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Residents and animal‑welfare advocates urge McHenry County to ban steer‑tailing after arrests and documented injuries
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Summary
Speakers including Catherine Kefalinas and Steve Hendy urged the board to adopt a local ordinance banning steer‑tailing, citing videos, recent arrests in Woodstock and injuries such as degloving; advocates urged enforcement of the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act and asked the county to consider an ordinance modeled on Senate Bill 45.
Several residents and animal‑welfare advocates told the McHenry County Board they want a local prohibition on steer‑tailing and stricter enforcement of existing animal‑cruelty laws.
Catherine Kefalinas (speaker 19) said she supports an ordinance to ban steer‑tailing and asked the board and community planner to pass it, describing severe injuries she has seen in videos and citing recent arrests connected to an August 16, 2025 event in Woodstock. "I do not want this kind of gratuitous violence against any animal in my community," she said.
Steve Hendy (speaker 20), president of Showing Animals Respect and Kindness and a drone pilot who has observed numerous runs, thanked the board and law enforcement for prior efforts and urged the county to make sure events follow standard rodeo limits (one run per animal). He described repeated runs that leave animals lame or killed and asked county enforcement and the state's attorney to apply the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act where appropriate.
Speakers asked the board to accept a drafted humane ordinance (distributed to board members) and to act to prevent future cruelty at unsanctioned events. The board did not adopt a local ordinance at the meeting; public comment and materials were added to the record for further consideration.
