New Illinois law hopes to lower animal abuse cases

QUINCY (WGEM) - A new Illinois law hopes to lower the number of animal abuse cases across the state.

Starting Jan. 1, it will be illegal for anyone convicted of an animal abuse felony offense to own or live with an animal.

The goal is to make sure people aren’t transferring ownership of pets on paper, while still living with the pets.

The Quincy Humane Society is one local animal shelter that does background and property checks on those who submit an adoption application to make sure their animals go to a safe home.

Executive Director Pilar Brumbaugh said while the new law won’t change anything they do, she is glad other shelters will make sure their animals stay safe.

“That background check is huge for us, so this just puts us in with what the state is doing,” Brumbaugh said. “I think it’s really great that everybody will be on the same page for the state of Illinois, all focusing on the animals.”

In the four months Katie Davis has been an adoption counselor at Quincy Humane Society, she said she has seen a number of animals that had been abused.

“Anything from malnourishment, dogs come in who are skinny and just hungry, to actual health issues - dogs who need surgery and who need all their teeth removed because they haven’t had proper health care,” Davis said.

Davis said it’s devastating knowing that local people are mistreating animals.

“Honestly it just breaks your heart, but in a way, it just makes you happy that they landed here with us so we can make sure that they can get a good home that they deserve,” Davis said.

Brumbaugh thinks this law has been a long time coming.

“They’re animals. They do no harm when they’re in the proper environment. They just need love,” Brumbaugh said.

If you are submitting an adoption application, Brumbaugh said you should be as completely honest about what your home life is like now and what it would look like down the road.

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