Responding to a national animal welfare crisis, Will County Executive Bertino-Tarrant announced earlier this month a series of ordinance changes that aim to expand the role of the county’s animal services. The changes include renaming the county’s animal welfare department to “Will County Animal Protection Services Department” to better reflect their enhanced mission.
Several ordinance changes have been approved to modernize how the county protects animals, serves the public, and provides resources to pet owners. This progressive new direction is in the wake of a nationwide increase in animal shelter populations.
In addition to the new department name, other important changes include:
Establishing an adoption program for the first time in the agency’s history.
Incentivizing microchipping for cats and dogs by offering free microchips to pets owned by senior citizens, military personnel, and veterans.
Strengthening animal protection laws through harsher penalties for animal cruelty violations. Providing more services to residents to keep pets in homes with their loved ones.
Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow, and Will County APS Administrator Anna Payton (pictured) celebrated the progressive new approach to animal services, which represented the first updates to county animal care and control ordinances in Will County since 2006.