Beginning Monday, pet owners walking their animals must carry some form of container with them at all times to clean up after their pets or face a $25 fine.
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“The beauty of this ordinance is it treats all pets the same,” said Ald. Tim Vetang, who wrote the ordinance. “It doesn’t single out dogs or cats or ferrets or snakes.”
The new law, which replaces the city’s old animal control ordinance written in 1962, requires pet owners to clean up after their animals in public places and carry some kind of clean-up device-such as a cup or an elaborate commercial product-to do the trick.
The ordinance requires all pets to be caged, leashed or under the owners’ control whenever outside and off the owners’ property.
But unlike other suburban communities where cat owners cried foul over the leash requirement, Geneva’s feline lovers encouraged the rule, Vetang said.
“Cats should be kept indoors because there are just too many things that can happen to them on the loose outside,” said Linda Castle, executive director of Anderson Animal Shelter. “Our public education campaigns are starting to work.”