| ||||
| Public Act 101-0299 | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
AN ACT concerning animals.
| ||||
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
| ||||
represented in the General Assembly:
| ||||
Section 5. The Animal Control Act is amended by changing | ||||
Section 8 as follows:
| ||||
(510 ILCS 5/8) (from Ch. 8, par. 358)
| ||||
Sec. 8. Rabies inoculation. | ||||
(a) Every owner of a dog 4 months or more of age shall have | ||||
each dog
inoculated against rabies
by a licensed veterinarian. | ||||
Every dog shall
have a second rabies vaccination within one | ||||
year of the first. Terms of
subsequent
vaccine administration | ||||
and duration of immunity must be in compliance with USDA
| ||||
licenses of vaccines used. | ||||
(b) Every owner of a cat that is a companion animal and is | ||||
4 months or more of age shall have each cat inoculated against | ||||
rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Every cat that is a | ||||
companion animal shall have a second rabies vaccination within | ||||
one year of the first. Terms of subsequent vaccine | ||||
administration and duration of immunity must be in compliance | ||||
with USDA licenses of vaccines used. This subsection (b) does | ||||
not apply to feral cats; however, if a feral cat is presented | ||||
to a licensed veterinarian for sterilization, the feral cat | ||||
shall be inoculated against rabies, unless the person | ||||
presenting the feral cat for care provides an inoculation | ||
certificate showing that the feral cat has been inoculated | ||
against rabies, and the cost of the inoculation shall be paid | ||
by the person presenting the feral cat to a licensed | ||
veterinarian for care. | ||
(c) A veterinarian immunizing a dog, cat, or ferret against | ||
rabies shall provide the Administrator of the county in which | ||
the dog, cat, or ferret resides with a certificate of | ||
immunization. Evidence of such rabies
inoculation shall be | ||
entered on a certificate the form of which shall be
approved by | ||
the Board and which shall contain the microchip number of the | ||
dog, cat, or ferret if it has one and which shall be signed by | ||
the licensed
veterinarian administering the vaccine. Only one | ||
dog, cat, or ferret shall be included on each certificate. | ||
(d) Veterinarians who inoculate a dog
shall procure from | ||
the County Animal
Control in the county where their office is | ||
located
serially
numbered tags, one to be issued with each | ||
inoculation certificate. The
Board shall cause a rabies
| ||
inoculation tag to be issued, at a fee established by the Board
| ||
for each
dog inoculated against rabies.
| ||
(e) A veterinarian who inoculates a cat that is a companion | ||
animal shall issue an inoculation certificate to the owner | ||
which shall comply with any registration requirements adopted | ||
by the county under Section 3 of this Act. The owner shall pay | ||
any fee imposed by the county under Section 3 of this Act. A | ||
veterinarian who inoculates a feral cat shall issue an | ||
inoculation certificate to the person who presented the feral | ||
cat for veterinary care. The registration requirements or any | ||
fee imposed by the county under Section 3 of this Act shall not | ||
apply to feral cats. | ||
(f) Rabies vaccine for use on animals shall be sold or | ||
distributed only to
and used only by licensed veterinarians. | ||
Such rabies vaccine shall be
licensed by the United States | ||
Department of Agriculture.
| ||
(g) If a licensed veterinarian determines in writing that a | ||
rabies inoculation would compromise an animal's health, then | ||
the animal shall be exempt from the rabies inoculation | ||
requirement, however, the owner is still responsible for the | ||
tag fees. | ||
(h) If a bite occurs from an exempt animal, the exempt | ||
animal shall be treated as an unvaccinated animal. If the | ||
animal is exempt, the animal shall be re-examined by a licensed | ||
veterinarian on no less than an annual basis and be vaccinated | ||
against rabies as soon as the animal's health permits. | ||
(Source: P.A. 99-658, eff. 7-28-16.)
| ||