HB1128eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1128 Engrossed LRB094 09249 RCE 39483 b

AN ACT concerning animals.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Animal Control Act is amended by changing Sections 2.04a, 2.05a, 2.11a, 2.11b, 2.16, 2.19a, 3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 15.1, and 26 as follows:

(510 ILCS 5/2.04a)

Sec. 2.04a. "Cat" means Felis catus all members of the family Felidae.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)

(510 ILCS 5/2.05a)

Sec. 2.05a. "Dangerous dog" means any individual dog anywhere other than upon the property of the owner or custodian of the dog and when unmuzzled, unleashed, or unattended by its owner or custodian that behaves in a manner that a reasonable person would believe poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical injury or death to a person or a companion animal in a public place.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)

(510 ILCS 5/2.11a)

Sec. 2.11a. "Enclosure" means a fence or structure of at least 6 feet in height, forming or causing an enclosure suitable to prevent the entry of young children, and suitable to confine a vicious dog in conjunction with other measures that may be taken by the owner or keeper, such as tethering of the vicious dog within the enclosure. The enclosure shall be securely enclosed and locked and designed with secure sides, top, and bottom and shall be designed to prevent the animal from escaping from the enclosure. If the enclosure is a room within a residence, it cannot have direct ingress from or egress to the outdoors unless it leads directly to an enclosed pen and the door must be locked. A vicious dog may be allowed to move about freely within the entire residence if it is muzzled at all times.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)

(510 ILCS 5/2.11b)

Sec. 2.11b. "Feral cat" means a cat that (i) is born in the wild or is the offspring of an owned or feral cat and is not socialized, or (ii) is a formerly owned cat that has been abandoned and is no longer socialized, or (iii) lives on a farm.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)

(510 ILCS 5/2.16) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.16)

Sec. 2.16. "Owner" means any person having a right of property in an animal, or who keeps or harbors an animal, or who has it in his care, or acts as its custodian, or who knowingly permits a dog to remain on any premises occupied by him or her. "Owner" does not include a feral cat caretaker participating in a trap, spay/neuter, return program.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)

(510 ILCS 5/2.19a)

Sec. 2.19a. "Serious physical injury" means a physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes death, serious or protracted disfigurement, protracted impairment of health, impairment of the function of any bodily organ, or plastic surgery.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)

(510 ILCS 5/3) (from Ch. 8, par. 353)

Sec. 3. The County Board Chairman with the consent of the County Board shall appoint an Administrator. Appointments shall be made as necessary to keep this position filled at all times. The Administrator may appoint as many Deputy Administrators and Animal Control Wardens to aid him or her as authorized by the Board. The compensation for the Administrator, Deputy Administrators, and Animal Control Wardens shall be fixed by the Board. The Administrator may be removed from office by the County Board Chairman, with the consent of the County Board.

The Board shall provide necessary personnel, training, equipment, supplies, and facilities, and shall operate pounds or contract for their operation as necessary to effectuate the program. The Board may enter into contracts or agreements with persons to assist in the operation of the program.

The Board shall be empowered to utilize monies from their General Corporate Fund to effectuate the intent of this Act.

The Board is authorized by ordinance to require the registration and may require microchipping of dogs and cats. and The Board shall impose an individual dog or cat animal and litter registration fee to be deposited in a county animal control fund. The fee for unaltered animals must be at least $10 higher than the fee for altered animals. All persons selling dogs or cats or keeping registries of dogs or cats shall cooperate and provide information to the Administrator as required by Board ordinance, including sales, number of litters, and ownership of dogs and cats. If microchips are required, the microchip number may shall serve as the county animal control registration number. All microchips shall have an operating frequency of 125 kilohertz.

In obtaining information required to implement this Act, the Department shall have power to subpoena and bring before it any person in this State and to take testimony either orally or by deposition, or both, with the same fees and mileage and in the same manner as prescribed by law for civil cases in courts of this State.

The Director shall have power to administer oaths to witnesses at any hearing which the Department is authorized by law to conduct, and any other oaths required or authorized in any Act administered by the Department.

This Section does not apply to feral cats.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)

(510 ILCS 5/5) (from Ch. 8, par. 355)

Sec. 5. Duties and powers.

