Do you Know What Kane County Animal Control Does?
Do you know what Kane County Animal Control does?
This is one of the questions our staff fields from members of the Kane County community and it is definitely a great question!
Simply put, Kane County Animal Control:
- Oversees rabies registration throughout the county.
- Responds to animal complaints regarding barking dogs, dogs off property and abuse reports.
- Responds to calls regarding sick or injured wildlife in unincorporated areas. We will respond to sick/injured wildlife within city limits if we receive permission from the police.
- Picks up stray dogs from unincorporated areas of Kane County.
- Accepts stray cats from unincorporated areas if they are brought to us.
- Protects public safety.
- Ensures the humane care of animals through sheltering, pet placement, education and animal law enforcement.
KCAC's facility is located at 4060 Keslinger Road in Geneva, Illinois, 60134. We have an adoption program of cats and dogs at our shelter and we enforce county ordinances. KCAC also provides a low-cost rabies and microchip clinic beginning in April and running through October. Separate microchip appointments also can be scheduled throughout the year by calling 630-232-3555.
There are three wardens who make sure the ordinances are followed throughout the county. If a dog or cat bites someone, an animal control warden will follow up on the investigation and make sure that animal completes a rabies observation and is brought up-to-date on its rabies vaccination.
As per the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and as a favor to the Kane County Health Department, our wardens will pick up bats (and occasionally other animals) that meet IDPH exposure guidelines and send them for rabies testing.
Where does KCAC get its dogs?
It varies!
Most of our dogs are found on the streets of the cities and towns in Kane County. Straying dogs found within unincorporated areas of Kane County can be reported to our office and we will dispatch a warden to pick it up from the location it was found.
If a stray dog is spotted running loose after hours or on the weekends in unincorporated Kane County, KCAC wardens will not go out to try to catch it. Residents can call the 630-232-3555 and leave a message as to where the dog was last seen. A warden who is scheduled for the morning shift will then respond to the area where the dog was last seen.
However, if a stray dog is contained after hours and no longer running loose, then a KCAC warden will dispatch to pick it up and bring it back to the shelter.
KCAC is contracted with local municipalities that ask to partner with us. The contracts are then signed by each city representative on behalf of the police and returned. Under the binding contract guidelines, the police have the responsibility to make sure the animals within their city limits or village are safe and protected. Wellbeing checks, animal attacks, straying animals, or animal abuse concerns should be directed to your city's police department.
If an owned dog becomes a stray, the police must either find the owner of the animal or give permission to KCAC to take the dog. If the police give KCAC permission, then per the terms of the agreement, there is a small fee associated with this service.
If an owner doesn't come forward to claim the dog after a set amount of days (510 ILCS 5/10), it becomes the property of KCAC. The county veterinarian then gives it a thorough medical exam and a temperament test and, if it passes all the levels, it is placed up for adoption. Animals are also available to licensed rescue groups and can be transferred to them at their request.
Where does KCAC get its cats?
Cats are an entirely different story because there are no leash laws for cats. They have free roaming privileges and, therefore, can be outside without supervision.
Unfortunately, most police departments will not give permission to KCAC to take a stray cat found within any city within the county. If you find a stray cat around your home within a city in Kane County, the best course of action is to contact some of the shelters in the area. Our website has a listing of many of the shelters throughout Illinois under the Animal Welfare link located at the top of www.KaneCountyPets.com.
Our wardens will not be dispatched for cats found within unincorporated areas of Kane County. However, those cats can be brought to us during regular business hours.
Can I adopt a pet from KCAC?
Of course!
Anyone can go to KCAC's website: www.kanecoutypets.com and check out the animals currently up for adoption. If you're interested in any that are available, you are more than welcome to call or email us for more details and information!
