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ILLINOIS STATUTES AND CODES

510 ILCS 5/ Animal Control Act.

    (510 ILCS 5/1) (from Ch. 8, par. 351)
    Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Animal Control Act.
(Source: P.A. 78‑795.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2) (from Ch. 8, par. 352)
    Sec. 2.
    As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms specified in Sections 2.01 through 2.19 have the meanings ascribed to them in those Sections.
(Source: P. A. 78‑795.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.01) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.01)
    Sec. 2.01. "Administrator" means a veterinarian licensed by the State of Illinois and appointed pursuant to this Act, or in the event a veterinarian cannot be found and appointed pursuant to this Act, a non‑veterinarian may serve as Administrator under this Act. In the event the Administrator is not a veterinarian, the Administrator shall defer to the veterinarian regarding all medical decisions.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.02) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.02)
    Sec. 2.02. "Animal" means every living creature, other than man, which may be affected by rabies.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.03) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.03)
    Sec. 2.03. "Animal Control Warden" means any person appointed by the Administrator to perform the duties set forth in this Act.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.03a)
    Sec. 2.03a. "Business day" means any day including holidays that the animal control facility is open to the public for animal reclaims.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.04) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.04)
    Sec. 2.04. "Board" means the county board in each county, as defined by Section 5‑1004 of the Counties Code.
(Source: P.A. 86‑1475.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.04a)
    Sec. 2.04a. "Cat" means Felis catus.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03; 94‑639, eff. 8‑22‑05.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.05) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.05)
    Sec. 2.05. "Confined" means restriction of an animal at all times by the owner, or his agent, to an escape‑proof building, house, or other enclosure away from other animals and the public.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.05a)
    Sec. 2.05a. "Dangerous dog" means (i) any individual dog anywhere other than upon the property of the owner or custodian of the dog and 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 or (ii) a dog that, without justification, bites a person and does not cause serious physical injury.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03; 94‑639, eff. 8‑22‑05.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.06) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.06)
    Sec. 2.06.
    "Department" means the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois.
(Source: P. A. 78‑795.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.07) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.07)
    Sec. 2.07. "Deputy Administrator" means a veterinarian licensed by the State of Illinois, appointed by the Administrator.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.08) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.08)
    Sec. 2.08.
    "Director" means the Director of the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois, or his duly appointed representative.
(Source: P. A. 78‑795.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.09) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.09)
    Sec. 2.09.
    "District" means a geographic area consisting of 2 or more counties in their entirety.
(Source: P. A. 78‑795.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.10) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.10)
    Sec. 2.10.
    "District Board" means the governing body created to act as a single unit to effectuate this Act in a District and shall consist of 3 members of the Board of each county involved.
(Source: P. A. 78‑795.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.11) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.11)
    Sec. 2.11.
    "Dog" means all members of the family Canidae.
(Source: P. A. 78‑795.)

    (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; 94‑639, eff. 8‑22‑05.)

    (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, (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; 94‑639, eff. 8‑22‑05.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.11c)
    Sec. 2.11c. Intact animal. "Intact animal" means an animal that has not been spayed or neutered.
(Source: P.A. 94‑639, eff. 8‑22‑05.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.12) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.12)
    Sec. 2.12.
    "Has been bitten" means has been seized with the teeth or jaws so that the person or animal seized has been nipped, gripped, wounded, or pierced, and further includes contact of saliva with any break or abrasion of the skin.
(Source: P. A. 78‑795.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.12a)
    Sec. 2.12a. "Impounded" means taken into the custody of the public animal control facility in the city, town, or county where the animal is found.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.13) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.13)
    Sec. 2.13.
    "Inoculation against rabies" means the injection of an antirabies vaccine approved by the Department.
(Source: P. A. 78‑795.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.14) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.14)
    Sec. 2.14.
    "Leash" means a cord, rope, strap, or chain which shall be securely fastened to the collar or harness of a dog or other animal and shall be of sufficient strength to keep such dog or other animal under control.
(Source: P. A. 78‑795.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.15) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.15)
    Sec. 2.15.
    "Licensed veterinarian" means a veterinarian licensed by the State in which he engages in the practice of veterinary medicine.
(Source: P. A. 78‑795.)

    (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 or release program.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03; 94‑639, eff. 8‑22‑05.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.17) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.17)
    Sec. 2.17. "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, society, association or other legal entity, any public or private institution, the State of Illinois, municipal corporation or political subdivision of the State, or any other business unit.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.17a)
    Sec. 2.17a. "Peace officer" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2‑13 of the Criminal Code of 1961.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.17b)
    Sec. 2.17b. "Police animal" means an animal owned or used by a law enforcement department or agency in the course of the department or agency's work.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.17c)
    Sec. 2.17c. "Potentially dangerous dog" means a dog that is unsupervised and found running at large with 3 or more other dogs.
(Source: P.A. 95‑550, eff. 6‑1‑08.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.18) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.18)
    Sec. 2.18. "Pound" or "animal control facility" may be used interchangeably and mean any facility approved by the Administrator for the purpose of enforcing this Act and used as a shelter for seized, stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted dogs or other animals.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.18a)
    Sec. 2.18a. "Physical injury" means the impairment of physical condition.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.19) (from Ch. 8, par. 352.19)
    Sec. 2.19.
    "Registration certificate" means a printed form prescribed by the Department for the purpose of recording pertinent information as required by the Department under this Act.
(Source: P. A. 78‑795.)

