New Animal-Related Laws in 2020

Read about the new laws passed in 2020 related to pets. Here are the highlights:

HB 3390: Fire Sprinkler Requirements for kennels. Developed as a result of an overnight fire at a kennel near West Chicago that killed 31 dogs in January, this measure requires dog and cat kennels to be equipped with a fire sprinkler or alarm system in each building housing animals if the kennel is not staffed at all times. This law also states that the Department of Agriculture shall deny the initial licensure or license renewal of a kennel operator for the failure to comply with this provision.
HB 2086: Healthy Pet Month. This measure designates the month of April as “Healthy Pet Month” in Illinois, during which pet owners across the state will be encouraged to review their pets’ health needs and arrange for annual exams with their veterinarians to “enhance and extend their pet’s quality of life.”
SB 131: Cat Vaccinations. Starting in 2020, pet owners are required to have a veterinarian vaccinate their cats older than four months against rabies (with a certificate issued showing the vaccination was completed). Feral cats must also receive a rabies vaccination, but only if they are brought to the vet to be spayed or neutered.
510 ILCS/83: Police-Service Dog Protection Act. This requires a vehicle transporting a police dog to be equipped with a heat sensor that remotely alerts law enforcement if the vehicle reaches 85 degrees and a safety mechanism to lower the interior temperature. The Humane Care for Animals Act allows a law enforcement officer to take temporary custody of a dog or cat if the animal is exposed in a manner that is life-threatening or may result in injury. Intakes and Outcomes for Shelters requires animal control facilities and animal shelters have to report intake and outcome statistics to the Department of Agriculture. The Reckless Dog Owner Act creates a “reckless dog owner” determination if the owner’s dog is deemed dangerous for killing another dog and is found running at large twice within 12 months of being deemed dangerous. A “reckless dog owner” is prohibited from owning dogs between 12 and 36 months. The Animal Welfare Act Amendments separates and defines “cat breeder,” “dog breeder,” “boarding,” and “daycare operator,” and makes conforming changes to the relevant statutes. Previously, the title “kennel operator” encompassed all four definitions.
HB 3671: Landlords may request documentation when allowing a service animal on premises where pets are generally not allowed. This bill also states that a landlord shall not be liable for injuries caused by a person's assistance animal or service animal permitted on the landlord's property as a reasonable accommodation to assist the person with a disability. It also says that a landlord may require a tenant to cover the costs of repairs for damage the animal causes to the tenant's dwelling unit or the common areas, reasonable wear and tear excepted; however, a landlord may not require a tenant to pay a pet-related deposit that is otherwise required for tenants who are not requesting.