By Adam Studzinski
NORMAL – Normal’s Town Council on Monday night tabled an amendment to the town’s ordinance regarding how many pets one household can have.
City Manager Mark Peterson explained the town allows homes to have up to two of any one animal. Additionally, the town allows a home to have litters puppies which up to six months old two times in a given year.
“The legal department pointed out, you could bring in puppies and as long as they’re under six months old you could have a whole bunch of puppies in there,” said Peterson. “Well, that was not the intent of the ordinance. The intent of the ordinance was to allow somebody with a female dog to have a litter of puppies.”
Peterson said this amendment would have made clear the puppies must be from a dog the resident owns. However, the council heard concerns from Wish Bone Canine Rescue, a local organization which puts dogs in foster homes.
“There may be more than two litters a year. That’s a problem,” Peterson said.
The council will discuss the issue again in September. In the meantime, Peterson said staff will be looking into whether there is a way to resolve any conflicts with the way pet foster organizations like Wish Bone operate.
Also on Monday, the council approved a resolution giving the town’s approval to a new federally qualified health care center McLean County plans to build on the north part of Normal, just off of Main Street. The building the property the county plans to build on is county owned. Normal needed to give its approval due to a requirement by the Public Building Commission.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at adam.studzinski@cumulus.com.