(A) In the event that the Administrator, animal control officer, or any law enforcement officer finds a domestic companion animal(s) to be a victim of cruelty, neglect, or abandonment as defined by sections with animal cruelty, he or she shall have the right to forthwith remove or cause to have removed any such animal(s) to a safe place for care or to euthanize said animal(s) when necessary to prevent further suffering, all at the owner’s expense. Return to the owner may be denied or withheld until the owner shall have made full payment for all expenses incurred. Treatment of an animal by any method specified herein does not relieve the owner of liability for violations and for any accrued charges.
(B) The owner of an animal that has been impounded may appeal, in writing, the impoundment to the State’s Attorney within seven days of impoundment. After proper notice, a hearing shall be held to determine if said animal was the victim of cruelty, neglect or abandonment. The State’s Attorney may find that the animal is a victim of cruelty, neglect or abandonment if:
(1) The animal was abandoned;
(2) The animal was not provided by the owner (or agent) with sufficient water, proper food, shelter to provide protection from the weather or veterinary care to prevent suffering; or
(C) The State’s Attorney may find that the animal is a victim of cruelty, neglect or abandonment, then he or she shall order appropriate remedies, including, but not limited to, proper veterinary care, humane destruction of the animal, or refusal to return said animal to the owner and shall assess all costs to the owner for enforcement of the appropriate remedy, and for impoundment and boarding of the animal.
(D) Any owner convicted of aggravated cruelty charges, or any of the cruelty listed in § 90.67(D), will not be allowed to own or reside in a household where there are any animal(s) as long as they live in the county.
(E) Any one that violates division (D) of this section will be prosecuted and the animal(s) will be impounded.
(Ord. 0-2007.1, passed 3-13-2007; Ord. 2008.03, passed - -2008; Ord. O-2012.02, passed 3-13-2012; Ord. O-2014.01, passed 2-11-2014) Penalty, see § 90.99
Statutory reference:
Authority, see 510 ILCS 70/10