Proposed Amendment to the Illinois State Animal Welfare Act
(HB-0707)
Hearing Scheduled for Wed, Feb 16, 2005
Highlights of Changes
Changes the Animal Welfare Act to change the term "Pet Shop Operator" to "Animal Caretaker." Animal Caretaker is defined to include any pet shop operator, breeder, adoption facility, or individual who sells, proposes to sell, offers for exchange, or offers for adoption (for free or donation) cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, fish, or any other animal considered a pet in the state of Illinois.
Requires any "Animal Caretaker" to be licensed.
Increases the severity of the offense should an "Animal Caretaker" violate the Animal Welfare Act.
Requires all Animal Caretakers to provide annual veterinary visits for ALL of the animals in their care (this includes small birds and even your fish).
Requires the diet of pet birds to be that prescribed by a veterinarian.
Requires birdkeepers to provide a "Stimulating and enriching environment" including but not limited to "a variety of toys, perches of
different sizes and materials, and full-spectrum lighting."
Requires an Animal Caretaker to provide a health certificate for any animal that leaves his/her hands.
Under this legislation, Animal
Caretakers are subject to inspections.
WHAT TO DO: INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF AVICULTURE
The Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club, The Avicultural Society of Chicago, The Northern Illinois Parrot Society, and the West Suburban Cage Bird Club have been working with the American Federation of Aviculture, in order to determine the proper course of action to stop this legislation and protect the rights of bird owners and breeders (as well as other pet owners and breeders). We thank Laurella Desborough, Legislative VP of the American Federation of Aviculture, and her team for the assistance they are providing. The following are the instructions from the AFA:
The bill is going to the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 16.
It is most important that folks contact the two authors of the bill in the next three days, then proceed to contact the other committee members. If the authors receive enough letters faxed, emails, and phone calls, they may well withdraw the bill. Enough comments from our people means at least 500 by Monday evening. Everyone who gets this information should at least send one email and make one phone call...numbers do count.
The dog, cat, and other animal owners and breeders will also be working on HB0707.
CONTACT INFORMATION
NOTE: I have replaced the @ symbol in e-mail addresses with -AT- so that we don't inadvertantly cause our representatives to be flooded with spam. This probably wouldn't reflect very well on us or help our case.
Contacts for Illinois HB 0707 Amending the Illinois Animal Welfare Act. (It is important to contact the authors of the bill immediately, now and
through February 15th.)
AUTHORS
-
Representative Elaine Nekritz, 57th District Cook County
E-mail: repnekritz-AT-aol.com
District Office: 24 S. DesPlaines River Rd, Suite 200
Des Plaines, IL 60016
Phone: 847-257-0450 Fax: 847-257-0452
Illinois House of Representatives
258-W Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-558-1004 Fax: 217-557-7204
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Representative Paul D. Froelich, 56th District
- Cook County
E-mail: staterepPaul-AT-sbcglobal.net
District Office: 15 W. Weathersfield Way,
Schaumburg, IL 60193
Phone: 847-985-9210 Fax: 847-891-8772
Illinois House of Representatives
232-N Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-3725 Fax: 217-782-1336
After contacting the authors of the bill, next it is important to contact the Chairperson of the Agriculture and Conservation Committee in the Illinois House of Representative:
-
Kurt M. Granberg, Chairman
- 107th District - Clinton County
Agriculture and Conservation Committee
District Office: 100 N. Locust, Centralia, IL 62801
Phone: 618-533-0296 Fax: 618-533-2153
The Honorable Kurt M. Granberg, Chairman
Agriculture and Conservation Committee
300 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-0066 Fax: 217-557-7598
Members of the Agriculture and Conservation Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday, February 16, 2:00 pm in Room D-1 of the Stratton Building, Springfield, Illinois. There are 23 bills listed on the agenda. HB0707 is number 10. This agenda may change. Bills can be withdrawn or rescheduled. Your phone calls, letters and e-mails will help kill this bill.
It is especially important that constituents contact their district representatives and indicate you are a voter in their district. However, communications to all committee members are needed before February 16.
(When writing, address the Representative as "The Honorable Mike Boland, etc.) Be polite, brief (one or 2 pages max) and indicate how the proposed bill will affect you personally and your bird activities or bird business. Economic impacts are important, but so are welfare issues for the animals and consequences to the general public too. The welfare aspects of this bill are open to the interpretation and individual judgment of the Department of Agriculture inspectors, which is dangerous because they simply cannot be knowledgeable or trained in the proper care of all the species of animals kept as pets, yet they would be making decisions about care, diet and enrichment!
