In Illinois shelters and non-profit rescues are licensed by the Dept of Agriculture and fosters have to get a license through the shelter or non-profit rescue. There is a definition for each of these, Animal Control Facilities, Animal Shelters, Pet Shop Operator, Dog dealer, Cattery or Kennel operator.
As I understand the law, if I choose to personally take in dogs and re-home them, I would be considered a dog dealer even if I give the dogs away. Dog dealers have to be licensed. The law favors back yard breeding and hurts those who want to help dogs. It’s true that I might be able to re-home a dog now and then but the more often I do something like this the more likely someone could decide to stop me. Since any dogs I have need to be licensed a red flag would be raised. Government organizations are looking for more ways to collect revenue and assessing fines is big now. I would then have a criminal record that would hurt my ability to work with shelters. I copied what Illinois law says:
"Dog dealer" means any person who sells, offers to sell, exchange, or offers for adoption with or without charge or donation dogs in this State. However, a person who sells only dogs that he has produced and raised shall not be considered a dog dealer under this Act, and a veterinary hospital or clinic operated by a veterinarian or veterinarians licensed under the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act of 2004 shall not be considered a dog dealer under this Act.
Another ridiculous section of Illinois law for foster pets states:
“The animals held for adoption shall be segregated from any personally owned pets.”
When I asked a representative from the Illinois Dept of Agriculture “Am I required to keep foster animals in a different area of my home and not allow interaction with my dogs” His reply was “Yes, that is what the law states”
Another part of the law which hurts rescue organizations in Illinois is that foster homes can only foster a total of 4 dogs and cats. It doesn’t matter if you live in a rural area and have 100 acres.
These are all the type of laws the No Kill movement wants to see changed. Animals die because of legislation that's unnecessary.
They are trying to pass a law requiring anyone with 7 or more companion animals to be licensed. Illinois definition "Companion animal" includes, but is not limited to, canines, felines, and equines. I would have to be licensed to own 3 horses, a dog and a couple barn cats!
Sometimes I hate this state.
