09600SJ0056 Enrolled

LRB096 12143 ASK 24390 r






1

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 56


 

2
    WHEREAS, Illinois citizens have the right to purchase 
3
quality purebred dogs, produced by responsible breeders; and

 
4
    WHEREAS, Illinois is committed to preventing dogs from 
5
being housed in breeding facilities or pet stores that are 
6
overcrowded, unsanitary, and lacking proper shelter and care; 
7
and

 
8
    WHEREAS, Breeding facilities with unsanitary conditions 
9
create the potential for soil and groundwater contamination, 
10
the spread of zoonotic parasites and infectious diseases, and 
11
the sale of sick and dying animals to the public; therefore, be 
12
it

 

13
    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
14
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
15
CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is established a Joint Task Force 
16
on Breeders and Pet Stores to investigate and make 
17
recommendations regarding these 2 industries; issues that may 
18
be examined include, but are not limited to the following: (1) 
19
humane care and treatment for dogs at pet stores and breeding 
20
facilities, (2) creating more specific requirements for indoor 
21
and outdoor kennel facilities to ensure the health and welfare 
22
of dogs used for commercial purposes, (3) establishing more 
 


 






09600SJ0056 Enrolled
- 2 -
LRB096 12143 ASK 24390 r




1
detailed specifications so that indoor and outdoor facilities 
2
provide dogs with proper shelter, temperature control, 
3
ventilation, air movement, lighting, bedding, sanitation, 
4
slope of ground and run, and flooring materials, (4) creating 
5
more detailed record keeping requirements for breeders and pet 
6
stores, (5) ensuring that consumers are provided adequate 
7
information prior to the time of sale of dogs, (6) ensuring 
8
that dogs being sold are healthy, and (7) amending animal 
9
welfare laws to address these specific issues as well as 
10
related yet broader issues that could be addressed through such 
11
laws; and be it further

 
12
    RESOLVED, That the members of the Joint Task Force shall 
13
include: one member appointed by the President of the Senate; 
14
one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one 
15
member appointed by the Speaker of the House; one member 
16
appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; the Director of 
17
Agriculture or his or her designee, who shall serve as the 
18
Chairperson; the Director of Agriculture shall appoint 5 
19
members to represent the animal welfare community, including 2 
20
members from national organizations and 3 members representing 
21
the shelter community and animal rescue community; the Director 
22
of Agriculture shall also appoint one member representing the 
23
small scale breeding community, one member representing the 
24
sporting dog community, one member representing the large scale 
25
breeding community, one member representing the pet store 
 


 






09600SJ0056 Enrolled
- 3 -
LRB096 12143 ASK 24390 r




1
industry, and one member representing the Illinois 
2
Veterinarians; and be it further
 
3
    RESOLVED, That the Department of Agriculture shall provide 
4
administrative and other support to the Joint Task Force and 
5
meet at the call of the chairperson; and be it further
 
6
    RESOLVED, That the Director of Agriculture or his or her 
7
designee shall serve as the Chairperson; the Joint Task Force 
8
shall have a minimum of 3 meetings; and the members shall serve 
9
without compensation; and be it further
 
10
    RESOLVED, That the Joint Task Force shall report its 
11
findings and legislative recommendations to the Secretary of 
12
the Senate and the Clerk of the House by January 1, 2010; and 
13
that upon filing its report the Joint Task Force is dissolved; 
14
and be it further
 
15
    RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to 
16
the Director of the Department of Agriculture.