Normal Town Council votes to increase the limit of dogs per household

NORMAL, Ill. – The Normal Town Council met on Monday to discuss an ordinance increasing the limit of two to three dogs per household.

Normal resident Ann Tabor stepped up to the podium for public comment, urging the council to raise the household dog limit to three.

Tabor cited several reasons to amend the code, including the companionship dogs provide and the learning opportunities they offer children. She added that allowing three dogs would reduce the number in kill shelters and bring Normal’s rules in line with surrounding towns like Bloomington.

Council Member Scott Preston later turned his attention towards Tabor’s public comment, thanking her for stepping up and supporting her points.

“I did pull up the email that you had sent us back in June. If you don’t mind, I would like to paraphrase just a part of it that I found impressive was that our young public commenter in her email talked about how she made a presentation and gave it to her parents, outlining the reason for them to get another dog,” said Preston. “She put in a lot of effort, a lot of thought, made the case, and similarly to her parents, came and did that tonight. I love it, and I hope the effort before us tonight is approved as the sensible policy to change the limit from two to three. Kudos to you, and hopefully this thing passes. I’m certainly in support.”

Retired Normal resident Mike Kerber spoke during public comment in opposition to the amendment. Kerber, who often runs along Constitution Trail, said he has had several run-ins with dog owners who lack control of their pets, leading to him being jumped on and pushed off the trail.

Kerber voiced his concerns surrounding the increase of dogs per household, believing that this limit increase would increase the number of misbehaved dogs he would see on the trail.

Preston later responded to this comment:

“Be it nuisance from noise, being off leash, sanitary conditions, or the like, none of those are issues that would be more applicable with three dogs than with two,” Preston said.

Normal City Manager Pamela Reece said towns surrounding Normal have a limit of three dogs instead of two.

“We did check some of our peer communities to find out how we compared. It turned out that many other communities already allowed three pets, and we were not the norm in that,” said Reese. “We evaluated that, and we’re coming with a recommendation to modify it from two to three of the species.”

The council voted to pass this amendment ordinance.

The council also discussed an application for the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant to expand and improve Rosa Parks Commons. Council Member Kathleen Lorenz questioned the proposal, expressing concerns about whether the improvements are necessary.

Council Members Karyn Smith and Kevin McCarthy disagreed with Lorenz’s concerns. Smith noted that Constitution Trail currently has only one bathroom and the improvements would add another. McCarthy said there was no risk in voting yes on the resolution.

The resolution passed with all council members voting in favor except Lorenz.

Normal Town Council meets at 7 p.m. every first and third Monday of each month. The next meeting will take place on October 6.