ILCS » Chapter 510 · Act 70
Illinois Compiled Statutes

510 ILCS 70/3.01 (2026)

Cruel treatment

✓ current as of May 2026
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(510 ILCS 70/3.01) (from Ch. 8, par. 703.01)
    Sec. 3.01. Cruel treatment.
    (a) No person or owner may beat, cruelly treat, torment, starve, overwork or otherwise abuse any animal.
    (b) No owner may abandon any animal where it may become a public charge or may suffer injury, hunger or exposure.
    (c) No owner of a dog or cat that is a companion animal may expose the dog or cat in a manner that places the dog or cat in a life-threatening situation for a prolonged period of time in extreme heat or cold conditions that:
        (1) results in injury to or death of the animal; or
        (2) results in hypothermia, hyperthermia, frostbite,
    
or similar condition as diagnosed by a doctor of veterinary medicine.
    (c-5) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit an animal from being impounded in an emergency situation under subsection (b) of Section 12 of this Act.
    (c-10) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a law enforcement officer from taking temporary custody of a dog or cat that is a companion animal that is exposed in a manner that places the dog or cat in a life-threatening situation for a prolonged period of time in extreme heat or cold conditions that may result in injury or death of the dog or cat or may result in hypothermia, hyperthermia, frostbite, or similar condition. Upon taking temporary custody of the dog or cat under this subsection (c-10), the law enforcement officer shall attempt to contact the owner of the dog or cat and shall seek emergency veterinary care for the animal as soon as available. The law enforcement officer shall leave information of the location of the dog or cat if the owner cannot be reached. The owner of the dog or cat is responsible for any costs of providing care to the dog or cat.
    (d) A person convicted of violating this Section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. A second or subsequent conviction for a violation of this Section is a Class 4 felony. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person who is convicted of violating subsection (a) upon a companion animal in the presence of a child, as defined in Section 12-0.1 of the Criminal Code of 2012, shall be subject to a fine of $250 and ordered to perform community service for not less than 100 hours. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, upon conviction for violating this Section, the court may order the convicted person to undergo a psychological or psychiatric evaluation and to undergo any treatment at the convicted person's expense that the court determines to be appropriate after due consideration of the evidence. If the convicted person is a juvenile or a companion animal hoarder, the court must order the convicted person to undergo a psychological or psychiatric evaluation and to undergo treatment that the court determines to be appropriate after due consideration of the evaluation.
(Source: P.A. 99-311, eff. 1-1-16; 99-357, eff. 1-1-16; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16; 99-782, eff. 8-12-16; 100-740, eff. 1-1-19.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 26 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 1994–2026 · leading case: People v. Shanklin, 769 N.E.2d 547 (Ill. App. Ct. 2002).
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People v. Shanklin, 769 N.E.2d 547 (Ill. App. Ct. 2002). · cites it 6× “Justice TURNER delivered the opinion of the court: In January 2001, the State" charged defendant, Sheila Rae Shanklin, with four counts of cruel treatment of animals (510 ILCS 70/3.01 (West 2000)) and five counts of violation of an owner's duties (510 ILCS 70/3 (West 2000)) for…”
Moore v. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Inc., 932 N.E.2d 448 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010). · cites it 2× “” Plaintiffs claim that the above statements amount to defamation per se because they impute the commission of the crime of animal cruelty (see 510 ILCS 70/3.01 (West 2006)), and they impute a lack of ability or otherwise prejudice plaintiffs in their profession of dog training.”
United States v. Mark Burge, 683 F.3d 829 (7th Cir. 2012). · cites it 2× “He was also assigned one point for his prior Class A misdemeanor conviction under 510 ILCS 70/3.01, which states in relevant part that: “no owner may abandon any animal where it may become a public charge or may suffer injury, hunger or exposure.”
People v. Collier, 2020 IL App (1st) 162519 (Ill. App. Ct. 2021). · cites it 2× “The indictment specifically cited the statute prohibiting the cruel treatment of animals (510 ILCS 70/3.01 (West 2014)) and tracked the statute’s language to allege that defendant committed the offense of cruelty to animals.”
People v. Thornton, 676 N.E.2d 1024 (Ill. App. Ct. 1997). “01 of the Humane Care For Animals Act (Act) (510 ILCS 70/3.01 (West 1994)). The trial court imposed a sentence that included, inter alia: 10 days of incarceration; 2 years of probation; 200 hours of community service; and restitution totalling $3,571.”
In Re Justin MB, 787 N.E.2d 823 (Ill. 2003). “The petition alleged the minor had violated a condition of his probation, which prohibited him from violating criminal statutes, by committing cruelty to animals (510 ILCS 70/3.01 (West 1998)). The State did not file a separate juvenile petition alleging delinquency based on a…”
People v. Justin M.B., 787 N.E.2d 823 (Ill. 2003). “The petition alleged the minor had violated a condition of his probation, which prohibited him from violating criminal statutes, by committing cruelty to animals (510 ILCS 70/3.01 (West 1998)). The State did not file a separate juvenile petition alleging delinquency based on a…”
People v. Shanklin, 711 N.E.2d 796 (Ill. App. Ct. 1999). “BACKGROUND On July 10, 1996, following a bench trial in the circuit court of McLean County, defendant was convicted of the following misdemeaner offenses: nine counts of violation of owner’s duties (510 ILCS 70/3 (West 1994)); nine counts of cruel treatment of animals (510 ILCS…”
People v. Koy, 2014 IL App (2d) 130906 (Ill. App. Ct. 2014). “01 and 3(a) of the Act (510 ILCS 70/3.01, 3(a) (West 2012)). The hearing on the forfeiture petition took place on August 2, 2013, with Lembke as the State’s only witness.”
People v. Zamora, 2020 IL App (1st) 172011 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). · cites it 2× “510 ILCS 70/3.01 (West 2014). The State subsequently amended the latter count by striking allegations that he “beat” and “starved” the dogs.”
Vaughn Neita v. City of Chicago (7th Cir. 2025). · cites it 6× “The officers arrested Neita pursuant to two sections of the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act: 510 ILCS 70/3, relating to owner’s duties, and 510 ILCS 70/3.01, relating to cruel treat- ment.”
People v. Zamora, 2020 IL App (1st) 172011 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). “” 510 ILCS 70/3.01(a) (West 2014). ¶ 16 Here, the evidence shows that defendant failed to provide his dogs with humane care and treatment.”
Show all 26 citing cases →
— 510 ILCS 70/3.01(a) — 6 cases
People v. Zamora, 2020 IL App (1st) 172011 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). “” 510 ILCS 70/3.01(a) (West 2014). ¶ 16 Here, the evidence shows that defendant failed to provide his dogs with humane care and treatment.”
People v. Zamora, 2020 IL App (1st) 172011 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). “510 ILCS 70/3.01 (West 2014). The State subsequently amended the latter count by striking allegations that he “beat” and “starved” the dogs.”
People v. Mercado, 2023 IL App (3d) 220202 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023).
People v. Houston, 2025 IL App (4th) 240562-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2025).
People v. Mahnke (Ill. App. Ct. 2026).
— 510 ILCS 70/3.01(d) — 2 cases
Vaughn Neita v. City of Chicago (7th Cir. 2025). “The officers arrested Neita pursuant to two sections of the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act: 510 ILCS 70/3, relating to owner’s duties, and 510 ILCS 70/3.01, relating to cruel treat- ment.”
Vaughn Neita v. City of Chicago (7th Cir. 2025).
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