Animal Control

The Rock Island County Animal Shelter houses all stray animals for the City of Moline. 

Links:
Rock Island County Animal Shelter
(Information on shelter location & hours)

Pet tag information for pet owners within Rock Island County

Rock Island County Animal Adoptions

Animal Aid Humane Society (shelter)

Moline Animal Control Information 

• Moline Animal Ordinance

• Microchip Program

• Low-Cost Neuter & Spay

• Adoption of Animals

• Pet Finder

• Kennel License

• Guard and Sentry Dogs

• Number of Pets Allowed Per Household

• Prohibited Animals

• Euthanasia

• Animal Cages, Runs & Pens

• Dogs and Cats in Heat

• Reporting Animal Bites and Attacks

• Control of Animal Wastes

• Excessive Barking

• Running at Large

• Cruelty to Animals

• Dangerous Dogs

• Vicious Dogs

• Grounds for Impoundment

• If your Pet is Missing

IF YOUR PET IS MISSING . . .

Report it immediately to the Rock Island County Animal Shelter. Leave your name, number, address, description of animal, and if it is wearing tags or is micro chipped. Place an ad in the newspaper and watch the paper for lost and found listings. Make a LOST poster with a photo of your pet and post in the area the pet was lost and at the area shelters. When you have found your pet notify the shelters where your pet had been reported missing. A spayed / neutered pet is less likely to roam and will not create unwanted litters if he/she does get lost. A pet that is micro chipped or wearing ID tags has a far better chance of being reunited with its owner.

LOCAL SHELTERS/ANIMAL CONTROL:

GROUNDS FOR IMPOUNDMENT

An animal is subject to impoundment in the City of Moline if it:

• Has been treated cruelly; 

• Has been used in entertainment; 

• Is domestic livestock or fowl; 

• Is a dangerous animal; 

• Is a rabbit found in violation; 

• Is a wild animal; 

• Is an animal kept in the City by a non-resident; 

• Has bitten any animal or person; 

• Is a dog or cat running at large; 

• Is a dog or cat making excessive noise; 

• Is a dog or cat that is injured or ill or is in distress or in imminent danger; 

• Is a dog for which probable cause exists that it is a dangerous dog; 

• Is a dog found to be dangerous and is not kept in compliance; 

• Is a dog for which probable cause exists that it is a vicious dog; 

• Is a dog that has been found to be a vicious dog; 

• Is a female dog or cat in heat that is not in an enclosed structure; 

• Is a dog or cat found to be over the allowed 4-pet limit; 

• Is a dog or cat that has not been neutered by the age of six months and does not have an unaltered pet license; 

• Is a dog for which probable cause exists that the dog is/was being used in conjunction with criminal activity; 

• Is an unregistered guard or sentry dog or otherwise not in compliance; 

• Is an unlicensed dog or cat; 

• Is a dog or cat failing to display current and valid license tag; 

• Is a dog or cat failing to display a current inoculation tag; 

• Is a dog or cat that has bitten any person or animal; 

• Is a dog or cat displaying symptoms of rabies; 

• Is believed to be a source or threat of rabies or other infectious disease; 

For information about the return or disposal of impounded animals contact the Moline Animal Control at 797-0401.

MICROCHIP PROGRAM

Micro chipping is an excellent way for authorities to identify your pet in the event your pet is lost. Micro chipping is offered through Moline Animal Control for a fee of $10. Call 797-0401 for an appointment.

ADOPTION OF ANIMALS

Looking for a pet? The Rock Island County Animal Shelter has a variety of dogs and cats available for adoption. The owner of any dog or cat may release it to the animal shelter upon providing proof of ownership, and upon signing a waiver relinquishing all rights to the animal. Adoption information is also available at Petfinder.com.

PET LICENSES

All dogs and cats kept in the City of Moline must display at all times an annual license tag that is securely attached to a substantial collar. Tags may be purchased from the Rock Island County Animal Shelter. The City of Moline no longer issues pet tags. Registration tags from the City of Moline that are current will be valid until their expiration. Rock Island County registration tags will be required at the time of expiration.

KENNEL LICENSE

Any person engaging in the buying, selling, or dealing in animals must obtain a Kennel License annually. The fee is $50 annually.

GUARD AND SENTRY DOGS

Any guard or sentry dog kept in the City must be registered. Registration will include a physical description of the dog and the location the dog will be stationed. Guard and sentry dogs must be immunized against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus, and proof must be provided for registration and must be kept at the station of the dog. Removal, change of location, or death of the dog must be reported within 24 hours. Contact Moline Animal Control at 797-0401 for more information about registering guard or sentry dogs.


DANGEROUS DOGS

The owner of a dog found to be dangerous must post in clear view at all times and at the most prominent point of entry to the property a sign indicating the presence of a dangerous dog. The sign should be at least size 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches. The sign must contain in words and pictures a clear indication of the presence of the dangerous dog. A dog found to be dangerous must be controlled by a leash no more than three feet in length and of the proper strength when the dog is not contained within an enclosed area on the owner’s property. Any transfer, sale, or giveaway of a dog found to be dangerous must be reported to Moline Animal Control, including the new location of the dog. The owner must notify the new owner of the dog’s dangerous status. Within fourteen days of the determination that a dog is dangerous, the owner must present the dog to Moline Animal Control to be injected with a computer microchip that identifies the dog as a dangerous dog. The owner must pay the appropriate fee.

