An Aurora City Council committee this week recommended revisions to the animal control ordinance that include clarifying animal noise complaints and a change to allow residents to keep more pets.
Most of the changes are to bring Aurora’s code into compliance with state laws, according to Anna Payton, Aurora’s animal control director. She added that Aurora’s code hasn’t been revised in more than 20 years.
Aldermen on the Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee unanimously recommended the changes, which will come to the full council at a Committee of the Whole meeting in May.
The committee first heard the changes two weeks ago, and spent time since then looking them over. They then recommended them this week.
One change is to raise the maximum number of dogs and cats one household can have legally from four to five. Payton said existing law also breaks it out that you can only have two of each species, such as two dogs, or two cats.
Animal owners can apply to have three of one, and one of another, but you have to notify animal control.
She said the new rules also require that to get a waiver on the number of animals, a person has to make sure all the animals are vaccinated and micro-chipped.
Another change is more definite parameters for animal noise control, Payton said.
The new language would say there can be no more than 15 consecutive minutes of a barking dog between the times of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and no more than 10 consecutive minutes of barking between 10:01 p.m. and 6:59 a.m.
A first-time citation for excessive noise would be $100, she said. The language is similar to what Naperville and Sugar Grove have, Payton added.
She said any noise complaint for a barking dog would be handled the same as any citation for other noise violations.
The new regulations would require than any dog brought in for a bite complaint would have to be micro-chipped and spayed or neutered. It also requires that tethering an animal would be regulated, particularly regarding weather conditions.
Payton also said animals are “not permitted to run at large” and must be controlled by their owners.
Ald. Carl Franco, 5th Ward, asked exactly what the definition of being “controlled” by the owner means. He said some could interpret that as being OK to have a dog without a leash, as long as it is next to the owner.
“They are not allowed to run at large, and that includes dogs and cats,” Payton said. “Any animal not under restraint, and not with the owner, could be considered at large.”
Payton said most of the regulations, the requirements and any fines are based on getting people to follow the laws. The focus is on compliance, not punishment, she said.
