Animal Care & Control

Working with Animal Care League, 1011 Garfield St., the Village helps find and return lost pets, and promotes adoption of stray animals. Animal Control employs one full-time, professionally trained officer who addresses stray and nuisance wildlife problems. As part of the Oak Park Department of Public Health, the division also licenses pets annually.

If your pet is missing, first call Animal Care League at 708.848.8155, the Village's impound shelter. If you cannot reach Animal Care League, call Animal Control at 708.358.5486. If you would like to adopt an animal or become an animal control volunteer, visit the Animal Care League's website.

A telephone call from Animal Control is all it takes to reunite lost or strayed pets with their owners - provided those pets have been licensed and are wearing tags. All dogs and outdoor cats must be licensed annually by May 1. Owners must show proof of a current rabies inoculation before a license will be issued. The annual license fee of $25 is reduced to $10 for a spayed or neutered animal.

Residents new to the Village can register online or come to Village Hall with proof of current rabies inoculation and spaying/neutering. The license fee is $10 for a neutered/spayed dog and all cats, and $25 for any non-spayed/non-neutered dog.

Pet licenses can be renewed online.

Village ordinance limits the number of animals on private premises as follows:

Single-family residences, townhomes, buildings or lots

• Three dogs
• Two cats if allowed to run at-large (outside), or four cats if only kept indoors
• Combination of no more than 10 of all types of permitted animals

Single units of two- or three-flat residential dwellings

• Two dogs
• Two cats
• Combination of no more than five of all types of permitted animals

Single units of multi-family residential building containing four or more dwelling units

• Two dogs
• One cat allowed if allowed to run at-large (outside), or two cats if only kept indoors.
• Combination of no more than five of all types of permitted animals

Animal Control can answer questions and provide assistance deterring nuisance wildlife such as birds, skunks, squirrels, raccoons and opossums. Property owners can call 708.358.5486 or email health@oak-park.us to request a consultation.

Detailed information on preventing and solving wildlife problems or hiring a nuisance wildlife control operator is posted on the University of Illinois Extension's Living with Wildlife in Illinois website.

Responsible pet owners agree that picking up after one’s dog is the right thing to do. Dog excrement is not only a nuisance, it's unhealthy and against the law. Owners who fail to pick up after their pets may be ticketed and fined.

Anyone observing a dog not on a leash or an owner not picking up after a pet can report the violation by calling 708.358.5486 or emailing health@oak-park.us.

The Oak Park Department of Public Health suggests resident take the following steps to prevent rodent infestations:

Properly Seal Building Openings
Rodents can enter through any space larger than than ¼-inch. Pay special attention to fascia boards, vents and any cracks or gaps along the building foundation.

Pest Proof Doors
Use a brush strip or compression seal to prevent any gaps more than ¼-inch through which rodents can enter.

Remove Interior Clutter
Rodents are attracted to areas that have little or no airflow, and protect them from predators. Store all products in a neat orderly fashion at least 12 inches off the ground and 18 inches from the exterior wall.

Manage Refuse Containers
Trash containers provide the most common food source for rats. Containers need to be large enough to prevent overflow and in good repair to keep rodents out. Keep lids and drain plugs closed. Be sure to bag food trash and place the bags gently into the container to keep the bags intact. Keep the container as far as possible away from the building exterior.

Remove exterior clutter
Rodents burrow in loose rubbish that provides them with protection from predators. Move equipment and firewood away from the structure and store properly off the ground and away from the structure. Remove windblown trash and spillage from the fence line and from the building foundation. Please remove all pet feces.

Alter Landscaping
Mice and rats like heavy vegetation that provides food, water and protection from predators. Keep vegetation and weeds at least two feet from the structure. Avoid low-lying plants and creeping bushes, and keep the grass cut.

For more information and answers to questions about rodent control, call 708.358.5480 or email health@oak-park.us.

Health Department staff investigate conditions that could result in rat infestations. The Health Department also administers rat abatement activities, investigates citizen complaints and enforces environmental health codes related to rodent control.

Complete a Rodent Baiting Release Form(PDF, 67KB) and return to health@oak-park.us. Photographs are not necessary.