(720 ILCS 585/0.1)(from Ch. 8, par. 240) Sec. 0.1. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires: "Dangerous animal" means a lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah,
margay, mountain lion, lynx, bobcat, jaguarundi, bear, hyena, wolf or
coyote, or any poisonous or life‑threatening reptile. "Owner" means any person who (a) has a right of property in a dangerous
animal, (b) keeps or harbors a dangerous animal, (c) has a dangerous animal
in his care, or (d) acts as custodian of a dangerous animal. "Person" means any individual, firm, association, partnership,
corporation, or other legal entity, any public or private institution, the
State of Illinois, or any municipal corporation or political subdivision of the State. (Source: P.A. 84‑28.)
(720 ILCS 585/1)(from Ch. 8, par. 241) Sec. 1. No person shall have a right of property in, keep, harbor,
care for, act as custodian
of or maintain in
his possession any dangerous animal except at a properly maintained zoological
park, federally licensed
exhibit, circus, scientific or
educational institution, research laboratory, veterinary hospital or animal
refuge in an escape‑proof enclosure. (Source: P.A. 84‑28.)
(720 ILCS 585/2)(from Ch. 8, par. 242) Sec. 2. It is no defense to a violation of Section 1
that the person violating such Section
has attempted to domesticate the dangerous animal. If there appears
to be imminent danger to the public, any
dangerous animal found not in compliance with the provisions of this Act
shall be subject to
seizure and may immediately be placed in an approved facility. Upon the
conviction of a person for a violation of Section 1, the animal with regard
to which the conviction was obtained shall be confiscated and placed in an
approved facility, with the owner thereof to be responsible for all costs
connected with the seizure and confiscation of such animal.
Approved facilities include, but are not limited to, a zoological park,
federally licensed exhibit,
humane society, veterinary hospital or animal refuge. (Source: P.A. 84‑28.)
(720 ILCS 585/3)(from Ch. 8, par. 243) Sec. 3. Any person violating this Act shall be guilty of a Class C
misdemeanor. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense. In the event the person violating this Act is a corporation or
partnership, any officer, director, manager or managerial agent of the
partnership or corporation who violates this Section or causes the
partnership or corporation to violate this Section is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. (Source: P.A. 84‑28.)
(720 ILCS 585/4)(from Ch. 8, par. 244) Sec. 4. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Illinois
Dangerous Animals Act". (Source: P.A. 84‑28.)
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