A village woman has been issued two state warnings and faces an animal abuse investigation after dead and malnourished animals were found on her farm, authorities said. Delores Bellars, who lives in the 15900 block of West State Road, wasn't arrested and faced no criminal charges on Monday, April 4.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture and Winnebago County Animal Services launched the investigation last week after authorities found carcasses of six horses, one dog and one cat on the property on Monday, March 28.
Sheep also were found dead on the property. The Department of Agriculture reported the number at six, and Winnebago County Animal Services reported five.
The state issued Bellars warning violations for not properly disposing of dead animals and not having enough food and water for 16 horses, five cattle, four sheep, three ducks and a bull.
None of the animals was confiscated.
"In the absence of life-threatening conditions, our first objective is to work with the owner to not only give the animals the care they need, but to bring the owner into compliance with state animal welfare laws," said Jeff Squibb, a spokesman for the Department of Agriculture.
Bellars declined to comment Monday, other than saying she plans to hire an attorney and "this thing is kind of nuts."
Winnebago County Animal Services Director Gary Longanecker said he hopes to give his findings to the state's attorney's office by the end of the week for a final say on filing charges.
"Some of those animals need more feed and vet care, and that's what we're working on now," Longanecker said.
The investigation started after Illinois State Police were called to Bellars' property March 28 after her bull was loose, Squibb and Longanecker said.
The case is the largest animal abuse investigation in the county since January 2004, when Animal Services investigators removed 70 animals, ranging from dogs and cats to chickens, horses, birds and a pig from a rural Rockford farm.
The owner, Kerry Brumm, avoided criminal charges after a county judge said the search warrant used in the raid was poorly worded and improperly executed, leaving all the evidence inadmissible in court.
Brumm denied allegations, and the county accidentally put her German shepherd to sleep.
Asked whether anything learned from the Brumm case was being applied to the latest case, Longanecker said his office is cooperating with the state and continues to follow state statutes when dealing with such incidents.
Animal cruelty is a class A misdemeanor that carries a possible fine of $2,500 and possible sentence of up to one year in jail.
Violation of the duties on an animal owner is a class B misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $1,500 and maximum sentence of six months in jail. Case UpdatesDelores Bellars was arrested this morning and surrendered herself to the sheriffs for processing and a court date has been set and the entire case I'm sure will come out as the court action proceeds." said Gary Longanecker of the Winnebago County Animal Services.
After a 3 week investigation several people including veterinarians were interviewed. This is the largest case of animal abuse the county has dealt with since January 2004 when around 70 animals were seized from Kerry Brumm. Brumm who lived in rural Winnebago County eventually avoided criminal charges.
Bellars has been charged with three counts of animal cruelty and three counts of violation of the duties of an animal owner.
For now the animals will stay in Bellars care but a representative from the Hoofed Animal Humane Society will be coming out to the house at least once a week to check on the condition of the animals.
If found guilty Bellars faces a fine of up to $2,500 dollars, and up to 1 year in jail, or 2 years probation for animal cruelty.
She also faces a fine of up to $1,500 dollars and up to six months in jail or 2 years probation for violation of the duties of an animal owner. | Source: WIFR
Update posted on Apr 22, 2005 - 6:22PM |
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