Members of the Illinois House Agriculture and Conservation Committee
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Mike Boland
- 71st District - Rock Island County
E-mail: ilrepmikeboland-AT-aol.com
District Office: 4416 River Drive, Moline, IL 61265
Phone: 309-736-3360 Fax: 309-736-3478
Representative Mike Boland
243-E Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-3992 Fax: 217-782-5201
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Shane Cultra
- 105th District - Iroquois County
District Office: 104 W. Lincoln Ave., Onarga, IL 69955
Phone: 815-268-4090 Fax: 815-268-7245
Representative Shane Cultra
230-N Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-558-1039
-
Lisa M. Dugan
- 79th District - Kankakee County
E-mail: lisadugan-AT-sbcglobal.net
District Office: 135 S. Schuyler Ave., Kankakee, IL 60901
Phone: 815-939-1983 Fax: 815-939-0081
Representative Lisa M. Dugan
260-W Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-732-5981 Fax: 217-557-7643
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Robert F. Flider
- 101st District - Macon County
E-mail: bobflider-AT-repflider.com
District Office: 132 S. Water, Suite 628, Decatur, IL 62523
Phone: 217-428-2708 Fax: 217-428-3419
Representative Robert F. Flider
200-5S Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-83998 Fax: 217-782-2528
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Jack McGuire
- 86th District - Will County
E-mail: jmcguire-AT-sbcglobal.net
District Office: 121 Springfield Ave., Joliet, IL 60435
Phone: 815-730-8600 Fax: 815-730-8121
Representative Jack McGuire
239-E Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-8090 Fax: 217-557-6465
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Donald R. Moffitt
- 74th District - Knox County
E-mail: moffitt-AT-grics.com
District Office: No. 5 Weinberg Arcade, Galesburg, IL 61401
Phone: 309-343-8000 Fax: 309-343-2683
Representative Donald R. Moffitt
223-N Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-8032 Fax: 217-557-0179
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Richard D. Myers
- 94th District - McDonough County
E-mail: repmyers-AT-macomb.com
District Office: 331 N. Lafayette St., Macomb, IL 61455
Phone: 309-836-2707 Fax: 309-836-2231
Representative Richard D. Myers
200-7 N Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-0416 Fax: 217-782-5257
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Brandon W. Phelps
- 118th District - White County
E-mail: bphelps-AT-legis.state.il.us
District Office: 2 N. Vine, 5th Floor, Harrisburg, IL 62946
Phone: 618-253-4189 Fax: 618-253-3136
Representative Brandon W. Phelps, Vice Chairman
Agriculture and Conservation Committee
292-S Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-5131
-
Robert W. Pritchard
- 70th District - DeKalb County
E-mail: 70thdistrict-AT-pritchardstaterep.com
District Office: 2600 DeKalb Ave., Suite C, Sycamore, IL 60178
Phone: 815-748-3494 Fax: 815-748-4630
Representative Robert W. Pritchard
212-N Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-0425 Fax: 217-557-7205
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David Reis
- 108th District - Jasper County
District Office: 219 E. Main, P O Box 189, Olney, IL 62450
Phone: 618-392-0108 Fax: 618-392-0107
Representative David Reis
228-N Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-2087 Fax: 217-782-1336
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Dan Reitz
- 116th District - Randolph County
E-mail: repreitz-AT-egyptian.net
District Office: 128A West Main St., Sparta, IL 62286
Phone: 618-443-5757 Fax: 618-443-3800
Representative Dan Reitz
200-9 S Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-1018 Fax: 217-782-0945
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Jim Sacia
- 89th District - Winnebago County
E-mail: jimsacia-AT-aeroinc.net
District Office: 19 S. Chicago Ave., Freeport, IL 61032
Phone: 815-232-0774 Fax: 815-232-0777
Representative Jim Sacia
210-N Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-8186 Fax: 217-558-7016
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Keith P. Sommer
- 106th District - Tazewell County
E-mail: sommer-AT-mtco.com
District Office: 121 W. Jefferson, Morton, IL 61550
Phone: 309-263-9242 Fax: 309-263-8187
Representative Keith P. Sommer
216-N Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-0221 Fax: 217-782-1275
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Patrick J. Verschoore
- 72nd District - Rock Island County
E-mail: pverschoore-AT-legis.state.il.us
District Office: 303 18th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201
Phone: 309-793-4716 Fax: 309-793-4764
Representative Patrick J. Verschoore
250-W Stratton Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-5970 Fax: 217-558-1253
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