(a) It shall be the duty of the Administrator or the Deputy Administrator, through sterilization, humane education, rabies inoculation, stray control, impoundment, quarantine, and any other means deemed necessary, to control and prevent the spread of rabies and to exercise dog and cat overpopulation control. It shall also be the duty of the Administrator to investigate and substantiate all claims made under Section 19 of this Act.

(b) Counties may by ordinance determine the extent of the police powers that may be exercised by the Administrator, Deputy Administrators, and Animal Control Wardens, which powers shall pertain only to this Act. The Administrator, Deputy Administrators, and Animal Control Wardens may issue and serve citations and orders for violations of this Act. The Administrator, Deputy Administrators, and Animal Control Wardens may not carry weapons unless they have been specifically authorized to carry weapons by county ordinance. Animal Control Wardens, however, may use tranquilizer guns and other nonlethal weapons and equipment without specific weapons authorization.

A person authorized to carry firearms by county ordinance under this subsection must have completed the training course for peace officers prescribed in the Peace Officer Firearm Training Act. The cost of this training shall be paid by the county.

(c) The sheriff and all sheriff's deputies and municipal police officers shall cooperate with the Administrator and his or her representatives in carrying out the provisions of this Act.

(d) The Administrator and animal control wardens shall aid in the enforcement of the Humane Care for Animals Act and have the ability to impound animals and apply for security posting for violation of that Act.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)

(510 ILCS 5/9) (from Ch. 8, par. 359)

Sec. 9. Any dog found running at large contrary to provisions of this Act may be apprehended and impounded. For this purpose, the Administrator shall utilize any existing or available animal control facility or licensed animal shelter. A dog found running at large contrary to the provisions of this Act a second or subsequent time must be spayed or neutered within 30 days after being reclaimed unless already spayed or neutered; failure to comply shall result in impoundment.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)

(510 ILCS 5/10) (from Ch. 8, par. 360)

Sec. 10. Impoundment; redemption. When dogs or cats are apprehended and impounded by the Administrator, they must be scanned for the presence of a microchip. The Administrator shall make every reasonable attempt to contact the owner as defined by Section 2.16 as soon as possible. The Administrator shall give notice of not less than 7 business days to the owner prior to disposal of the animal. Such notice shall be mailed to the last known address of the owner. Testimony of the Administrator, or his or her authorized agent, who mails such notice shall be evidence of the receipt of such notice by the owner of the animal.

In case the owner of any impounded dog or cat desires to make redemption thereof, he or she may do so by doing on the following conditions:

a. Presenting present proof of current rabies inoculation, and registration, if applicable. , or

b. Paying pay for the rabies inoculation of the dog or cat, and registration, if applicable. , and

c. Paying pay the pound for the board of the dog or cat for the period it was impounded. ,

d. Paying pay into the Animal Control Fund an additional impoundment fee as prescribed by the Board as a penalty for the first offense and for each subsequent offense. ; and

e. Paying pay for microchipping and registration if not already done.

Animal control facilities that are open to the public 7 days per week for animal reclamation are exempt from the business day requirement.

The payments required for redemption under this Section shall be in addition to any other penalties invoked under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03; revised 10-9-03.)

(510 ILCS 5/11) (from Ch. 8, par. 361)

Sec. 11. When not redeemed by the owner, a dog or cat that has been impounded shall be humanely dispatched pursuant to the Humane Euthanasia in Animal Shelters Act or offered for adoption. An animal pound or animal shelter shall not release any dog or cat when not redeemed by the owner unless the animal has been surgically rendered incapable of reproduction by spaying or neutering and microchipped, or the person wishing to adopt an animal prior to the surgical procedures having been performed shall have executed a written agreement promising to have such service performed, including microchipping, within a specified period of time not to exceed 30 days. Failure to fulfill the terms of the agreement shall result in seizure and impoundment of the animal and any offspring by the animal pound or shelter, and any monies which have been deposited shall be forfeited. This Act shall not prevent humane societies from engaging in activities set forth by their charters; provided, they are not inconsistent with provisions of this Act and other existing laws. No animal shelter or animal control facility shall release dogs or cats to an individual representing a rescue group, unless the group has been licensed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture or incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. The Department may suspend or revoke the license of any animal shelter or animal control facility that fails to comply with the requirements set forth in this Section or that fails to report its intake and euthanasia statistics each year.

