A local children's author whose home was declared unfit to live in after authorities seized a number of exotic pets on June 26 is being charged with several misdemeanors, according to a release from Elgin police.
The Kane County State's Attorney's Office on June 28 authorized charges against Charlotte Towner Graeber, 77, of Slade Ave., in connection with her possession of 23 exotic birds and other animals in squalid and inhumane conditions, the release said.
Graeber with several city code violations, including homeowner�s duties, companion animal hoarding and two counts of not having required pet inoculations, the release said. she is scheduled to appear at 1 p.m. July 25 in Elgin Branch Court.
Police executed a search warrant at the home on June 26 after a complaint of odors coming from the residence. Authorities declared the home uninhabitable after they found 23 birds, two cats and a 2-foot-long lizard living with Graeber in what they called extremely unsanitary conditions.
Graeber, an award-winning children's book writer and Elgin library employee, has lived for over 40 years on Slade Avenue overlooking the Fox River and has always kept a menagerie of animals, frequently the subjects of her books.
At times, her companions have included a skunk, a crow and a flying squirrel. But according to police, Graeber failed to provide her pets with an acceptable living environment.
During the search of the home on June 26, they found cockatoos, cockatiels, parakeets and five macaws in more than 20 large cages, as well as a smell described as "atrocious" by James Rog, animal control officer, who said personnel at the scene donned masks to protect their own health.
Most of the birds looked to be "in fairly good health," according to Rog. But the chests of a pair of blue and gold macaws had been plucked clean of feathers, leaving their surprisingly small bodies and wrinkled skin visible. Rog said it appeared they had plucked out their own feathers, behavior he attributed to stress.
On June 27, the birds were being stored in their cages in an old city public works building next to the Gail Borden Public Library, where Graeber works part-time in the children's section and where a number of her award-winning books sit on the shelves.
Her home was red-tagged, making occupancy unlawful. Police said she was staying with a family member but would not provide more information.
Graeber was allowed to keep a cat and the reptile, a bearded dragon. Another cat slipped out of the house while authorities were going in and out and had not been found as of June 27, Rog said.
Rog said a bird rescue group had assisted him with identification of the birds and was helping to find temporary placement for them.
He said Graeber was cooperative, although "she didn't feel there was as much of a problem as there was. Her big question to me was, 'When can I get them back," he said, referring to the birds. Case UpdatesThe birds were due to be taken to temporary foster homes Wednesday and today, according to James Rog, the city's animal control officer. A macaw and a parakeet, which were examined by a veterinarian, were to be euthanized, he said.
The macaw had lost all the talons on one foot, making it difficult for the bird to perch, and the condition was likely to spread to its other foot, Rog said. The parakeet had a medical condition that would be prohibitively expensive to treat, Rog said.
On Wednesday, several people expressed sympathy for Graeber, who long has surrounded herself with numerous pets and whose books often have featured animals. Her most recent book, Nobody's Dog, was published in 1998.
Pat Cerasa of Byron said she remembered seeing Graeber about a decade ago at the Hampshire library, where she read from one of her books. She said Graeber was "good with the kids" and called her "a very gracious person."
"There are so many people who are eccentric like that," she added. "Not everyone marches to the same drummer."
Sally Haugk, owner of the Batavia store Bird is the Word, said she has known Graeber as a customer for 17 years.
"I just think they've kind of overstepped as far as taking all her birds," she said. "She took very good care of them."
Haugk said Graeber took in birds and that if some of those found in her home were in bad shape, they might have come that way.
"People knew her love of birds and would give her birds," she said.
Haugk said Graeber never bought any birds from her, although Haugk gave her a red-bellied parrot about eight years ago.
Haugk called Graeber "just a very nice, gentle person."
Graeber also was cited for failure to inoculate her two cats, a requirement under city code. She was allowed to take one cat with her, as well as a 2-foot-long lizard.
The other feline escaped while authorities were going in and out of her house Monday, Rog said, but that cat has been recovered.
Graeber is scheduled to appear in court July 25.
Anyone convicted of violating their duties as an animal owner who also is found to be a pet hoarder must undergo a psychological or psychiatric evaluation, according to Kane County Assistant State's Attorney Steve Sims.
Graeber's home was red-tagged by the city, making occupancy illegal. After a home is red-tagged, the owner is allowed to return only to clean it.
Occupancy is permitted once officials find it has been cleaned. In the majority of cases, property owners comply and clean up fairly quickly, said Community Development Director Jerry Deering. | Source: Chicago Sun-Times - June 29, 2006
Update posted on Jun 30, 2006 - 1:12AM |
Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
Back to Top References
|
