Section 25.115  Guard and Sentry Dogs

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.

f)         No person shall keep, use or maintain a guard dog or sentry dog on any premises unless the dog has access to water at all times with ice not being considered as water, and:

1)         if the water is kept in a container or pail, the water is kept in an area to prevent contamination and spillage and replaced with fresh water at least once each calendar day; or

2)         if the water is provided by an automatic or demand device, the water supply to the device is on 24 hours each day.

g)         No person shall keep, use, or maintain a guard dog or sentry dog on any premises unless the dog is provided sufficient quantities of dog food to maintain proper body weight and good general health.  The food shall be kept in a suitable container within viewable range without the need to enter the premises but kept in an area to prevent tampering, contamination or spillage.  Fresh food shall be placed in a clean container at least once each calendar day.  Spoiled or contaminated food shall be disposed of in a proper manner.

h)         Each guard dog service shall notify by mail the fire station and police station closest to the premises where the dog will be on duty, not more than 15 days before a dog is sent on an assignment, if the guard dog service knows it will be providing services at that time.  If a guard dog service first becomes aware that a dog will be sent on an assignment less than 15 days before the guard dog service will be providing services, the guard dog service shall notify in person the fire station and police station closest to the premises where the dog will be on duty within 24 hours after becoming aware of the assignment.  The local law enforcement agency and fire department shall maintain a file on these assignments, and each file shall contain a manned 24-hour emergency telephone number in the event the premises must be entered for police or fire reasons.  If a pager number or answering device is used, a response shall be received within 30 minutes to comply with the manned telephone requirement.  The local law enforcement agency and fire department shall make these files available to Department investigators and approved humane investigators on request.

i)          Each guard dog or sentry dog shall, whenever the dog is kept on actual duty, be visited by a dog handler at least once daily to insure that the dog's physical condition, its surroundings, and its food and water supply are adequate as specified in this Section and if inadequate the dog handler shall do whatever may be necessary to correct or remedy the situation.  The dog handler shall be either the owner of, or be employed by or under contract to, the guard dog or sentry dog service that placed the dog on assignment.

j)          Whenever a dog subject to this Section is being transported anywhere, it shall be well secured in a humane manner as will reasonably prevent its possible escape.  When animals are transported in crates or containers, the crates or containers must be constructed of nonabrasive wire or a smooth, durable material suitable for the animals.  Crates and containers must be clean, adequately ventilated, contain sufficient space to allow the animals to turn around and provide maximum safety and protection to the animals.  No guard dog or sentry dog shall be transported in the trunk of a car or on open bed trucks.

(Source:  Added at  20 Ill. Reg. 265, effective January 1, 1996)