Section 25.145  Kennel Operators

a)         All kennel operators shall comply with this Part, as applicable, and this Section.

b)         A kennel operator that maintains cats or dogs for boarding must meet one of the following:

1)         Be staffed at all times cats or dogs are on the premises.  A staffing plan shall be maintained on file with the Department;

2)         Have an operational fire sprinkler system in every building where cats or dogs are located. The fire sprinkler system must communicate notifications directly to local emergency responders; or

3)         Have an operational fire alarm system in every building where cats and dogs are located. For the purposes of this Section, a fire alarm system includes any of the following:

A)        A hard-wired fire alarm system that communicates notifications directly to local emergency responders;

B)        A wireless fire alarm system that communicates notifications directly to local emergency responders; 

C)        A fire alarm system that is monitored by a third-party security service, with an active service contract, when the security service will communicate notifications directly to local emergency responders.

c)         A qualified fire inspector may inspect a kennel operator that maintains dogs and cats for boarding during the course of performing routine inspections. If, during a routine inspection, a qualified fire inspector determines that the kennel operator does not have a fire alarm system or fire sprinkler system, the inspector may inform the Department. [225 ILCS 605/18.2(c)]

d)         A kennel operator shall certify in its license application, and annually certify in its license renewal application, one of the following:

1)         The kennel is staffed at all times cats or dogs are on the premises. The kennel operator shall provide the Department with a staffing plan;

2)         The kennel has an operational fire sprinkler system in every building where cats and dogs are located. The kennel operator shall provide:

A)        a picture and description of the make and model of the system; and

B)        if the system has been inspected by a qualified fire inspector, a copy of the inspection report; or

3)         The kennel has an operational fire alarm system in every building where cats and dogs are located. The kennel operator shall provide:

A)        a picture and description of the make and model of the system; and

B)        if the system:

i)          has been inspected by a qualified fire inspector, a copy of the inspection report; and/or

ii)         is monitored by a third-party security service, a copy of the service contract evidencing that there is third-party monitoring of the system, or a statement evidencing that there is third-party monitoring and the service contract is effective and operational.

(Source:  Added at 44 Ill. Reg. 10087, effective May 28, 2020)