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Proposed Bill Would Change Animal Control Act

Author: Jacob D. Caudill

October 28, 2016

Last month, a bill was proposed in the Illinois House of Representatives that would amend the Illinois Animal Control Act. If this bill passes, certain rights of private citizens would be removed from the Act, and additional requirements would be imposed on some public officials, such as law enforcement agents, in determining that dog is “dangerous.”

Specifically, the bill, if passed, would remove a private citizen’s right to file a complaint in the circuit court to have a dog deemed “vicious.” The only individuals that would be able to file such a complaint would be the Administrator, State’s Attorney, or Director. Moreover, officials, animal wardens, deputy administrators, and law enforcement agents, must have “probable cause” to believe that a dog is “dangerous” before asking the Administrator, or his designee, to deem a dog “dangerous.”

Author: Jacob D. Caudill