Communities differ on how many pets allowed in homes

For pet owners, finding the right home can involve more than just the number of bedrooms, square-footage or its proximity to local amenities.

In some cases, the number of animals the county, town or individual homeowners' association allows, plays a part in the decision-making process.

Though many governing bodies across the northwest suburbs have ordinances addressing the number of domestic animals - dogs and cats - a person may own, and others are considering such measures, in some instances residents are unaware until it is too late.

"I would not have moved if I had known of the pet restrictions but I was told by the seller's agent that there were no restrictions," said Lisa Kosel, a Carpentersville resident who was forced to give up one of her Yorkshire Terriers when she moved to the village in 2006.

Carpentersville amended its ordinance last year and now allows two dogs in single family homes and multiunit housing. Previously, residents in condominiums and townhomes were limited to one dog, though individual associations often enforce their own, more restrictive rules.

In an animal control survey conducted in 2007 by the Northwest Municipal Council, 17 of 20 responders said their village or city restricted the number of animals allowed per household.

Measures differ in scope. Some counties, like Lake County, allow homeowners in unincorporated areas who live on between half and one acre of land up to four cats and four dogs. In Palatine, three animals are allowed. Other communities set the limit at two pets per home.

But while numbers vary, most officials agree some restrictions are needed for the health of the animals and humans.

"Communities want to make sure they have a reasonable number of animals in the area of where people live," said Kerry Vinkler, executive director of DuPage Animal Care and Control. "Municipalities are looking out for all involved, humans and animals, because we live in close proximity, close quarters."

For officials in Mundelein, the issue was the number of animals that either ran away or were abandoned by owners.

"We have to have some sort of limitation in place because we have a lot of strays," said Bob Spear, a community service officer in Mundelein. "The thought was if we limit the number of pets, then we would have less stray dogs and feral cats running around."

In Elgin, city spokeswoman Sue Olafson said residents are limited to three dogs in single-family homes and two dogs in condominiums or townhouses. There are no restrictions on the number of cats.

"I think dogs typically have been restricted because of size and they have the ability to create more of a public nuisance," Olafson said of the city's 22-year-old ordinance. "The number is a judgment call city officials made."

Finding that magic number is something officials in McHenry County are mulling as they consider implementing a pet restriction policy. The McHenry County Animal Control Advisory Committee began talks recently on a pet policy after a resident questioned whether one was in place.

Though the county does not currently have a law on the books, 10 - or half of the municipalities in the county - do. Any county action would supersede whatever restrictions, or lack of restrictions, exist in cities and villages.

"McHenry has gone from an agricultural to an exurbanite society, people are escaping out of the suburbs and want a little more land to do what they want," said Ed Varga, chairman of the animal control advisory committee. "When those 'do what i want' attitudes overlap, that's where we have problems."

Varga said the county receives about 30 calls a month regarding the number of pets people are permitted.

McHenry County Health Department Spokeswoman Deb Quakenbush said the discussion is still in very early stages and no decision has been made.