In 1960, This Town Was Going to the Dogs

In April 1959, Western Springs Police recorded 24 complaints about dogs, including three dog bites. And, on June 18, the local newspaper reported two more cases of children being bitten by dogs. One child was simply riding his bicycle, while the other was delivering phone books.

By late 1959, Western Springs Village Manager Richard Brown had heard plenty about dogs biting residents, fouling the footpath, and generally running loose. See first photo. So, he was probably not surprised when the Village Board decided the village should begin enforcing the six month summer “confinement period” for dogs, which had been on the books for several years.

The ordinance required that canines be either on a leash or in their own yards from April through September. Residents who did not comply would be subject to a fine of $5 to $200, plus court costs.     

Despite this announcement, in April 1960, Police Chief Charles Anderson noted that “… an exceptionally large number of roaming dogs have been reported within the past month”. As a result, he appointed two off-duty police officers to serve as part-time “dog wardens”. They were paid $2 per hour and were provided a specially equipped Jeep with two cages, nooses, heavy gloves, a 2-way radio, and other equipment. See second photo.

While most people began adhering to the new policy, some residents complained that many dog owners were waiting until dark to turn their dogs loose. As a result, the dog wardens’ hours were adjusted to cover both daytime and evening. During the first month, the dog wardens investigated 29 resident complaints and five dog bites, issuing four citations and six warnings.

The police chief, also a dog owner, noted that, “It’s not so much the damage and danger of dogs running loose, but their toilet habits that cause most villagers’ gripes”.

As shown in the third photo, at least one dog, a German Shepherd, didn’t get a copy of the new ordinance. He (or she) is shown wandering in front of the police department (then located in the historic Water Tower) in mid-June, two months after the new rules became effective.