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Howard Board adopts ordinance to standardize dog-license threshold and clarify animal-control enforcement
Summary
The Village Board unanimously passed Ordinance 2026-08 updating Chapter 4 to set the multiple-dog license threshold at three or more dogs, replace gendered language, clarify wildlife-feeding enforcement, and specify that Animal Control Officers may enter private property only with an inspection warrant.
The Village of Howard Board on July 13 approved Ordinance 2026-08, amending Chapter 4 of the Village Code to standardize the multiple-dog license threshold at three or more dogs, replace gendered wording with gender-neutral language, and clarify enforcement of wildlife-feeding rules. Administrator Paul Evert explained the changes and told trustees that the ordinance clarifies when the Village’s Animal Control Officer may enter private property and that entry requires an inspection warrant except in limited circumstances defined by state law.
Trustee Chris Nielsen asked about who issues inspection warrants; Evert said municipal or circuit court judges may issue inspection warrants and that state law limits when an Animal Control Officer may enter without a warrant. Trustee Cathy Hughes seconded the motion to adopt the ordinance; the motion carried unanimously. The ordinance was presented as clarifying language rather than introducing new wildlife-feeding prohibitions.
