When it comes to dogs that the state deems as vicious, the pet owner legally has to take certain precautions to ensure the safety of others. If you sustain an injury by a dog labeled as vicious, it may be because the owner was not following the Animal Control Act guidelines appropriately.
According to the Illinois General Assembly, a vicious dog is a dog that “without justification, attacks a person and causes serious physical injury or death or any individual dog that we find to be a ‘dangerous dog’ upon 3 separate occasions.”
Once the state labels the dog as vicious, the judge may order the animal to be euthanized. If the judge chooses not to euthanize the dog, however, the release of the animal to the owner will only happen once he or she has built a proper enclosure for the dog. Additionally, it will have to pass an inspection by the Administrator, Director, or an Animal Control Warden.
The only time the vicious dog may be outside of the enclosure is in the following instances:
- The dog needs to visit the vet for care
- The dog’s life is threatened by a natural disaster or emergency
- To comply with a court order
In all these instances, the pet owner must muzzle the dog and restrain them with a leash that is no longer than six feet. Additionally, the dog must be under the control and direct supervision of the owner at all times.
It is important to note that even if the dog is in the owner’s home, the pet must remain in an enclosure that is lockable in order to prevent entry by children or other people. One caveat to this rule is that the dog may roam freely about the residence if it wears a muzzle at all times.
