720 ILCS 5/48-10 – Dangerous Animals (Unlawful Ownership or Failure to Confine)

720 ILCS 5/48-10 – Dangerous Animals (Unlawful Ownership or Failure to Confine)

This law makes it illegal to own or keep certain wild or dangerous animals unless you are allowed to by law.

This statute says that people in Illinois are not allowed to own or keep animals like lions, tigers, wolves, or primates (such as monkeys) unless they are part of a zoo, research facility, or other approved place. It also has rules for people who had these animals before certain dates and gives penalties for breaking the law.

(a) Definitions. Words in this law mean certain things:

1. “Dangerous animal” means wild animals like lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, bears, wolves, coyotes, or similar animals. It does not include reptiles covered under a different law about herptiles.
2. “Owner” means anyone who
   1. Qwns,
   2. Keeps,
   3. Cares for, or
   4. Is in charge of a dangerous animal or primate.
3. “Person” means any individual, business, group, or government body.
4. “Primate” means any nonhuman member of the primate family, like chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, lemurs, and similar animals.

(b) Dangerous animal or primate offense. No one is allowed to own or keep a dangerous animal or primate unless it is kept at an approved place like a zoo, licensed exhibit, circus, college, research lab, animal hospital, hound running area, or animal refuge that is escape-proof.

(c) Exemptions.

1. People who lawfully had a primate before January 1, 2011, may keep it if they register it with their local animal control office by April 1, 2011. The registration must include:
   1. The person’s contact information (name, address, phone number).
   2. Details about the primate, including its type, age, photo, identifying marks or microchip info, and current vaccinations.
2. People with permanent disabilities that greatly affect movement may have one trained capuchin monkey to help with daily tasks if:
   1. The monkey came from a licensed nonprofit group that trains helper monkeys.
   2. The person follows the same registration rules from paragraph (1).

(d) If someone who registered a primate moves, they must tell the animal control office within 30 days and register again in the new place within 30 days. They must also show proof they registered before.

(e) If a registered primate dies, escapes, or hurts someone, the owner must tell the local animal control office right away.

(f) Trying to tame a dangerous animal is not an excuse for breaking this law. If the animal could harm people, it can be taken away and moved to a safe, approved place. If a person is found guilty, the animal will be confiscated and placed in an approved facility, and the owner must pay for all costs. Approved facilities include zoos, licensed exhibits, humane societies, veterinary hospitals, or refuges.

(g) Sentence: Breaking this law is a Class C misdemeanor. If a company breaks the law, its leaders can also be charged. Each day the rule is broken counts as a separate offense.

View the full statute here.

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