Illinois Administrative Code › Title 8 - AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS › Part 25 - ANIMAL WELFARE ACT › Section 25.115 - Guard and Sentry Dogs

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
Guard and sentry dog services shall comply with all provisions
				of the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act [510 ILCS 70 ] and the Illinois
				Animal Control Act [510 ILCS 5 ] relating to the care the animals receive when
				stationed at a point away from the licensed facility as well as at the
				facility. In addition to the general content of 510 ILCS 70 and 510 ILCS 5, the
				dog services shall comply specifically with the following:
a) Any animal utilized for guard or sentry
			 dog purposes shall be immunized against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis,
			 and parvovirus, and a current and valid certificate of these immunizations
			 shall be retained on file at the facility. This is in addition to the mandatory
			 rabies immunization as required pursuant to the Illinois Animal Control
			 Act.
b) Any animal utilized or
			 maintained as a guard or sentry dog shall be in a physically healthy condition
			 by gross observation and free from any apparent disease or internal or external
			 parasitic condition. Any animal that the Department has reasonable cause to
			 believe is injured, sick, diseased, unwell, or malnourished or constitutes a
			 danger to the public health and safety may be ordered to be removed from the
			 premises and restricted from use until the animal is examined by a licensed
			 veterinarian and provided the recommended treatment, if deemed to be necessary.
			 A statement will be retained on file and be available for review by Department
			 representatives. Any animal shall be restricted from use until a statement
			 attesting to its satisfactory condition is received from the licensed
			 veterinarian and such statement relayed to the Department. Every dog currently
			 used as a guard dog or sentry dog shall be examined and certified for health
			 within 90 days after the effective date of these regulations. Any new animal
			 purchased or obtained before being stationed at any point shall be examined by
			 a veterinarian and receive the necessary immunizations at least 72 hours before
			 use as a guard or sentry animal.
c)
			 All animals utilized for guard or sentry dog service shall have the proper
			 current licenses and tags affixed to its collar, harness or other device and
			 have a fluorescent medallion affixed to signify the animal as having such a
			 designation and purpose.
d) No
			 person shall keep, use, or maintain a guard dog or sentry dog on any premises
			 unless a warning sign is posted in plain view at each gate or entrance to the
			 premises. The signs shall include the message "WARNING: GUARD DOG ON PREMISES"
			 in bold print and shall have the name of the guard dog service or other
			 responsible person and a 24-hour emergency telephone number printed below the
			 warning.
e) No person shall keep,
			 use, or maintain a guard dog or sentry dog on any premises unless the dog is
			 provided full access to an enclosed building, dog house, or similar shelter. If
			 more than one animal is utilized for a guard or sentry dog at one location,
			 each must be furnished adequate shelter. The shelter must:
1) Be constructed in a manner to assure
			 protection of the dog from the elements.
2) Have a floor off the ground and be cleaned
			 and maintained in a manner to assure the best possible sanitary
			 condition.
3) Be of adequate size
			 to accommodate the number and size of dogs required to utilize the prescribed
			 housing. A shelter will be presumed to be of adequate size if the dog has
			 freedom to sit, stand, and lie in comfort.
4) If the structure is not radiantly heated,
			 it shall have a sufficient quantity of suitable bedding material such as hay,
			 straw, cedar shavings, or the equivalent to provide insulation and protection
			 against cold and dampness for comfort.
5) The shelter shall be placed in such
			 location or protected to prevent wind and the other elements from injuring the
			 contained animal's health.