(Source: P.A. 92-449, eff. 1-1-02; 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)

(510 ILCS 5/13) (from Ch. 8, par. 363)

Sec. 13. Dog or other animal bites; observation of animal.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this Section, when the Administrator or, if the Administrator is not a veterinarian, the Deputy Administrator receives information that any person has been bitten by an animal, the Administrator or, if the Administrator is not a veterinarian, the Deputy Administrator, or his or her authorized representative, shall have such dog or other animal confined under the observation of a licensed veterinarian for a period of 10 days. The Department may permit such confinement to be reduced to a period of less than 10 days. A veterinarian shall report the clinical condition of the animal immediately, with confirmation in writing to the Administrator or, if the Administrator is not a veterinarian, the Deputy Administrator within 24 hours after the animal is presented for examination, giving the owner's name, address, the date of confinement, the breed, description, age, and sex of the animal, and whether the animal has been spayed, or neutered, or chemically sterilized on appropriate forms approved by the Department. The Administrator or, if the Administrator is not a veterinarian, the Deputy Administrator shall notify the attending physician or responsible health agency. At the end of the confinement period, the veterinarian shall submit a written report to the Administrator or, if the Administrator is not a veterinarian, the Deputy Administrator advising him or her of the final disposition of the animal on appropriate forms approved by the Department. When evidence is presented that the animal was inoculated against rabies within the time prescribed by law, it shall be confined in a house, or in a manner which will prohibit it from biting any person for a period of 10 days, if a licensed veterinarian adjudges such confinement satisfactory. The Department may permit such confinement to be reduced to a period of less than 10 days. At the end of the confinement period, the animal shall be examined by a licensed veterinarian.

Any person having knowledge that any person has been bitten by an animal shall notify the Administrator or, if the Administrator is not a veterinarian, the Deputy Administrator promptly. It is unlawful for the owner of the animal to euthanize, sell, give away, or otherwise dispose of any animal known to have bitten a person, until it is released by the Administrator or, if the Administrator is not a veterinarian, the Deputy Administrator, or his or her authorized representative. It is unlawful for the owner of the animal to refuse or fail to comply with the reasonable written or printed instructions made by the Administrator or, if the Administrator is not a veterinarian, the Deputy Administrator, or his authorized representative. If such instructions cannot be delivered in person, they shall be mailed to the owner of the animal by regular mail. Any expense incurred in the handling of an animal under this Section and Section 12 shall be borne by the owner.

(b) When a person has been bitten by a police dog that is currently vaccinated against rabies, the police dog may continue to perform its duties for the peace officer or law enforcement agency and any period of observation of the police dog may be under the supervision of a peace officer. The supervision shall consist of the dog being locked in a kennel, performing its official duties in a police vehicle, or remaining under the constant supervision of its police handler.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)

(510 ILCS 5/15) (from Ch. 8, par. 365)

Sec. 15. (a) In order to have a dog deemed "vicious", the Administrator, Deputy Administrator, animal control warden, or law enforcement officer must give notice of the infraction that is the basis of the investigation to the owner, conduct a thorough investigation, interview any witnesses, including the owner, gather any existing medical records, veterinary medical records or behavioral evidence, and make a detailed report recommending a finding that the dog is a vicious dog and give the report to the States Attorney's Office and the owner. The Administrator, State's Attorney, Director or any citizen of the county in which the dog exists may file a complaint in the circuit court in the name of the People of the State of Illinois to deem a dog to be a vicious dog. Testimony of a certified applied behaviorist, a board certified veterinary behaviorist, or another recognized expert may be relevant to the court's determination of whether the dog's behavior was justified. The petitioner must prove the dog is a vicious dog by clear and convincing evidence. The Administrator shall determine where the animal shall be confined during the pendency of the case.

A dog may shall not be declared vicious if the court determines the conduct of the dog was justified because:

(1) the threat, injury, or death was sustained by a person who at the time was committing a crime or offense upon the owner or custodian of the dog, or was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises or property owned or occupied by the owner of the animal upon the property of the owner or custodian of the dog;

(2) the injured, threatened, or killed person was tormenting, abusing, assaulting, or physically threatening the dog or its offspring, or has in the past tormented, abused, assaulted, or physically threatened the dog or its offspring; or

(3) the dog was responding to pain or injury, or was protecting itself, its owner, custodian, or member of its household, kennel, or offspring.

