This site will be continually under construction and changing as the states, counties and municipals continually change their regulations and laws. These are the current regulations for 1996 that we have received to date. If you have other information, please let us know the citations of those laws or regulations, the state and when the changes went or will go into effect by sending e-mail to lawschange@monkeymaddness.com.
"There is no special provision for crossbred wolves and dogs or coyotes and dogs because there is no rabies vaccine approved for use on animals resulting from the crossbreeding of dogs with wild animals. If the animals are represented as wolves or coyotes, it would be illegal to possess them.
"A copy of the Illinois Dangerous Animals Act is enclosed for your information." (see below)
AN ACT to prohibit the keeping of certain animals and reptiles, and to provide penalties for the violation thereof. Approved by P.A. 76-1885, approved and eff. October 10, 1969.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:
SECTION 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.
Added by P.A. 84-28, 3, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.
SECTION 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.
Amended by P.A. 84-28, SECTION 3, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.
SECTION 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.
SECTION 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.
Amended by P.A. 84-28, SECTION 3, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.
SECTION 4. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Illinois Dangerous Animals Act."
Added by P.A. 84-28, SECTION 3, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.
The Department of Conservation's Wildlife Code has a brief section (Chapter 520 ILCS, Section 5/2.2) which lists species specifically protected (none of them primates) and requires that one must have a permit in order to bring a wild animal into the state. However, our sources indicated that this provision is rarely used and is never used for animals coming through the pet-store trade. It is generally applied to animal breeders (e.g., falconers), and for animals which could endanger native species. Local authorities are discussing the fact that they may need to develop standards for animal housing and care which do not currently exist. The state Department of Agriculture has no specific regulations beyond the federal regulations with two exceptions: a) They do license all pet shops, which must meet certain standards (with no specific rules for those trading in primates), and b) There is a "Humane Care for Animals Act," established to assure that all animals receive adequate care. It is employed retroactively rather than proactively; a veterinarian investigates all charges of inhumane or inadequate care. There are few Illinois counties or municipalities that have their own nonhuman primate ordinances.