Official Site  ·  Marion County, Illinois  ·  Animal Control

Cruelty, Neglect & Ordinance Complaints

Report animal abuse
or neglect.

If you have seen an animal being hurt, starved, or left without shelter or water in Marion County, tell Animal Control. The form below asks for the information an officer needs to investigate and, where the facts support it, to issue a county ordinance citation.

Go to the complaint form Call (730) 272-1071
Address 853 Woods Ln., Centralia, IL 62801 Open 7 days · 8am–4pm Phone (730) 272-1071 Email wpurcell@marionco.illinois.gov

Is this an emergency?

Call 911 — do not use this form

If an animal or a person is in immediate danger, or a crime is happening right now, call 911. Animal Control is not staffed 24 hours a day, and this form is not monitored after hours. Use it for situations that can wait for a return call during business hours.

What information does Animal Control need to issue a citation?

An officer generally needs: who you are and how to reach you; the exact address or location where it happened; the date and time you saw it; a description of what you personally saw or heard, in your own words; a description of the animal and, if you know it, the name and address of the owner; the names of any other witnesses; and any photographs or video you have. The single most important part is a firsthand factual description of what you observed rather than a conclusion, because what you saw is what the officer can testify about.

Write what you saw, not what you concluded

“The dog has no water and no shade, and I have seen it on a four-foot chain every day for two weeks” is something an officer can act on. “They are abusing that dog” is not, on its own — it tells the officer your conclusion but none of the facts underneath it.

Can I report animal abuse anonymously in Marion County?

You can give information anonymously by telephone, and Animal Control will look into it. However, an anonymous report usually cannot support a county ordinance citation. A citation is a charge, and the person cited has the right to face the person making the accusation. In practice that means an officer generally needs a complainant who is willing to be named, to sign a formal complaint, and if necessary to testify. If you want your report to be able to result in a citation, give your name and contact information on the form.

Is my animal abuse complaint confidential?

No. Do not assume a complaint to a county office is private. Records held by Marion County may be subject to disclosure under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, and if a citation is issued, the person cited is generally entitled to know who complained and to see the evidence against them. Marion County Animal Control will not promise you confidentiality it cannot deliver. If being identified puts you at risk, call (730) 272-1071 and say so before you submit anything in writing.

Animal complaint form

Fields marked required are the ones an officer needs before the complaint can go anywhere. Everything else helps but is optional — send the form even if you cannot answer every question.

1 · Your details

An officer will almost certainly need to speak to you. A complaint with no reachable complainant usually cannot proceed to a citation.

Are you willing to sign a formal complaint? required
A signed complaint is often what allows a citation to be issued at all.
Are you willing to testify in court if needed? required
Most cases never reach a hearing. Answering honestly now prevents a case collapsing later.

2 · What happened

Describe what you saw yourself. If someone else told you about it, say so — that is still useful, it is just treated differently.

An officer has to be able to find the animal. If there is no street number, give the nearest intersection and describe the property.
Is this still happening, or has it happened more than once? (optional)
Did you see this yourself? required
Facts, not conclusions. Include dates, how long it has gone on, and anything you heard the owner say.

3 · The animal

Enough detail that an officer arriving at the location knows which animal you are describing.

4 · Owner or responsible party

Fill in whatever you know. Do not guess — leaving a field blank is better than naming the wrong person on a county complaint.

5 · Witnesses and evidence

This form does not accept file uploads. Keep your originals, with their date stamps intact, until an officer asks for them.

6 · Attestation

Reviewed during business hours, seven days a week, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Not monitored after hours.

What happens after I submit an animal complaint?

The complaint goes to Marion County Animal Control for review. An officer decides whether it describes a violation of county ordinance or of Illinois law, and whether there is enough firsthand information to act. The officer may contact you for more detail, may visit the location, and may contact the animal's owner. Not every complaint results in a citation. Complaints are handled during business hours, seven days a week, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

How do I report animal abuse or neglect in Marion County, Illinois?

Use the animal complaint form on this page, or call Marion County Animal Control at (730) 272-1071, or visit 853 Woods Ln., Centralia, IL 62801, open seven days a week, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. If an animal or a person is in immediate danger, or a crime is happening right now, call 911 instead. Animal Control is not staffed 24 hours a day and the form is not monitored after hours.

This is general information, not legal advice

This page explains how Marion County Animal Control receives and reviews complaints. It does not tell you what the law requires in your situation, and it does not create any obligation for the county to act in a particular way. For advice about your own circumstances, speak to an attorney.