People v. Curtis 

Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Unconstitutional Vagueness
Citation
Case Number: 
No. 2-09-0404
Decision Date: 
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
District: 
2d Dist.
Division/County: 
Winnebago Co.
Holding: 
Affirmed.
Justice: 
HUTCHINSON
Defendant, who lived in a two-bedroom townhouse apartment with 82 feral cats and 5 tame cats, was convicted of one count of violating the duties of an animal owner by failing to provide sufficient veterinary care to prevent suffering to one cat, which had a severe respiratory tract infection and was euthanized. Section 3(d) of Humane Care for Animals Act has sufficiently definite standards for unbiased application by law enforcement and by triers of fact, and is not void for vagueness. Defendant treated cat inhumanely by having large number of cats in a residence, which created unsanitary conditions which led to disease; expert veterinarian testified that no more than five cats should be kept in a residence to ensure healthy environment. (McLAREN and HUDSON, concurring.)