No dog shall be deemed "vicious" if it is a professionally trained dog for law enforcement or guard duties. Vicious dogs shall not be classified in a manner that is specific as to breed.

If the burden of proof has been met, the court shall deem the dog to be a vicious dog.

If a dog is found to be a vicious dog, the dog shall be spayed or neutered within 10 days of the finding at the expense of its owner and microchipped, if not already, and is subject to enclosure. If an owner fails to comply with these requirements, the animal control agency shall impound the dog and the owner shall pay a $500 fine plus impoundment fees to the animal control agency impounding the dog. The judge has the discretion to order a vicious dog be euthanized. A dog found to be a vicious dog shall not be released to the owner until the Administrator, an Animal Control Warden, or the Director approves the enclosure. No owner or keeper of a vicious dog shall sell or give away the dog without court approval from the Administrator or court. Whenever an owner of a vicious dog relocates, he or she shall notify both the Administrator of County Animal Control where he or she has relocated and the Administrator of County Animal Control where he or she formerly resided.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any dog which has been found to be a vicious dog unless the dog is kept in an enclosure. The only times that a vicious dog may be allowed out of the enclosure are (1) if it is necessary for the owner or keeper to obtain veterinary care for the dog, (2) in the case of an emergency or natural disaster where the dog's life is threatened, or (3) to comply with the order of a court of competent jurisdiction, provided that the dog is securely muzzled and restrained with a leash not exceeding 6 feet in length, and shall be under the direct control and supervision of the owner or keeper of the dog or muzzled in its residence.

Any dog which has been found to be a vicious dog and which is not confined to an enclosure shall be impounded by the Administrator, an Animal Control Warden, or the law enforcement authority having jurisdiction in such area.

If the owner of the dog has not appealed the impoundment order to the circuit court in the county in which the animal was impounded within 15 working days, the dog may be euthanized.

Upon filing a notice of appeal, the order of euthanasia shall be automatically stayed pending the outcome of the appeal. The owner shall bear the burden of timely notification to animal control in writing.

Guide dogs for the blind or hearing impaired, support dogs for the physically handicapped, and sentry, guard, or police-owned dogs are exempt from this Section; provided, an attack or injury to a person occurs while the dog is performing duties as expected. To qualify for exemption under this Section, each such dog shall be currently inoculated against rabies in accordance with Section 8 of this Act. It shall be the duty of the owner of such exempted dog to notify the Administrator of changes of address. In the case of a sentry or guard dog, the owner shall keep the Administrator advised of the location where such dog will be stationed. The Administrator shall provide police and fire departments with a categorized list of such exempted dogs, and shall promptly notify such departments of any address changes reported to him.

(c) If the animal control agency has custody of the dog, the agency may file a petition with the court requesting that the owner be ordered to post security. The security must be in an amount sufficient to secure payment of all reasonable expenses expected to be incurred by the animal control agency or animal shelter in caring for and providing for the dog pending the determination. Reasonable expenses include, but are not limited to, estimated medical care and boarding of the animal for 30 days. If security has been posted in accordance with this Section, the animal control agency may draw from the security the actual costs incurred by the agency in caring for the dog.

(d) Upon receipt of a petition, the court must set a hearing on the petition, to be conducted within 5 business days after the petition is filed. The petitioner must serve a true copy of the petition upon the defendant.

(e) If the court orders the posting of security, the security must be posted with the clerk of the court within 5 business days after the hearing. If the person ordered to post security does not do so, the dog is forfeited by operation of law and the animal control agency must dispose of the animal through adoption or humane euthanization.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)

(510 ILCS 5/15.1)

Sec. 15.1. Dangerous dog determination.

(a) After a thorough investigation including: sending, within 10 business 3 days of the Administrator or Director becoming aware of the alleged infraction, notifications to the owner of the alleged infractions, the fact of the initiation of an investigation, and affording the owner an opportunity to meet with the Administrator or Director prior to the making of a determination; gathering of any medical or veterinary evidence; interviewing witnesses; and making a detailed written report, an animal control warden, deputy administrator, or law enforcement agent may ask the Administrator, or his or her designee, or the Director, to deem a dog to be "dangerous". No dog shall be deemed a "dangerous dog" unless shown to be a dangerous dog by a preponderance of evidence without clear and convincing evidence. The owner shall be sent immediate notification of the determination by registered or certified mail that includes a complete description of the appeal process.