VICIOUS DOGS

A dog deemed to be vicious is prohibited in the City of Moline. Such dogs found within the city will be subject to impoundment and disposal.

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

A person commits cruelty to animals by knowingly:

• Overworking, beating, torturing, tormenting, mutilating, starving, 

• poisoning, or cruelly killing or allowing the same to be done. 

• Failing to provide wholesome food to maintain good health. 

• Failing to provide shelter from the elements. 

• Poisoning any domestic animal. 

• Failing to provide veterinary care when needed. 

• Abandoning any animal. 

• Failing to keep animal in a clean and healthy manner. 

• Confining an animal in a manner where it is forced to stand, sit, or lie in its own excrement. 

• Failing to provide living quarters of sufficient size for exercise and movement. 

• Tethering an animal in a manner in which it cannot move around without becoming entangled. 

• Confining an animal in a motor vehicle in a manner that threatens the health or life of the animal due to exposure to extreme hot or cold temperatures and inadequate ventilation. 

• Cropping an animal’s ears, tail, or performing any other surgeries normally performed by a veterinarian.

• Instigating any indecent or immoral show or exhibition of an animal. 

Any animal subjected to cruelty will be impounded and disposed of or redeemed according to City ordinance. To report cruelty to animals phone the Moline Police Department non-emergency phone, 797-0401, or Moline Animal Control at 797-0401.


NUMBER OF PETS ALLOWABLE PER HOUSEHOLD

City of Moline residents may keep up to four dogs or four cats or any combination of four. Any more than four are in violation of Moline City Ordinance and are subject to impoundment and disposal. No more than two rabbits over six weeks old may be kept at a single residence.

PROHIBITED ANIMALS

The following animals are prohibited within the City:

• Domestic livestock and fowl (cows, pigs, chickens, etc.) 

• Wild animals 

• Dangerous animals (such as monkeys, raccoons, poisonous and constrictor snakes and lizards, lions, tigers, bears, etc.)

Beekeeping is prohibited in the City. 

EUTHANASIA

Any dog or cat owner may surrender their dog or cat to the Rock Island County Animal Shelter for the purpose of euthanasia. There will be a fee for said service. Call the shelter at 309-558-3483 for more information.

ANIMAL CAGES, RUNS & PENS

Cages, runs and pens must be constructed at least five feet from property lines and twenty feet from neighboring buildings meant for human habitation.

DOGS AND CATS IN HEAT

While any female dog or cat is in heat it must be kept in a secure enclosure. Animals not kept enclosed while in heat are subject to impound.


REPORTING ANIMAL BITES AND ATTACKS

Anyone who owns or keeps a dog or cat that bites or attacks, or approaches a person on a public place with an attitude of attack, is required to report same to the Moline Police Department/Animal Control by calling 309-797-0401. Any person who is the victim of a bite or attack is also required to report the incident within 24 hours. Any animal that has bitten a human being is subject to impound.

CONTROL OF ANIMAL WASTES 

Public Property: All animal waste must be removed from public thoroughfares, sidewalks, passageways, bypaths, play areas, parks, or any other public place and also on private property without permission from the property owner. Private Property: The accumulation of animal waste on private property is considered a nuisance when an odor is present at the property line, or if the quantity interferes with the use and enjoyment of any neighboring property as the result of odor, visual blight, or the attraction of insects, rodents or other pests, or if a health hazard results. Upon receipt of a notice of violation, the accumulation must be removed within 24 hours. Failure to comply with the notice will result in a fine of no less than $100 and not more than $750.

EXCESSIVE BARKING

A dog within the City deemed to be a disturbance due to excessive barking is in violation of city ordinance, and the owner is subject to a fine not less than $50 but not more than $750. Pet owners can be cited for excessive barking occurring anytime during the day or night.  If a dog or cat has been left outdoors and unattended for longer than one hour anytime between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am, and is barking continuously, howling, unduly annoys or disturbs the quiet of the neighborhood, and if the pet owner is not home or refuses to take the animal indoors, the police department may immediately impound the dog or cat.

RUNNING AT LARGE

Any dog or cat found running at large within the City will be apprehended and impounded. If the dog or cat is tagged, the owner will be contacted by certified mail of the impoundment. If the dog is not tagged, every attempt will be made to discover the owner and the owner will be contacted by certified mail of the impoundment. An impounded dog or cat will be returned to the owner when the following conditions are met:

• Proof of rabies vaccine or payment for vaccine is provided. 

• Payment of $25 redemption fee, plus $10 per day impoundment fee is made. 

• Proof of county pet license or payment of license fee is provided. 

• Payment of veterinary or other care is made.

If a dog or cat is not claimed within five days of the date of impoundment, the pet will become eligible for adoption or will be disposed of according to city ordinance. In order to claim a dog or cat all legal proceedings involving the animal must be concluded. Any person taking possession of a stray animal must contact the animal shelter or police department promptly. No stray pet may be harbored or held for reward.

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