Chapter 510 — ANIMALS

(510 ILCS 70/11) (from Ch. 8, par. 711) Sec. 11. (a) If an investigation under Section 10 discloses that a violation of this Act has been committed, the approved humane investigator shall furnish the violator, if known, with a notice of violation, and state what action is necessa…

(510 ILCS 70/12) (from Ch. 8, par. 712) Sec. 12. Impounding animals; notice of impoundment. (a) When an approved humane investigator, a Department investigator or a veterinarian finds that a violation of this Act has rendered an animal in such a condition that no remedy or correc…

(510 ILCS 70/13) (from Ch. 8, par. 713) Sec. 13. Nothing in this Act affects normal, good husbandry practices utilized by any person in the production of food, companion or work animals, or in the extermination of undesirable pests. In case of any alleged conflict between this Ac…

(510 ILCS 70/14) (from Ch. 8, par. 714) Sec. 14. Any person affected by a final administrative decision of the Department may have such decision reviewed judicially by the circuit court of the county wherein the person resides, or in the case of a corporation, the county where it…

(510 ILCS 70/15) (from Ch. 8, par. 715) Sec. 15. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, or the applicability thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, by a court of competent jurisdiction, the constitutionality of the remainder of this Act and the…

(510 ILCS 70/16) Sec. 16. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07. Repealed by P.A. 95-560, eff. 8-30-07.)

(510 ILCS 70/16.1) Sec. 16.1. Defenses. It is not a defense to violations of this Act for the person committing the violation to assert that he or she had rights of ownership in the animal that was the victim of the violation. (Source: P.A. 92-454, eff. 1-1-02.)

(510 ILCS 70/16.2) Sec. 16.2. Corporations. Corporations may be charged with violations of this Act for the acts of their employees or agents who violate this Act in the course of their employment or agency. (Source: P.A. 92-454, eff. 1-1-02.)

(510 ILCS 70/16.3) Sec. 16.3. Civil actions. Any person who has a right of ownership in an animal that is subjected to an act of aggravated cruelty under Section 3.02 or torture under Section 3.03 in violation of this Act or in an animal that is injured or killed as a result of a…

(510 ILCS 70/16.4) (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027) Sec. 16.4. Illinois Animal Abuse Fund. The Illinois Animal Abuse Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Moneys in the Fund may be used, subject to appropriation, by the Department of Agricu…

(510 ILCS 70/16.5) Sec. 16.5. Emergency care to an animal; immunity from civil liability. Any person, including without limitation any person licensed under the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004 or licensed as a veterinarian in any other state or territory of t…

(510 ILCS 70/17) Sec. 17. Penalties. (a) Any person convicted of any act of abuse or neglect or of violating any other provision of this Act, for which a penalty is not otherwise provided, or any rule, regulation, or order of the Department pursuant thereto, is guilty of a Class …

(510 ILCS 70/18) Sec. 18. Cross-reporting. (a) An animal control officer, Department investigator, or approved humane investigator who has reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a child is being abused or neglected or is in danger of being abused or neglected must immediatel…

(510 ILCS 70/2) (from Ch. 8, par. 702) Sec. 2. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms specified in the Sections following this Section and preceding Section 3 have the meanings ascribed to them in those Sections. (Source: P.A. 99-78, eff. 7-20-15.)…

(510 ILCS 70/2.01) (from Ch. 8, par. 702.01) Sec. 2.01. "Animal" means every living creature, domestic or wild, but does not include man. (Source: P.A. 78-905.)

(510 ILCS 70/2.01a) Sec. 2.01a. Companion animal. "Companion animal" means an animal that is commonly considered to be, or is considered by the owner to be, a pet. "Companion animal" includes, but is not limited to, canines, felines, and equines. (Source: P.A. 92-454, eff. 1-1-02…

(510 ILCS 70/2.01b) Sec. 2.01b. Exigent circumstances. "Exigent circumstances" means a licensed veterinarian cannot be secured without undue delay and, in the opinion of the animal control warden, animal control administrator, Department of Agriculture investigator, approved huma…

(510 ILCS 70/2.01c) Sec. 2.01c. Service animal. "Service animal" means an animal trained in obedience and task skills to meet the needs of a person with a disability. (Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(510 ILCS 70/2.01d) Sec. 2.01d. Search and rescue dog. "Search and rescue dog" means any dog that is trained or is certified to locate persons lost on land or in water. (Source: P.A. 92-454, eff. 1-1-02.)

