The City of Marengo requires all cats and dogs kept in city limits, except dogs and cats under the age of six (6) months and guide dogs for blind persons, to obtain a dog or cat license annually and the cost of $5.00
The license fee shall be paid on or before January 1st of every year. A penalty for failure to license an animal by January 1st shall result in an additional $5.00 penalty for the months of April through October, making the cost of licensing $10 total. Tags provided in the months of November and December shall be valid for the following year. The cost to license a pet will never exceed $10.
A copy of your pet's rabies vaccination must be brought to City Hall to get your pet's license. Tags will not be given without a copy of the rabies vaccination papers. A copy can be made by city staff free of charge at the time of purchase.
A copy of the Pet License request form be be downloaded from this page.
The license tag issued by the City Clerk shall be securely fastened to the collar or harness of the dog or cat for which issued and the collar or harness securely fastened to the dog or cat when outside of its normal place of confinement. All dogs and cats kept outside on a chain must have a collar or harness with license tag displayed at all times.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What kind of pets need to be licensed with the City? Both cats and dogs need to be licensed.
Why does Marengo have pet owners purchase tags? Several times per week, police officers receive reports of animals on the loose.
When this happens, an officer responds to the area of the reported sighting and attempts to locate the lost pet. When the pet is found, the officer will try to catch the pet. If the officer catches the pet, they contact City Hall to let staff know the pet was found. One of the first things an officer looks for is a city pet tag. The tag allows the officer or city staff to easily figure out who the owner of the pet is and how to contact them. The city is not trying to make life more difficult for pet owners; they are trying to make it easier to get your pet back to you if they get lost.
What happens if the pet does not have a tag? It depends on how often the police department sees the specific pet on the loose. City staff realizes pets do get loose from time to time. Many times, if the pet is tagged and has never been on the loose before, the Marengo Police Officer will simply return the pet to their owner. The officer may take the pet to the owner’s house or call them to come pick up the pet.
If the pet has been seen on the loose or caught multiple times, the code allows for tickets to be issued. The fine for offenses are tiered and are as follows:
First offense = $30
Second offense = $50
Third and subsequent offenses = $100 each.
For pets that repeatedly get loose, an officer will usually talk to the owner about a plan to keep the pet contained. A fine has not historically been given to pet owners who let the police or the city know if there pet is given.
Are there other common fines or penalties related to animals? Owners of dogs that incessantly bark may receive a $30 ticket. Failure to pick up dog poop on public property like the park may result in a $30 fine. Fines for not having your pet licensed or vaccinated are steep and can add up quickly. If your pet is loose and caught by an officer, it will be impounded. The city charges $15 per day with a minimum charge of one day. Waiving the impound fee may be done but is taken on a case-by-case basis.
What do you mean by "impounded" and what do I need to do if my pet is impounded? Impounding a pet means putting the animal in the pound or a cage until the owner comes to get it. To get pets out of impound, the owner must get their pet licensed, pay all associated fees with licensing, and supply the city with current rabies vaccination papers if they are not on file.
How can citizens get their pets licensed? City Hall staff begins accepting pet tag information in October. The fee is $5 per pet. Both cats and dogs should be licensed. The hope is to have all pets licensed by January 1. An extra $5 is charged per month starting on February 1. Staff will accept applications printed from the city website and filled out at home if they are printed legibly.
I brought my pet's rabies papers in last year. Why do I need to bring them in again? The city does not keep copies of rabies vaccination papers for over one (1) year due to storage concerns. Prior to starting the yearly process, all of the previous year's vaccination records are destroyed. In addition, having citizen's bring their pet's papers in yearly has served as a reminder for some citizens to take their pet in to the veterinarian to update their vaccination. Staff is working on a solution to make this process more efficient for citizens and staff alike.
Farm & Exotic Animals Permits
Overview of Marengo Farm Animal Requirements: What Types of Farm Animals are Allowed? Horses/Mules/Donkeys - Not Allowed Cattle/Buffalo - Not Allowed Sheep - Not Allowed Goats - Not Allowed Pigs - Pot-Bellied or Miniature Breeds Only Ducks/Geese - Not Allowed Chickens - Up To 8 Allowed Wild Animals as Defined in Code Section 56.01(3) - Not Allowed
Are There Any Restrictions for Chickens? Each residentially or agriculturally zoned property can keep up to of eight (8) hens. Roosters are not allowed. Chickens must be confined in a well-ventilated coop, fowl house, or mobile coop known as a chicken tractor. If moved from the coop, the chickens must be caged in a pen designed to prevent their escape. Both shall be designed and constructed so as to be reasonably expected to prevent entry by dogs, cats, or other animals and shall be completely enclosed. The owner shall be responsible for sufficiently confining chickens to their property and prevent chickens from entering upon adjacent properties. Any coop, house, or fenced pen area shall be kept clean, sanitary, and free from accumulation of chicken excrement and objectionable odors. Food shall be stored in rodent-proof containers. Owners of any number of chickens are required to register their flock with City Hall. The cost of such registration, if any, will be set by resolution of the City Council.
A copy of the Exotic Animal Registration or Exemption Form can be found on this page.