(A) Bites. When a person has been bitten by a police dog, 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.
(B) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
IMMEDIATELY. By telephone, in person or by other than use of the mail.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. An agency of the state or a unit of local government that is vested by law or ordinance with the duty to maintain public order and to enforce criminal laws or ordinances.
PEACE OFFICER. The meaning ascribed to it in § 2-13 of the Criminal Code of 1961, being ILCS Ch. 720, Act 5, § 2-13.
POLICE DOG. A dog trained to assist peace officers in their law enforcement duties.
(C) Teasing, striking or tampering with police animals prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully and maliciously taunt, torment, tease, beat, strike or administer or subject any desensitizing drugs, chemicals or substance to any animal used by a law enforcement officer in the performance of his or her functions or duties, or when placed in confinement off duty; or to interfere or meddle with any animal used by as law enforcement department or agency or any handler thereof in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency.
(D) Injury or killing police animals prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison or kill any animal used by law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the Department or when placed in confinement off duty. However, a police officer or veterinarian may perform euthanasia in emergency situations when delay would cause the animal undue suffering and pain.
(E) Violation of division (C). Any person convicted of violating division (C) of this section is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
(F) Violation of division (D). Any person convicted of violating division (D) of this section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor where the animal is not killed or totally disabled, but if the animal is killed or totally disabled the person shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.
(1980 Code, § 90.25) (Res. 99-61, adopted 2-18-1999; Res. 06-122, adopted 3-16-2006) Penalty, see § 90.99