(b) A dog shall not be declared dangerous if the Administrator, or his or her designee, or the Director determines the conduct of the dog was justified because:

(1) the threat was sustained by a person who at the time was committing a crime or offense upon the owner or custodian of the dog or was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises or property occupied by the owner of the animal;

(2) the threatened person was tormenting, abusing, assaulting, or physically threatening the dog or its offspring;

(3) the injured, threatened, or killed companion animal was attacking or threatening to attack the dog or its offspring; or

(4) the dog was responding to pain or injury or was protecting itself, its owner, custodian, or a member of its household, kennel, or offspring.

(c) Testimony of a certified applied behaviorist, a board certified veterinary behaviorist, or another recognized expert may be relevant to the determination of whether the dog's behavior was justified pursuant to the provisions of this Section.

(d) If deemed dangerous, the Administrator, or his or her designee, or the Director shall order the dog to be spayed or neutered within 14 days at the owner's expense and microchipped, if not already, and one or more of the following as deemed appropriate under the circumstances and necessary for the protection of the public:

(1) evaluation of the dog by a certified applied behaviorist, a board certified veterinary behaviorist, or another recognized expert in the field and completion of training or other treatment as deemed appropriate by the expert. The owner of the dog shall be responsible for all costs associated with evaluations and training ordered under this subsection; or

(2) direct supervision by an adult 18 years of age or older whenever the animal is on public premises.

(e) The Administrator may order a dangerous dog to be muzzled whenever it is on public premises in a manner that will prevent it from biting any person or animal, but that shall not injure the dog or interfere with its vision or respiration.

(f) Guide dogs for the blind or hearing impaired, support dogs for the physically handicapped, and sentry, guard, or police-owned dogs are exempt from this Section; provided, an attack or injury to a person occurs while the dog is performing duties as expected. To qualify for exemption under this Section, each such dog shall be currently inoculated against rabies in accordance with Section 8 of this Act and performing duties as expected. It shall be the duty of the owner of the exempted dog to notify the Administrator of changes of address. In the case of a sentry or guard dog, the owner shall keep the Administrator advised of the location where such dog will be stationed. The Administrator shall provide police and fire departments with a categorized list of the exempted dogs, and shall promptly notify the departments of any address changes reported to him or her.

(g) An animal control agency has the right to impound a dangerous dog if the owner fails to comply with the microchipping or sterilization requirements.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)

(510 ILCS 5/26) (from Ch. 8, par. 376)

Sec. 26. (a) Any person violating or aiding in or abetting the violation of any provision of this Act, or counterfeiting or forging any certificate, permit, or tag, or making any misrepresentation in regard to any matter prescribed by this Act, or resisting, obstructing, or impeding the Administrator or any authorized officer in enforcing this Act, or refusing to produce for inoculation any dog in his possession, or who removes a tag or microchip from a dog for purposes of destroying or concealing its identity, is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor for a first offense and for a subsequent offense, is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

Each day a person fails to comply constitutes a separate offense. Each State's Attorney to whom the Administrator reports any violation of this Act shall cause appropriate proceedings to be instituted in the proper courts without delay and to be prosecuted in the manner provided by law.

(b) If the owner of a vicious dog subject to enclosure:

(1) fails to maintain or keep the dog in an enclosure or fails to spay or neuter the dog within the time period prescribed; and

(2) the dog inflicts serious physical injury upon any other person or causes the death of another person; and

(3) the attack is unprovoked in a place where such person is peaceably conducting himself or herself and where such person may lawfully be;

the owner shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony, unless the owner knowingly allowed the dog to run at large or failed to take steps to keep the dog in an enclosure then the owner shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony. The penalty provided in this paragraph shall be in addition to any other criminal or civil sanction provided by law.

(c) If the owner of a dangerous dog knowingly fails to comply with any order of the court regarding the dog and the dog inflicts serious physical injury on a person or a companion animal, the owner shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. If the owner of a dangerous dog knowingly fails to comply with any order regarding the dog and the dog kills a person the owner shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.

(Source: P.A. 93-548, eff. 8-19-03.)