The following is excerpted from HB 5772. The disclosure requirements apply to animal shelters and animal control facilities and go into effect January 1, 2011. The Department of Agriculture will be enforcing these requirements, and with the other changes to the Animal Welfare Act, licensees who fail to comply may be fined. You can view the entire amendment on-line at www.ilga.gov.
Sec. 3.5. Information on dogs and cats available for adoption by an animal shelter or animal control facility.
(a) An animal shelter or animal control facility must provide to the adopter prior to the time of adoption the following information, to the best of its knowledge, on any dog or cat being offered for adoption:
(1) The breed, age, date of birth, sex, and color of the dog or cat if known, or if unknown, the animal shelter or animal control facility shall estimate to the best of its ability.
(2) The details of any inoculation or medical treatment that the dog or cat received while under the possession of the animal shelter or animal control facility.
(3) The adoption fee and any additional fees or charges.
(4) If the dog or cat was returned by an adopter, then the date and reason for the return.
(5) The following written statement: "A copy of our policy regarding warranties, refunds, or returns is available upon request.".
(6) The license number of the animal shelter or animal control facility issued by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
(b) The information required in subsection (a) shall be provided to the adopter in written form by the animal shelter or animal control facility and shall have an acknowledgement of disclosures form, which must be signed by the adopter and an authorized representative of the animal shelter or animal control facility at the time of the adoption. The acknowledgement of disclosures form shall include the following:
(1) A blank space for the dated signature and printed name of the authorized representative handling the adoption on behalf of the animal shelter or animal control facility, which shall be immediately beneath the following printed statement: "I hereby attest that all of the above information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.".
(2) A blank space for the dated signature and printed name of the adopter, which shall be immediately beneath the following statement: "I hereby attest that this disclosure was posted on or near the cage of the dog or cat for adoption and that I have read all the disclosures. I further understand that I am entitled to keep a signed copy of this disclosure.".
(c) A copy of the disclosures and the signed acknowledgement of disclosures form shall be provided to the adopter and the original copy shall be maintained by the animal shelter or animal control facility for a period of 2 years from the date of adoption. A copy of the animal shelter's or animal control facility's policy regarding warranties, refunds, or
returns shall be provided to the adopter.
(d) An animal shelter or animal control facility shall post in a conspicuous place in writing on or near the cage of any dog or cat available for adoption the information required by subsection (a) of this Section 3.5.
Animal Control Agencies need to make arrangements to register primates in their county beginning in 2011. Public Act 96-1219 prohibits the private ownership of primates in Illinois but includes a grandfather clause. Those citizens who currently have primates may keep them if they register them with their county animal control agencies by April 1, 2011.
The new law requires owners provide to animal control, in writing: the owner's name, address, and telephone number; the type of primate, the age, a photograph, a description of any tattoo, microchip, or other identifying information, and a list of current inoculations. Owners must notify the administrator immediately if the animal escapes, dies, or bites or scratches or injures a person. The law further requires that owners notify animal control administrator within 30 days of a change of address. Exemptions exist for those individuals with disabilities who have service monkeys.
Counties may impose a registration fee and can require annual registrations. Some counties report contact from primate owners already trying to register their pets. You may read the entire Act on-line at www.ilga.gov.