(510 ILCS 70/2.01e) Sec. 2.01e. Animal Control Administrator. "Animal Control Administrator" means a veterinarian licensed by the State of Illinois and appointed pursuant to the Animal Control Act, or his duly authorized representative. (Source: P.A. 92-454, eff. 1-1-02.)

(510 ILCS 70/2.01f) Sec. 2.01f. Animal control facility. "Animal control facility" means any facility operated by or under contract for the State, county, or any municipal corporation or political subdivision of the State for the purpose of impounding or harboring seized, stray, …

(510 ILCS 70/2.01g) Sec. 2.01g. Animal Control Warden. "Animal Control Warden" means any person appointed by the Administrator and approved by the Board to perform duties as assigned by the Administrator to effectuate the Animal Control Act. (Source: P.A. 92-454, eff. 1-1-02.)

(510 ILCS 70/2.01h) Sec. 2.01h. Animal shelter. "Animal shelter" means a facility operated, owned, or maintained by a duly incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, or other non-profit organization for the purpose of providing for and promoting the welfare, protection,…

(510 ILCS 70/2.02) (from Ch. 8, par. 702.02) Sec. 2.02. "Department" means the Department of Agriculture. (Source: P.A. 78-905.)

(510 ILCS 70/2.03) (from Ch. 8, par. 702.03) Sec. 2.03. "Department investigator" or "approved humane investigator" means a person employed by or approved by the Department to determine whether there has been a violation of this Act or an animal control warden or animal control a…

(510 ILCS 70/2.04) (from Ch. 8, par. 702.04) Sec. 2.04. "Director" means the Director of Agriculture, or his duly appointed representative. (Source: P.A. 78-905.)

(510 ILCS 70/2.05) (from Ch. 8, par. 702.05) Sec. 2.05. "Humane society" means any chartered, not for profit organization authorized to do business in this State and organized for the purpose of preventing cruelty to animals and promoting humane care and treatment of animals. (So…

(510 ILCS 70/2.05a) (from Ch. 8, par. 702.05a) Sec. 2.05a. "Livestock management facility" means any on-farm animal feeding operation, on-farm livestock shelter, or on-farm milking and accompanying milk handling area. (Source: P.A. 83-140.)

(510 ILCS 70/2.06) (from Ch. 8, par. 702.06) Sec. 2.06. "Owner" means any person who (a) has a right of property in an animal, (b) keeps or harbors an animal, (c) has an animal in his care, or (d) acts as custodian of an animal. (Source: P.A. 78-905.)

(510 ILCS 70/2.07) (from Ch. 8, par. 702.07) Sec. 2.07. Person. "Person" means any individual, minor, firm, corporation, partnership, other business unit, society, association, or other legal entity, any public or private institution, the State of Illinois, or any municipal corpo…

(510 ILCS 70/2.08) Sec. 2.08. Police animal. "Police animal" means any animal owned or used by a law enforcement department or agency in the course of the department or agency's work. (Source: P.A. 90-80, eff. 7-10-97.)

(510 ILCS 70/2.09) Sec. 2.09. Humanely euthanized. "Humanely euthanized" means the painless administration of a lethal dose of an agent or method of euthanasia as prescribed in the Report of the American Veterinary Medical Association Panel on Euthanasia published in the Journal …

(510 ILCS 70/2.10) Sec. 2.10. Companion animal hoarder. "Companion animal hoarder" means a person who (i) possesses a large number of companion animals; (ii) fails to or is unable to provide what he or she is required to provide under Section 3 of this Act; (iii) keeps the compan…

(510 ILCS 70/3) (from Ch. 8, par. 703) Sec. 3. Owner's duties. (a) Each owner shall provide for each of his or her animals: (1) a sufficient quantity of good quality, wholesome food and water; (2) adequate shelter and protection from the weather; (3) veterinary care when needed t…

