CHICAGO -- Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn today signed into law new legislation that helps identify and expose animal abuse. It also affirms the link between animal abuse and child abuse by requiring investigating animal welfare and child welfare agencies to report suspected abuse incidences to each other.
Signed Friday afternoon in a special ceremony at the Cook County Sheriff's Office, the measure amends the Humane Care for Animals Act, as well as the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, by requiring animal welfare investigators, who have reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a child is being neglected, abused, or in any such danger, to make a written or oral report to the State Department of Children and Family Services.
Likewise, investigators employed by the Department of Children and Family Services must immediately report suspected animal abuse or neglect to the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare.
Illinois HB 562 was sponsored by State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and State Representative Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago), and jointly spearheaded by the Cook County Sheriff's Department and Best Friends Animal Society, a Utah-based animal welfare organization active in national animal welfare legislation.
"For many years, research has documented the connection between violence to animals and violence to children," said Ledy VanKavage, legislative analyst for Best Friends Animal Society. "We are grateful to Sen. Harmon, Rep. Mendoza, and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart for their hard work on this bill, and, of course, to Gov. Quinn for signing the bill today."
The measure also provides for immunity from liability for persons, institutions, and agencies participating in good faith in the reporting or investigation of animal abuse or neglect. It also provides for the confidentiality of the identity of persons reporting such animal abuse or neglect.
Cynthia Bathurst, Best Friends Safe Humane director, hailed the law as a triumph for safe humane communities. "The cross reporting requirement will surely help law enforcement uncover suspected abuse and result in safer, more humane communities in Cook County, the city of Chicago, and throughout the state of Illinois," she said.
Gregory Castle, interim chief executive officer for Best Friends Animal Society whose organization works with governmental officials and agencies throughout the country to promote animal kindness and advocate for more humane laws said: "We are pleased that this law has been passed so that animal abuse and child abuse, which are so closely and unfortunately linked in our society, can be identified in the early stages to save lives."
Attending the signing ceremony, along with government officials and representatives of Best Friends Animal Society, were three rescued dogs that work with Safe Humane Chicago: Rou, a three-year old red and white pit bull, serves as a certified therapy dog with the Canine Therapy Corps; Boomer, a four-year-old Labrador retriever; and Scoobie, a 2 ½ year-old Yorkshire terrier, who work with Safe Humane youth leaders and their programs.
About Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2009, is a nonprofit, membership organization building no-kill programs and partnerships that will bring about a day when there are No More Homeless Pets®. The society's leading initiatives in animal care and community programs are coordinated from its Kanab, Utah, headquarters, the country's largest no-kill companion animal sanctuary. Best Friends' work is made possible by the support of a grassroots network of members and community partners across the nation.
For more information contact:
John Polis
Best Friends Animal Society
435-644-2001 ext. 4858
johnp@bestfriends.org
Barbara Williamson
Best Friends Animal Society
435-689-0200 (cell)
barbara@bestfriends.org
Temma Martin
Best Friends Animal Society
801-953-8876
temmam@bestfriends.org