Seeking a happily ever after for pets

Daily Herald Editorial Board
Published: 4/13/2010 12:00 AM

A happy ending.
That's what everyone wanted for the animals freed from Pet Rescue, now closed after operators were charged with abuse, stripped of their license and accused by the state of misusing some donations.
And for the animals - more than 127 cats and several dozen dogs from the Bloomingdale shelter as well as others from a Pet Rescue farm near Hebron - it really is a new beginning. Photos of some of the animals enjoying hugs and warm sunshine after, in some cases, a decade spent caged in a basement warmed our readers' hearts on Sunday (see photos elsewhere on dailyherald.com).
Volunteers, former clients and former employees deserve a world of thanks for a tenacious, years-long push to get Illinois authorities to close Pet Rescue. So do other no-kill shelters that made room for the influx of needy animals - Save-A-Pet in Grayslake, Tails Humane Society in DeKalb and the Hooved Animal Rescue and Protection Society in Barrington Hills.
If you were touched by the plight of Licorice, Woody, Serena and the other Pet Rescue refugees, you need to know that their happy ending isn't quite here yet. But it's well within reach.
Aside from a few animals adopted immediately - such as Ella, who went home with former Pet Rescue volunteer Susan Lillis - most have not yet found permanent homes.
That's where you can help, even if you can't take one in.
It takes a tremendous amount of work to socialize the animals at their new shelters, give them walks and attention and keep their cages clean and their bowls full of food and clean water.
Many people don't believe they have the wherewithal to own a pet in these tough times, but a few hours a week of volunteering at a shelter is a great help and a way to share the love of some remarkable animals. Shelter pets need foster homes, too - a great solution for animal lovers wary of a long-term commitment to pet ownership.
No time to volunteer? Cash helps, of course. If you think it's expensive to feed and provide veterinary care for one pet, try doing it for hundreds.
And if you're willing to adopt, now's the time.
The recession left pet shelters overstuffed and underfunded even before the arrival of the hundreds from Pet Rescue. Adopting a dog or cat - even if it's not one of the Pet Rescue animals - frees up time and resources for those still hoping for homes. By adopting one animal you're helping two - the one going home with you and the one who gets to take its spot.
We know that stories of animals in need tug at our readers' hearts. Let's hope this one keeps tugging for a little longer. Thankfully, the Pet Rescue animals are out of the woods. But they still could use your help.

Elgin woman rescue animals

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid18011347001?bctid=77296900001

Pet Rescue dogs at Grayslake shelter

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid18011347001?bctid=77322626001

