510 ILCS 70/3.05

(510 ILCS 70/3.05)

Sec. 3.05. Security for companion animals and animals used for fighting purposes.

(a) In the case of companion animals as defined in Section 2.01a or animals used for fighting purposes in violation of Section 4.01 of this Act or Section 26-5 or 48-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or a violation of 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, or 7.1 of this Act, the animal control or animal shelter having custody of the animal or animals may file a petition with the court requesting that the person from whom the animal or animals are seized, or the owner of the animal or animals, be ordered to post security. The security must be in an amount sufficient to secure payment of all reasonable expenses expected to be incurred by the animal control or animal shelter in caring for and providing for the animal or animals pending the disposition of the charges. Reasonable expenses include, but are not limited to, estimated medical care and boarding of the animal or animals for 30 days. The amount of the security shall be determined by the court after taking into consideration all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including, but not limited to, the recommendation of the impounding organization having custody and care of the seized animal or animals and the cost of caring for the animal or animals. If security has been posted in accordance with this Section, the animal control or animal shelter may draw from the security the actual costs incurred by the agency in caring for the seized animal or animals.

(b) Upon receipt of a petition, the court must set a hearing on the petition, to be conducted within 5 business days after the petition is filed. The petitioner must serve a true copy of the petition upon the defendant and the State's Attorney for the county in which the animal or animals were seized. The petitioner must also serve a true copy of the petition on any interested person. For the purposes of this subsection, "interested person" means an individual, partnership, firm, joint stock company, corporation, association, trust, estate, or other legal entity that the court determines may have a pecuniary interest in the animal or animals that are the subject of the petition. The court must set a hearing date to determine any interested parties. The court may waive for good cause shown the posting of security.

(c) If the court orders the posting of security, the security must be posted with the clerk of the court within 5 business days after the hearing. If the person ordered to post security does not do so, the animal or animals are forfeited by operation of law and the animal control or animal shelter having control of the animal or animals must dispose of the animal or animals through adoption or must humanely euthanize the animal. In no event may the defendant or any person residing in the defendant's household adopt the animal or animals.

(d) The impounding organization may file a petition with the court upon the expiration of the 30-day period requesting the posting of additional security. The court may order the person from whom the animal or animals were seized, or the owner of the animal or animals, to post additional security with the clerk of the court to secure payment of reasonable expenses for an additional period of time pending a determination by the court of the charges against the person from whom the animal or animals were seized.

(e) In no event may the security prevent the impounding organization having custody and care of the animal or animals from disposing of the animal or animals before the expiration of the 30-day period covered by the security if the court makes a final determination of the charges against the person from whom the animal or animals were seized. Upon the adjudication of the charges, the person who posted the security is entitled to a refund of the security, in whole or in part, for any expenses not incurred by the impounding organization.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary, the court may order a person charged with any violation of this Act to provide necessary food, water, shelter, and care for any animal or animals that are the basis of the charge without the removal of the animal or animals from their existing location and until the charges against the person are adjudicated. Until a final determination of the charges is made, any law enforcement officer, animal control officer, Department investigator, or an approved humane investigator may be authorized by an order of the court to make regular visits to the place where the animal or animals are being kept to ascertain if the animal or animals are receiving necessary food, water, shelter, and care. Nothing in this Section prevents any law enforcement officer, Department investigator, or approved humane investigator from applying for a warrant under this Section to seize any animal or animals being held by the person charged pending the adjudication of the charges if it is determined that the animal or animals are not receiving the necessary food, water, shelter, or care.

(g) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent the voluntary, permanent relinquishment of any animal by its owner to an animal control or animal shelter in lieu of posting security or proceeding to a forfeiture hearing. Voluntary relinquishment shall have no effect on the criminal charges that may be pursued by the appropriate authorities.

(h) If an owner of a companion animal is acquitted by the court of charges made pursuant to this Act, the court shall further order that any security that has been posted for the animal shall be returned to the owner by the impounding organization.

(i) The provisions of this Section only pertain to companion animals and animals used for fighting purposes.

(Source: P.A. 100-504, eff. 6-1-18.)