    (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 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; 94‑639, eff. 8‑22‑05.)

    (510 ILCS 5/2.19b)
    Sec. 2.19b. "Vicious dog" means a dog that, without justification, attacks a person and causes serious physical injury or death or any individual dog that has been found to be a "dangerous dog" upon 3 separate occasions.
(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 and may establish a county animal population control 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. The Board shall impose an individual dog or cat registration fee with a minimum differential of $10 for intact dogs or cats. Ten dollars of the differential shall be placed either in a county animal population control fund or in the State's Pet Population Control Fund. If the money is placed in the county animal population control fund it shall be used to (i) spay, neuter, or sterilize adopted dogs or cats or (ii) spay or neuter dogs or cats owned by low income county residents who are eligible for the Food Stamp Program. 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 serve as the county animal control registration number.
    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; 94‑639, eff. 8‑22‑05.)

    (510 ILCS 5/4) (from Ch. 8, par. 354)
    Sec. 4.
    When the Boards of 2 or more counties, through mutual agreement, wish to join to effectuate any part or all of this Act, they shall make written request to the Director, setting forth the geographical area and the Sections of this Act involved. Whenever, as ascertained from investigation, hearing, or otherwise, the Director determines it is advisable that these counties form a District, he may designate and establish such District. A District Board shall be formed and shall effectuate this Act as set forth for an individual county.
(Source: P. A. 78‑795.)

    (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; 94‑639, eff. 8‑22‑05.)

    (510 ILCS 5/7) (from Ch. 8, par. 357)
    Sec. 7. All registration fees collected shall be remitted to the County Treasurer, who shall place the monies in an Animal Control Fund. This fund shall be set up by him for the purpose of paying costs of the Animal Control Program. All fees collected shall be used for the purpose of paying claims for loss of livestock or poultry as set forth in Section 19 of this Act and for the following purposes as established by ordinance of the County Board: funds may be utilized by local health departments or county nurse's offices for the purchase of human rabies anti‑serum, human vaccine, the cost for administration of serum or vaccine, minor medical care, and for paying the cost of stray dog control, impoundment, education on animal control and rabies, and other costs incurred in carrying out the provisions of this Act or any county or municipal ordinance concurred in by the Department relating to animal control, except as set forth in Section 19. Counties of 100,000 inhabitants or more may assume self‑insurance liability to pay claims for the loss of livestock or poultry.
(Source: P.A. 87‑151.)

    (510 ILCS 5/7.1) (from Ch. 8, par. 357.1)
    Sec. 7.1. In addition to any other fees provided for under this Act, any county may charge a reasonable fee for the pickup and disposal of dead animals from private for‑profit animal hospitals. This fee shall be sufficient to cover the costs of pickup and delivery and shall be deposited in the county's animal control fund.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03.)

    (510 ILCS 5/8)(from Ch. 8, par. 358)
    Sec. 8. Every owner of a dog 4 months or more of age shall have each dog inoculated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Every dog shall have a second rabies vaccination within one year of the first. Terms of subsequent vaccine administration and duration of immunity must be in compliance with USDA licenses of vaccines used. Evidence of such rabies inoculation shall be entered on a certificate the form of which shall be approved by the Board and which shall contain the microchip number of the animal if it has one and which shall be signed by the licensed veterinarian administering the vaccine. Veterinarians who inoculate a dog shall procure from the County Animal Control in the county where their office is located serially numbered tags, one to be issued with each inoculation certificate. Only one dog shall be included on each certificate. The veterinarian immunizing or microchipping an animal shall provide the Administrator of the county in which the animal resides with a certificate of immunization and microchip number. The Board shall cause a rabies inoculation tag to be issued, at a fee established by the Board for each dog inoculated against rabies.
    Rabies vaccine for use on animals shall be sold or distributed only to and used only by licensed veterinarians. Such rabies vaccine shall be licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture.
    If a licensed veterinarian determines in writing that a rabies inoculation would compromise an animal's health, then the animal shall be exempt from the rabies shot requirement, but the owner must still be responsible for the fees.
(Source: P.A. 93‑548, eff. 8‑19‑03; 94‑639, eff. 8‑22‑05.)

    (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. The dog's owner shall pay a $25 public safety fine, $20 of which shall be deposited into the Pet Population Control Fund and $5 of which shall be retained by the county or municipality. 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.
    A dog that is actively engaged in a legal hunting activity, including training, is not considered to be running at large if the dog is on land that is open to hunting or on land on which the person has obtained permission to hunt or to train a dog. A dog that is in a dog‑friendly area or dog park is not considered to be running at large if the dog is monitored or supervised by a person.
(Source: P.A. 94‑639, eff. 8‑22‑05; 95‑550, eff. 6‑1‑08.)

    (510 ILCS 5/10)(from Ch. 8, par. 360)
    Sec. 10. Impoundment; redemption. When dogs or cats are apprehended and impounded, 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

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