Animal Control fined $200 for releasing animal without charges
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[As expected by animal control officials, Saline County Animal Control was fined $200 June 10 for allowing a puppy to be released from the shelter improperly.
The notice of fine states the animal was released "to an individual who did not have a shelter license or foster permit through the Illinois Department of Agriculture, nor was this individual a representative of a not-for-profit organization, a requirement through the Animal Welfare Act."
The fine was not due to the condition of the shelter or due to cruelty to animals, Dr. Cliff Morris, animal control administrator, said.
"Considering the budget we have, we are OK," Morris said.
The animal had been released to Casey Fritts of Voice for Animals Saline County, without collection of an adoption fee, after a County Board member told Animal Control employees to release the animal. The county normally charges $170 to cover spaying or neutering, rabies vaccination and a microchip, Morris said. Spaying or neutering, rabies vaccinations and the microchip are required by state regulation, he said. The state also collects a $25 fee for each animal that is adopted out of Animal Control, Morris said.
Morris said he has emphasized to animal control employees that no animal may leave animal control without following the rules.
There are four ways animals can leave the shelter, according to Morris:
-- By adoption, which requires a $170 fee;
-- By being reclaimed by the owner, which will require payment of a shelter fee;
-- By being released to a group that has an animal rescue or foster license; or
-- By euthanasia.
People who adopt an animal receive a voucher to present to a veterinarian for spaying or neutering, microchip and a rabies shot. The voucher is presented to Animal Control for reimbursement, Morris said.
Fritts recently held a protest on the Courthouse square to denounce Animal Control seeking $510 in adoption fees for a female pit bull and two puppies. She said Animal Control has never charged an adoption fee for puppies; the additional fees were put in place to spite her, she said.
Morris said Animal Control has to be careful about allowing animals of any age out of the shelter without proper fees being paid.
"(The $200 fine) is why you can't take one out of there without an adoption fee," Morris said.
The pit bull was brought to the animal shelter from Eldorado. She had two to four puppies. As far as Morris knows, two of the four puppies were still alive when they came to Animal Control. The adult pit bull has been taken by Animal Control to the Marion Chapter of the Humane Society in an attempt to find a home for the animal, Morris said. The puppies have since died.
"When they were taken to Marion, there were two puppies and a mother and they were alive at that time," Morris said.