free at last free at last thank god in heaven they are free at last

After a decade of neglect, animals get care

By Christy Gutowski Daily Herald Staff
Published: 4/11/2010 12:03 AM

As Peggy Sue wags her tail and offers kisses, she appears happy and healthy, though she's more than a tad gray in the whiskers.
But deep scars on the old pit bull's face reveal her painful past.
For 12 years, she lived in a cage with minimal human contact or outdoor runs; she sometimes fought with other dogs. Instead of a blanket, newspaper lined her cage, which for several years was kept in a damp basement. She often slept in feces.
Peggy Sue is one of several dozen dogs and cats being rehabilitated after surviving neglect at the now-shuttered Pet Rescue in Bloomingdale. After a decade of accusations that they hoarded animals, the elderly operators of the no-kill shelter were charged with abuse, stripped of their license and accused by the state of misusing of some donations.
Since February, as many as 200 animals were adopted out or transferred to other shelters.
Tails Humane Society in DeKalb took in 127 cats, 17 dogs, 15 doves and one bunny. Executive Director Beth Drake said most won't be ready for adoption for a long time. They'll receive intensive therapy and training, through positive reinforcement, aimed at making them gentle, loyal pets. Some may never heal from their traumatic pasts.
Still, Drake is hopeful.
"It takes a long time to make them this way, but it also takes a long time to get them back to a point where they will make a good companion," she said. "I do think there's a lot of potential for these guys. They need a lot of patience."
Nearly two dozen dogs and cats that Drake identified as needing the most special attention went to Save-A-Pet Adoption Center near Grayslake, which has large indoor/outdoor kennels and yards sprawled across 5 acres.
The dogs include Angel, Bosco, Job, Licorice, Serena, Woody.
And Peggy Sue.
Best of intentions?
In 1973, Dale Armon opened Pet Rescue with dreams of replicating similar no-kill sanctuaries across the country where homeless animals would be rescued, neutered and placed in loving homes.
Those deemed unadoptable would be moved to rural farms, where they'd be cared for until death. The young widow also wanted to create her own line of pet food. In almost a foreshadowing of things to come, Armon had 22 cats and a couple dogs in her Chicago apartment in the first two months before the shelter at 151 Bloomingdale Road opened.
More than three decades later, the 75-year-old Armon tearfully defended herself during an April 2 DuPage County court hearing against allegations the animals were often in overcrowded, filthy conditions without adequate medical care.
"These animals are my life," she said, seated in a wheelchair. "I am devoted to Pet Rescue."
Armon continues to fight misdemeanor charges. But her longtime manager, Penny Horak, 70, was sentenced to two years' court supervision and barred from running another animal facility after she pleaded guilty to violating her duties. Prosecutors dropped an animal cruelty charge.
DuPage Judge Ronald Sutter said the animals, though not physically abused, suffered "severe" neglect.
Prosecutors described conditions - animals covered in feces; mucus caked on walls; mice infestations; scum-filled water bowls; food shortages; the smell of urine permeating the air.
"Many witnesses would testify these were daily conditions," prosecutor Amanda Meindl said.
An apologetic Horak said she tried her best. Her attorney, Rick Schoenfield, said the homeless animals received better care than if never rescued. Finding a sick animal in a shelter is akin to a sick patient in a hospital, he argued.
But, for more than a decade, many former clients, volunteers and workers accused authorities of turning a blind eye as animals suffered in silence. The critics said the operators hoarded animals, often denying suitable adoptions. Workers said they had to sign confidentiality agreements and were fired when they complained.
Ethel Lillis of Elgin said she volunteered there on and off for 15 years.
"It got progressively worse," she said. "I saw some horrible things, but I kept my mouth shut. Like other volunteers, I was there out of love for the animals."
Former volunteers Kris Nesheim and Mary Huspen in July 2008 formed "Operation Mia," named after a sick cat that had to be euthanized. Members documented shelter conditions, hired their own attorney, picketed, badgered public officials and set up an Internet site urging its closure.
The state revoked Pet Rescue's license in November for repeated violations. Months earlier, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed suit after accusing Armon of personally spending some of the nonprofit's sizable annual donations - $1.26 million collected between 2006 and 2007 - as well as violating a consent decree that grew from an earlier lawsuit forcing full financial disclosure.
The latest suit is pending, but assets were temporarily frozen.
"At least the animals are in good shelters and have a second chance," said Nesheim, of Bloomingdale, who helped gather evidence used to prosecute the women. "But shame on everyone that overlooked the situation for so many years. It shouldn't have taken this long."
Armon also gave up custody of sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, chickens and a potbelly pig on a Pet Rescue farm in Hebron, near the Wisconsin border.
Resilience
For more than a year, state agriculture officials regularly inspected Pet Rescue as part of the licensing investigation.
Still, Drake from Tails Humane Society and Dana Deutsch, Save-A-Pet's manager, said most cats they're treating were sick and malnourished. The dogs were in decent physical shape, though, the women agreed, but behavioral challenges ranging from anxiety to aggression will require months of intensive therapy.
Those deemed unsuitable for adoption may have to be euthanized.
Each dog's personality is being evaluated. For example, Peggy Sue is afraid of men. Woody isn't used to being touched, but the tidy pooch will crouch down on his front legs in a play bow. Job, who came to Pet Rescue after he was abandoned in Naperville, is skittish but gaining confidence. Licorice is starved for affection, and isn't shy about letting it be known.
"These dogs have lived in really bad circumstances," Deutsch said. "Some can open up immediately, and some will take a lot longer to let their walls down and trust. Here, they're getting attention and love. Even given what these dogs have been through, they're amazing. It just shows you the resilience of an animal."
She said one cat who lived at Pet Rescue for two years was adopted within one day. A dog, Ella, at Pet Rescue since 1999, also found a home. Lillis' daughter, Susan, took her home after falling for her two years earlier while a shelter volunteer.
Ella enjoys at least six walks a day, playing with her two new feline friends and sleeping on a special orthopedic dog bed to help her arthritis.
"This is a dog they thought wasn't adoptable," Susan Lillis said. "She's the gentlest, sweetest, happiest dog. There's no reason why she shouldn't have had this love years ago."
Then there's Peggy Sue, who Deutsch said covers her in kisses upon sight and has made other strides, too. The two became fast friends. In fact, she is Deutsch's favorite.
"She is a special girl, and I think that face will just melt people's hearts," Deutsch said.
Peggy Sue, as it turns out, may just end up being one of the lucky ones after all.
To learn more, visit tailshumanesociety.org and saveapetil.org.

Guilty plea in Pet Rescue shelter abuse case

By Christy Gutowski | Daily Herald Staff

Published: 4/2/2010 5:27 PM

A noble venture that went bad.

