DFA PERMIT OVERVIEW
Dear Dog Friendly Area Patron:
On May 20, 2005, the Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control issued a regulation mandating that any dog entering a Chicago Park District Dog Friendly Area (DFA) wear a tag identifying that it is current on the following required vaccinations: Rabies, Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, and Bordatella as well as having a current fecal test for parasites. Current titers where applicable will also be acceptable.
On July 27, 2005, the Chicago Park District presented a plan at a public meeting held at MargatePark. There were two main points of contention with our proposed plan: (1) the proposed $35 fee and (2) the additional requirement on dog owners to go to a Park District facility for a dog tag and permit.
Subsequently, the Park District held meetings with the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) which agreed that its members would issue the DFA permit just as they issue the CountyRabies tag. This partnership is invaluable because it addresses the two main points raised at the community meeting. First, it lessened the District’s administrative costs thereby reducing the proposed $35 fee to $5 (per dog). Second, it created a “one-stop shop” where dog owners can now go to a veterinarian to get vaccinations, a CountyRabies tag, a mail-in application for the City License and the DFA permit.
Please visit our website for more information at Here are some highlights of the plan:
• Any dog entering a Chicago Park District DFA must have a valid DFA permit and tag.
• Permits and tags will be available exclusively at participating veterinary offices in CookCounty as of February 1, 2006. A list of participating veterinarians will be posted on the Park District’s web-site as of January 23, 2006.
• The fee for a permit and tag will be $5 per dog.
• Enforcement of this plan, by the Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control, will begin on March 1, 2006. Violators will face a fine of $500.
• Permits and tags must be renewed by January 1st of each year.
Our goal has been to create a permit process that has limited impact on dog owners, while continuing to maintain safe and accessible DFAs for the residents of the City of Chicago. Furthermore, this process will protect you and your pet, and strengthen Chicago’s recent title as “the MostDog-FriendlyCity in the United States,” according to Dog Fancy Magazine.
If you have any questions regarding this permitting process, please feel free to call (312) 742-PLAY.
Sincerely,
Judy D. Martinez
Director of Intergovernmental and Community Affairs