Illinois becomes fifth state to ban pet stores from selling cats and dogs | Granite City News

The Best Friends Animal Society applauds the recent passage of four pieces of legislation by the Illinois legislature that will improve animal welfare statewide.

These bills ban the sale of pets at retail, help end dog breed discrimination by insurance companies and make public housing more inclusive for animals, and increase sterilization options for dogs and cats in state shelters. House Bill 1744 and Senate Bills 154, 1672, and 1673 have passed the Illinois General Assembly and are now awaiting the signature of Governor JB Pritzker.

“Illinois has taken historic steps to save the lives of more pets across the state,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. “From removing unfair barriers to housing for families with pets, to protecting animals from inhumane breeding, and encouraging innovative sterilization practices, Illinois is helping lead the country to the no slaughter by 2025. “

HB 1711, sponsored by the senses Linda Holmes and Christina Castro and Representative Andrew Chesney, would ban pet stores in Illinois from selling cats and dogs, but would allow stores to hold adoption events with shelters and rescue groups. This legislation would make Illinois the fifth US state to stop pet stores from selling dogs and cats, a key to ending inhumane breeding factories, which supply the majority of pets sold in retail stores.

SB 154 would require housing providers who receive funds from the Affordable Housing Act Trust Fund on or after January 1, 2022, to allow tenants in units of 500 square feet or more to have at least two cats. or a dog weighing less than 50 pounds. They couldn’t ban dogs because of their breed or weight. Currently, pet owners responsible for some state-funded Illinois housing are being told their pets are not welcome due to restrictions based on breed or weight.

Additionally, many homeowners and renters are denied or canceled insurance coverage by some insurance companies simply because of their pet’s breed or mix. SB 1672 would require insurance companies to report data on all dog-related claims to help end racial discrimination. Best Friends believes that insurance companies should focus on dog and owner behavior, and not unfairly cancel or deny insurance just because of the breed of the companion dog.

Organizations such as the CDC, the American Bar Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the National Animal Control Association reject breed-based regulations, and these bills would help remove an additional barrier to housing for homeowners. responsible dogs of Illinois. Nationally, housing is the second reason pets are returned to shelters. In 2019, 11,393 pets were killed in Illinois shelters.

SB 1673 changes the words sterilization / sterilization to sterilize to allow shelter veterinarians to use non-surgical sterilization on shelter dogs and cats in addition to sterilization. According to the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs, non-surgical sterilants are being developed for this use.

SB 154, 1672 and 1673 were sponsored by Deputy Majority Leader Linda Holmes, Representative Stephanie Kifowit and Representative Katie Stuart and led by Best Friends with the support of many other organizations.