(510 ILCS 70/3.01) (from Ch. 8, par. 703.01) Sec. 3.01. Cruel treatment. (a) No person or owner may beat, cruelly treat, torment, starve, overwork or otherwise abuse any animal. (b) No owner may abandon any animal where it may become a public charge or may suffer injury, hunger o…

(510 ILCS 70/3.02) Sec. 3.02. Aggravated cruelty. (a) No person may intentionally commit an act that causes a companion animal to suffer serious injury or death. Aggravated cruelty does not include euthanasia of a companion animal through recognized methods approved by the Depart…

(510 ILCS 70/3.03) Sec. 3.03. Animal torture. (a) A person commits animal torture when that person without legal justification knowingly or intentionally tortures an animal. For purposes of this Section, and subject to subsection (b), "torture" means infliction of or subjection t…

(510 ILCS 70/3.03-1) Sec. 3.03-1. Depiction of animal cruelty. (a) "Depiction of animal cruelty" means any visual or auditory depiction, including any photograph, motion-picture film, video recording, electronic image, or sound recording, that would constitute a violation of Sect…

(510 ILCS 70/3.04) Sec. 3.04. Arrests and seizures; penalties. (a) Any law enforcement officer making an arrest for an offense involving one or more companion animals under Section 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.03-1, 4.01, 4.03, 4.04, 6, 7.1, or 7.15 of this Act may lawfully take possessio…

(510 ILCS 70/3.05) Sec. 3.05. Security for companion animals and animals used for fighting purposes. (a) In the case of companion animals as defined in Section 2.01a or animals used for fighting purposes in violation of Section 4.01 of this Act or Section 26-5 or 48-1 of the Crim…

(510 ILCS 70/3.06) Sec. 3.06. Disposition of seized companion animals and animals used for fighting purposes. (a) Upon the conviction of the person charged, all animals seized, if not previously ordered forfeited or previously forfeited by operation of law, are forfeited to the f…

(510 ILCS 70/3.07) Sec. 3.07. Veterinarian reports; humane euthanasia. Any veterinarian in this State who observes or is presented with an animal or animals for the treatment of aggravated cruelty under Section 3.02 or torture under Section 3.03 of this Act must file a report wit…

(510 ILCS 70/3.09) Sec. 3.09. Carbon monoxide euthanasia by a licensed veterinarian. A licensed veterinarian may euthanize a companion animal in a commercially manufactured chamber by use of compressed carbon monoxide. The veterinarian must be physically present during the euthan…

(510 ILCS 70/4) (from Ch. 8, par. 704) Sec. 4. Prohibited acts. No person may sell, offer for sale, barter, or give away as a pet or a novelty any rabbit or any baby chick, duckling or other fowl which has been dyed, colored, or otherwise treated to impart an artificial color the…

(510 ILCS 70/4.01) (from Ch. 8, par. 704.01) Sec. 4.01. Animals in entertainment. This Section does not apply when the only animals involved are dogs. (Section 48-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012, rather than this Section, applies when the only animals involved are dogs.) (a) No pe…

(510 ILCS 70/4.02) (from Ch. 8, par. 704.02) Sec. 4.02. Arrests; reports. (a) Any law enforcement officer making an arrest for an offense involving one or more animals under Section 4.01 of this Act or Section 48-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012 shall lawfully take possession of al…

(510 ILCS 70/4.03) (from Ch. 8, par. 704.03) Sec. 4.03. Teasing, striking or tampering with police animals, service animals, accelerant detection dogs, or search and rescue dogs prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully and maliciously taunt, torment, tease, be…

(510 ILCS 70/4.04) (from Ch. 8, par. 704.04) Sec. 4.04. Injuring or killing police animals, service animals, accelerant detection dogs, or search and rescue dogs prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison…

(510 ILCS 70/5) (from Ch. 8, par. 705) Sec. 5. Lame or disabled horses. No person shall sell, offer to sell, lead, ride, transport, or drive on any public way any equidae which, because of debility, disease, lameness or any other cause, could not be worked in this State without v…

(510 ILCS 70/5.01) Sec. 5.01. Horse poling or tripping. (a) As used in this Section: "Pole" means to use a method of training a horse that consists of (i) forcing, persuading, or enticing a horse to jump so that one or more of its legs contacts an obstruction consisting of any ki…