Animal placement

Animal placement. When not redeemed by the owner, agent, or caretaker, a dog or cat must be scanned for a microchip. If a microchip is present, the registered owner or chip purchaser, if the purchaser was a nonprofit organization, animal shelter, animal control facility, pet store, breeder, or veterinary office, must be notified. After contact has been made or attempted, dogs deemed adoptable by the animal control facility shall be offered for adoption, or made available to a licensed animal shelter or rescue group. After contact has been made or attempted, the animal control facility may either: (1) offer the cat for adoption; (2) return to field or transfer the cat after sterilization; or (3) make the cat available to a licensed animal shelter or animal control facility. The animal may be humanely dispatched pursuant to the Humane Euthanasia in Animal Shelters Act. An animal control facility or animal shelter shall not adopt or release any dog or cat to anyone other than the owner or a foster home unless the animal has been rendered incapable of reproduction and microchipped. This Act shall not prevent humane societies or animal shelters from engaging in activities set forth by their charters; provided, they are not inconsistent with provisions of this Act and other existing laws. No animal shelter or animal control facility shall release dogs or cats to an individual representing a rescue group, unless the group has been licensed by the Department of Agriculture or is a representative of a not-for-profit out-of-state organization, animal shelter, or animal control facility. The Department may suspend or revoke the license of any animal shelter or animal control facility that fails to comply with the requirements set forth in this Section or that fails to report its intake and euthanasia statistics as required by law each year. (Source: P.A. 101-295, eff. 8-9-19; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)