Pet Rescue Inc. Owners Relinquish Farm Animals

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/special_report/animal-rescue

Updated: Tuesday, 12 Jan 2010, 10:07 PM CSTPublished : Tuesday, 12 Jan 2010, 9:02 PM CST
By Mark Saxenmeyer, FOX Chicago News

Chicago - A small group of private citizens have rescued what they say were neglected animals, living in filthy, frozen conditions. It took them just two hours to complete the rescue-, something state-licensed animal welfare investigators have been either unable or unwilling to do for two years.
To city folk, they might just look like just a bunch of farm animals, but for those who've been monitoring the health and well-being of hundreds of animals under the care of two Illinois women, Dale Armon and Penny Horak, the sight of the four-legged critters scampering into their new home at a Barrington Hills animal rescue facility, was pure joy.
" They're free at last!" said Dr. Susan Lillis, an animal welfare advocate. She was in Barrington to witness the transfer.
The animals were among dozens removed from Armon and Horak's remote McHenry County farm in Hebron today. The leaders of HARPS, the Hooved Animal Rescue and Protection Society, say they convinced the women to relinquish control after documenting what they call the abhorrent conditions on the farm.
"Deplorable is kind of a strong word but it's pretty accurate, " said HARPS' Geoff Kass.
Nevertheless, many animals, like a dozen dogs that are caged in the cold on the farm, were left behind. HARPS was not allowed to take them away.
"They absolutely need to be removed because they're not getting adequate care," said Donna Ewing, the president and founder of HARPS.
For close to two years, FOX Chicago News has investigated Armon and Horak, the proprietress of Pet Rescue Inc., a non-profit no-kill pet shelter that houses hundreds of animals in suburban Bloomingdale. They stand accused of 22 counts of animal neglect in DuPage County, they've had their license revoked from the Department of Agriculture and they stand accused by the state Attorney General of using money donated to help the animals for their own personal use.
Despite all this legal wrangling, until Tuesday none of the allegedly endangered animals had been removed from Armon and Horak's care.
The animal rescue workers say they stepped in because local county and state leaders have not. FOX spoke with Mchenry County leaders Tuesday and they say they were out inspecting the Hebron farm two weeks ago, and they saw no problems there.
The animal workers from HARPS and other animal welfare advocates say that's hard to believe.
"Pictures don't lie. Documentation doesn't lie. We see what comes out of these situations. None of it is a lie so why didn't anyone do anything?" said Kris Nesheim, a former Pet Rescue Inc. worker.
Horak and Armon are fighting all the charges they currently face, maintaining their innocence on all fronts. HARPS leaders say Horak and Armon are still hoping to have the animals returned to them once their legal problems are cleared up.
This case aside, the recession is leading to more animal rescues than ever before, as many people can't afford to care for their pets. Hundreds and hundreds of animals that need saving state-wide are being turned loose or abandoned because most of the humane organizations are already full due to the overwhelming demand for help.
For more information about HARPS, go to harpsonline.org or call 847-382-0503.