WAUCONDA, Ill. (WLS) — A woman was arrested for animal cruelty after dozens of dogs were rescued from a home, police said.
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On Monday, Wauconda police responded to a report concerning numerous dogs living in “unhealthy and cramped conditions, lacking air conditioning and with signs of inbreeding.”
Officers immediately noticed a strong odor of urine coming from a home in the 200 block of Sky Hill Road.
The owner of the house, Carol Reith, claimed she only had four dogs and a recent litter of puppies.
She allegedly allowed police to enter the home, however the “overwhelming odors of urine and bleach” forced police to retreat.
“We visited the location, which is just around ten minutes away, and what we discovered inside was absolutely appalling,” stated Reach Rescue Director Amanda Dziekanski.
The fire department was called to asses air quality before police were able to continue their investigation.
A total of 52 dogs were removed from the home.
“The place was cluttered,” Dziekanski remarked. “There were no lights on the main floor, so we had to use flashlights. All the windows were covered to prevent neighbors from seeing inside… it was extremely hot, and I’m not sure how the dogs managed to survive.”
During the rescue, one animal control officer was bit by a dog and required medical attention, police said.
WAUCONDA POLICE DEPARTMENT
The dogs were turned over to Reach Rescue, Wags 2 Wishes Animal Rescue, Waukegan Police Animal Control and Lake County Animal Care and Control.
“They’re never going to have to spend another day of their life like that,” Dziekanski said.
Lake County Animal Control arrived and said the living conditions constituted animal cruelty.
City authorities deemed the house uninhabitable and was red-tagged.
Reith was charged with animal cruelty. She is due in court on July 24 in Waukegan.
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