From the Chicago Suburban News:
“An alderman’s close encounter with two barking pit bulls tied to a tree in his neighborhood has raised a question of public safety in the minds of some on the City Council.
Ald. Jack Palmieri reported the incident to the council Thursday night and suggested the city tighten control on all dogs within Park City.
Aldermen agreed by requesting Police Chief Walter Holderbaum and City Attorney Peter Karlovics to review the current dog licensing ordinance for effectiveness and public safety since it has not been reviewed for several years.
…’Pit bulls in general are not inherently dangerous. They just require attentive and considerate care by their owners in keeping the public’s safety in mind,’ [Holderbaum] said.
He distributed a North Chicago dog ordinance adopted in 2006 that specifically covers the licensing or revocation of a pit bull or a kennel license, their confinement, selling, giving away, or the destruction of any pit bull which bites or attacks a person.
Most notably, a pit bull owner “who owns, keeps or harbors a pit bull must produce either a renter’s or homeowner’s insurance policy to the city … showing that there is coverage to the owner for any damages caused by the pit bull in the minimum amount of $100,000 per person.”
Holderbaum said the North Chicago ordinance also calls for prominent warning signs to be posted by pet owners at all entrances and exits of a property where a pit bull is confined.”
Read this article in its entirety here.
Illinois state law prohibits breed-specific legislation of any kind:
“(510 ILCS 5/24) (from Ch. 8, par. 374) Sec. 24. Nothing in this Act shall be held to limit in any manner the power of any municipality or other political subdivision to prohibit animals from running at large, nor shall anything in this Act be construed to, in any manner, limit the power of any municipality or other political subdivision to further control and regulate dogs, cats or other animals in such municipality or other political subdivision provided that no regulation or ordinance is specific to breed. (Source: P.A. 93 548, eff. 8 19 03).”
Please write the Park City City Council at the following address and politely tell them that breed-specific legislation is prohibited in Illinois and that breed-specific legislation of any kind whether breed restrictions or an out-and-out ban are ineffective and unenforceable:
City of Park City
3420 Kehm Boulevard
Park City, IL 60085