Animal Health & Welfare

The department administers several programs to promote livestock health and prevent, detect, control and eradicate livestock diseases. Department staff also regulate livestock auction markets and dealers, animal transportation, and livestock branding and oversee the proper disposal of dead animals and inedible animal products. The agency administers regulations concerning animal care and control. It promotes proper care of pets and livestock through licensure and inspection of pet shop operators, dog dealers, kennel operators, cat and dog breeders, animal control facilities, animal shelters, day care operators, guard dog services and horse rescues. 

This section is focused on animal welfare licensees and affiliated regulations and information for the Animal Welfare Act, Animal Control Act, and Humane Care for Animals Act. 

• Provides information on applying for a license with the Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare
  
• Animal welfare laws, listing of licensees, and annual required reports
  
• Approved Humane Investigator Training dates and requirements
  
• Swap meet reporting requirements 

How to report animal-related complaints

• Fill out and return the Animal Health and Welfare Complaint Form to agr.bahw.dockets@illinois.gov.  
  
• If this is an emergency or pertains to a privately owned animal (not a facility licensed by the Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare) you should contact your local authorities FIRST.  The local authority to contact would be Animal Control or local law enforcement. 
  
• If you are unsure if your concern should be reported to the Illinois Department of Agriculture or local authorities, please contact us at (217) 782-4944 for further guidance. 

How to report an animal running at large

The Illinois Domestic Animals Running at Large Act (510 ILCS 55) provides law enforcement officials such as State Police, County Sheriffs, municipal officers, animal control administrators, authorized agents of the Illinois Department of Agriculture or Natural Resources, and even the owner/occupier of land the authority to give notice and cause stray animals which trespass to be impounded while following specific requirements in the Illinois Domestic Animals Running at Large Act.

The Department directs all running-at-large complaints to local authorities. The Illinois Department of Agriculture has limited staff and local authorities are better situated to handle complaints in a timely and effective manner. The Illinois Domestic Animals Running at Large Act provides local officials the authority to administer the provision of the Act.

This section focuses primarily on animal health information to include the following:

This section contains links to the Veterinary Feed Directive, Accreditation, Electronic CVIs, and information on laboratory services and ways to become involved in emergency preparedness and response. 

The United States Government's National Response Framework (NRF) guides how the nation works together to provide a unified response to emergencies and disasters.  Under this guide, different functions are defined and roles assigned.  The Illinois Department of Agriculture provides support under Emergency Support Function #11.  Find out more at the link above.