Backyard breeder - 40 dogs, 6 cats seized
Homer, IL (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008
County: Will
Disposition: Not Charged
Persons of Interest:
» man
» woman
Will County sheriff's police and animal control officers were called to a residence that had gone to the dogs earlier this week.
On Tuesday, 40 dogs and six cats were taken from an elderly couple living in the 14900 block of Will-Cook Road amid concerns for the animals' well-being.
"Around 11 a.m. sheriff's police were notified by animal control of a possible puppy mill or animal neglect situation," sheriff's spokesman Pat Barry said. According to reports, Will County Animal Control was informed about the situation by the American Kennel Club.
Deputies went to the property, which consists of a house and a few outbuildings and is owned by a couple in their 80s.
"Deputies first looked in the shed and found cats and dogs inside along with some cages and a (substantial) amount of urine and feces," Barry said.
Officers found similar conditions in a nearby garage.
"There were over 20 dogs inside. Some loose, some caged," Barry said.
During the search, the owner arrived and told police raising dogs was his wife's hobby, but admitted she was having trouble taking care of the animals. The couple agreed to turn the dogs over to animal control.
The dogs include pugs, cavaliers and lhsa apsos and some mixed breeds.
Investigators learned the woman once had a breeder's license, but it has expired. The case has been turned over to the Will County state's attorney's office. No charges had been filed as of Friday.
"Age does play a factor in this case," Barry said. "The fact we have two elderly people with no previous complaints against them. It's just far too many animals for both (of them) to deal with." References
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