§ 7-12-290 — Cruelty to animals - Fines

7-12-290 Cruelty to animals - Fines.

No person shall do any of the following: (a) Beat, torture, torment, bait, mutilate or cruelly kill any animal, or cause or knowingly allow the same to be done; (b) Fail to provide any animal in the person’s care or custody with breed-appropriate food, water, air or sanitary shelter (including ventilation) in such a manner as to be protected from excess heat and cold and is of sufficient size to permit the animal to exercise and move about freely; (c) Cruelly force into undue physical exertion or carry, keep, drive, overload, overwork, or cause to be carried, driven, overloaded, overworked, or kept, any animal in a cruel manner; (d) Leave an animal unattended in a motor vehicle, trailer or other enclosure for a period of time long enough to threaten its life or health, including by subjecting the animal to inadequate air circulation or by exposure to extreme heat or cold; (e) Failure to provide reasonably necessary medical care according to commonly accepted veterinary standards, in addition to the required rabies vaccine, and if diseased or injured or exhibiting symptoms of disease, receives proper care and is segregated from other animals so as to prevent transmittal of the disease, or which is afflicted with any painful disease or injury, including severe parasitism, unless the animal is under the care of a veterinarian; (f) Abandon or intentionally release any animal on any public way or in any place where it may suffer or become a public charge; (g) Stake out unattended, or leave unrestrained outside and unattended, for any amount of time, any female dog in season, or stake out any dog, regardless of sex, on private property for more than two consecutive hours; or (h) Knowingly poison or cause to be poisoned any animal except with a written permit from the Illinois Department of Agriculture or the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the use of poisons, approved by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, for rodent or vermin control. (i) Tether any animal outdoors between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. shall not be tethered for more than 30 minutes when* temperatures are below 45 Degrees Fahrenheit or during any associated weather advisory unless an appropriate shelter is accessible to the animal that must be just large enough for the dog to stand up and turn around, the entrance covered by a flexible wind-proofing material or self-closing door, and must contain clean, dry bedding, which must consist of an insulating material that does not retain moisture, such as straw, of sufficient depth for the dog to burrow. * Editor’s note – As set forth in Coun. J. 3-18-26, p. 41628, § 1; intended language appears to be “Tether any animal outdoors between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. for more than 30 minutes when....” Future legislation will correct if needed. (j) In cases where the violation of this section creates a danger to the public health and safety or to the health and welfare of an animal, the Executive Director may cause the animal to be impounded until such time that the conditions that caused the danger are corrected. If the owner fails to correct the conditions within 7 days of the impoundment of the animal, the animal shall become the property of the Department. It shall be the duty of the Executive Director to obtain the necessary legal process to allow him or her to enter or to cause to have entered any building or premises to remove and impound such animal. An animal control officer or police officer who has probable cause to believe that subsection (d) of this section is being violated shall have authority to enter a motor vehicle by any reasonable means under the circumstances after making a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person responsible. (k) Any person who shall violate any provision herein shall be fined $5,000.00 for each offense plus forfeiture of the animal. Each day that such violation exists shall constitute a separate offense. (Prior code § 98-11; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 4.1; Amend Coun. J. 3-14-07, p. 99838, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 37901, Art. I, § 29; Amend Coun. J. 3-28-18, p. 72121, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 3-18-26, p. 41628, § 1)