Amid a small increase of dog bites, Lake Bluff trustees have approved a series of amendments to the village’s animal control regulations.
The village board approved a series of changes to the animal policies at its Feb. 24 meeting, following several discussions at earlier meetings.
Village officials decided to examine the situation after receiving anecdotal reports of increasing incidents. Formally, the village received six reports of dog bites against humans and four in 2023, according to village documents. In the previous four years, there had only been nine such incidents combined.
With the small spike, village officials decided to review its policies on animals.
“We love our pets in Lake Bluff, but we want the proper tools,” Village President Regis Charlot said at one of the meetings.
Attorney Kelley Gandurski noted the village’s animal control code was last updated in 1974.
“The tools in the toolbox the village had wasn’t very helpful,” Gandurski said. “It wasn’t an elegant solution for Lake Bluff.”
The amended regulations create a procedure that, if a dog bites a human, immediate action is required by the owner, including having to take the dog to a veterinarian.
Separately, if a complaint is made, police will investigate to determine how the incident occurred. If it is determined the dog was not provoked, police can declare the dog dangerous.
“Once that happens it is incumbent on the owner to take additional measures to ensure the dog is properly handled according to the police order,” Gandurski said.
If a dog is declared dangerous, several measures can be taken, including the dog should be attached to a leash no longer than six feet, the dog should be muzzled on a walk, or the dog should be kept indoors unless it needs to go to the veterinarian.
Another possible condition would be a requirement for the owner to take out additional insurance on their animals.
“It is creating a sense of responsibility for the owner if a dog has behavioral issues,” Gandurski said.
Gandurski acknowledged the overall number of incidents is relatively small.
“People in Lake Bluff are generally pretty responsible with their animals,” she said.
The final regulations were amended after some feral (outdoor) cat owners expressed concerns about the new rules. Village officials also sought input from a local animal care society.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
