

Significant animal legislation passes through state Congress

Late last spring, the Illinois state legislature passed several bills relating to animal cruelty, marking a landmark year for animal-related legislation at the statewide level. These measures included HB 822, which redefines “potentially dangerous dogs” as canines who are unsupervised and found running at large with at least three other dogs. It passed the state legislature on June 6. The bill requires potentially dangerous dogs to be spayed or neutered and microchipped, and the dangerous dog designation would expire after one year if the dog does not receive any violations.
SR 166, a resolution to create the Dog Owners and Homeowners Insurance Advisory Committee, was also adopted. The committee will be responsible for studying breed discrimination and homeowner’s insurance availability. Additionally, HB 3614, which passed on June 7, will increase the penalty for all animal fighting to a felony under state law. Dog fighting was previously a felony, but all other types of animal fighting were considered a misdemeanor before the passage of this bill.

Dogs welcomed back to Grant Park sculpture garden

The Chicago Park District has agreed to drop the ban on dogs around the Agora sculpture in Grant Park, following a verdict from the Grant Park Advisory board that the ban was too extreme. The board has agreed to allow dogs in the area, as long as they don’t urinate on the statues, which cost the city of Chicago around $3 million. The ban was imposed in February and was coupled with a fine of $500 for those who violated the rules. The South Loop Dog Park Action Co-op has been opposed to the ban since its introduction, and the organization is very pleased with the new verdict, according to Gail Merritt, president of the South Loop Dog PAC. She says there are now signs around the sculpture that read “Curb your dog,” rather than “No dogs allowed.” She adds that she has not been aware of any enforcement issues regarding the new regulations.

Funds needed to ensure future of Wicker Park Dog Park

Earlier this summer, rumors began circulating that some residents of the Wicker Park neighborhood who live near the intersection of Evergreen and Schiller, where the area dog park is located, were asking for the closure of the off-leash area. The alleged complaints had to do with noise from the dogs barking and lack of maintenance. While many of these neighborhood complaints have not been confirmed, the Wicker Park Advisory Committee took note of the problems and decided to take action, first by establishing a Wicker Park Dog Committee.

“Somebody on the park committee said if these things aren’t done, there might not be a dog park,” says Adam Housely, head of the committee. Housely has been overseeing fundraising efforts for the park, which is in need of a storage shed for cleaning supplies and a new fence, among other general upkeep items.

“We want to replace the chicken wire around the park with something more permanent,” he says. “Something that will keep the balls from getting out and will be easier to remove debris from.”
The committee has already raised $800, which will allow construction of the shed to begin within the next few weeks, according to Housely. The fencing will be a more significant expense, though, and will require more fundraising efforts.

Housely says he will be posting a sign in the park that indicates the dog area’s needs and provides instructions on how to make donations to the effort. The dog park committee will also have a presence at several upcoming summer events in the Wicker Park neighborhood, where residents can learn more about the necessary improvements to the park and make donations. For more information visit WickerBark.org.

Lake Forest woman allowed to keep pigs on property

A Lake County judge has ruled that Estelle Gonzales Walgreen will be allowed to keep three pigs on her property until at least 2011, when an ordinance that requires farm animals to be kept on large lots and 200 feet from neighboring properties takes effect. After the pigs arrived last year, two of Walgreen’s neighbors complained that the animals were a nuisance to the neighborhood, and they petitioned to have them removed. However, the Lake Forest City Council allowed the pigs to remain.

The most recent verdict was the result of a lawsuit following the City Council petition, where Walgreens’ neighbors, Robert and Kathleen Murphy, took the case to county court. Although zoning rules ban farm animals on residential lots, the ordinance does not name pigs as a farm animal. The Murphys say they plan to take the case to the Illinois Appellate Court.