Committee on License & Consumer Protection Chicago City Council Meeting July 24, 2019
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago ("City") is a home rule municipality as described in Section 6(a), Article VII of the 1970 Constitution of the State of Illinois, and as such may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs; and
WHEREAS, A disturbing practice has emerged in the retail pet industry, in which unscrupulous sellers offer to sell pets through installment sales agreements or lease agreements secured by the pet; and
WHEREAS, Such agreements are drafted with terms that are unfairly favorable toward the seller, and are often a financial hardship for the pet purchaser; and
WHEREAS, These agreements usually contain terms that allow the seller to repossess the pet from the purchaser in the event the purchaser cannot make a payment; and
WHEREAS, In addition to losing a beloved pet, the purchaser also forfeits any payments made under the agreement, and the seller may then resell the pet to another purchaser; and
WHEREAS, This body believes that such agreements have been, or may be, offered by pet sellers who conduct business in the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, The harsh consequences of these agreements affect the health and general welfare of residents of the City of Chicago, and as such they are void as against public policy; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
SECTION 1. The foregoing recitals are adopted and incorporated into and made a part ofthis Ordinance.
SECTION 2. Section 4-384-015 of the Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by inserting the language underscored, as follows:
4-384-015 Retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits: pet lease and finance agreements.
(Omitted text not affected by this ordinance.)
(e) Pet lease and finance agreements.
Except as provided herein, an agreement with a retailer or animal care facility entered on or after November 1. 2019....
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