That's how a DuPage County judge described the long saga of a Bloomingdale no-kill animal shelter whose two operators long were accused of hoarding animals and providing improper care.

One of them, Penny Horak, 70, pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor charge of violating her duties while managing Pet Rescue at 151. N. Bloomingdale Road. She was sentenced to two years' court supervision and barred from ever again running another animal facility in Illinois.

Prosecutor Amanda Meindl told DuPage Judge Ronald Sutter that Horak turned a blind eye and deaf ear to the problems.

"Animals were covered in feces," Meindl said, while showing the judge photos. "There was a strong smell of urine. Mucus from sick animals was caked on the walls. There were mice infestations. These were daily conditions."

Horak apologized and said she tried her best. This marked her first arrest. In exchange for her admission of guilt, prosecutors dropped misdemeanor animal cruelty allegations.

Horak could have been sentenced to up to six months in jail and a $1,500 fine.

"My primary concern was the animals," Sutter said. "It is my understanding that all of the animals have either been adopted out or transferred to other no-kill shelters."

He continued: "What may have started out as a noble venture as an organization to care for homeless animals, after many years, for whatever reason, it went bad. There was never any allegation of beating or intentional cruelty but, on the other hand, I believe the level of neglect has been severe."

Pet Rescue owner Dale Armon faces similar misdemeanors. She opened the shelter in 1973. The 75-year-old woman is fighting the charges. She is due back in court April 27.

Former shelter clients, volunteers and workers have urged village, county and state officials for more than a decade to shut down the facility. They even hired their own attorney to try to intervene and also set up an Internet site with photos of severely ill cats and dogs and the conditions of squalor in which the animals were housed.

After years of legal wrangling, the state revoked Pet Rescue's operating license. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan also sued Pet Rescue after accusing Armon of spending the nonprofit shelter's funds for personal use, as well as other alleged infractions. The suit is pending, but assets were frozen. An estimated 200 cats, dogs and other animals were adopted out or transferred to other shelters for care.

Defense attorney Rick Schoenfield denied shelter conditions rose to a level that supports criminal allegations. He said finding sick animals in a no-kill shelter is the same as sick people in a hospital. He noted Horak's age, medical issues, clean criminal record and letters of support from some of those with whom she's worked.

"She never did this for anything other than altruistic reasons and a love of animals," Schoenfield said. "Whatever happened, her motives were always good."

Pet Rescue license at stake Monday in Bloomingdale

By Elisabeth Mistretta Daily Herald Staff

The Bloomingdale village board Monday will consider whether to revoke the permit for Pet Rescue, the controversial no-kill animal shelter.
After listening to hours of public testimony at three monthly meetings this year, the village's plan commission already voted on March 2 to recommend revocation.
Village Administrator Dan Wennerholm said if Bloomingdale officials ultimately revoke the permit, that would mean the end of Pet Rescue's operations in the village. But, he added, Monday's meeting is just another step in the process and won't lead to any immediate change.
"There are no final decisions at this first board meeting," said Wennerholm. "If the board knows where it wants to go, it could direct the village attorney to prepare an ordinance that outlines those objectives. That ordinance would then come back at a future meeting."
Last year, the state revoked Pet Rescue's license after years of wrangling with the operators, Penny Horak and Dale Armon. The women are facing animal cruelty charges stemming from the operation of the shelter and are expected in DuPage County court April 2, for a hearing on pretrial motions.
Opponents of Pet Rescue have been urging the state and county to shut down the facility for years, claiming Armon and Horak are hoarding the animals and not properly caring for them.
Earlier this year, DuPage County Judge Ronald Sutter gave Pet Rescue operators permission to transfer nearly 200 animals being housed there to other Illinois shelters, although he did not specify a timeline.
"Before that they were not allowed to take in or let out any animals, since their assets were frozen and all they could do was take care of the animals," Wennerholm said.
DuPage County State's Attorney officials said nearly half the animals have already been transferred from the building at 151 N. Bloomingdale Road to other state-licensed shelters.
If Bloomingdale ultimately revokes Pet Rescue's license in a future meeting, Wennerholm said, it would "effectively mean they are done here."
"If an ordinance is passed, they would be given time to comply with respect to moving out," Wennerholm said. "But they would have to cease their operations within some given time frame."

January 20, 2010

Pet Rescue hearing continued

Daily Herald Staff Report
Published: 1/20/2010 5:24 PM

Bloomingdale's plan commission will continue a public hearing that began Tuesday about whether to recommend revoking the license of the embattled Pet Rescue animal shelter to the village board.
The commission's next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Bloomingdale village hall, 201 S. Bloomingdale Road.
Tuesday's testimony and public input lasted about four hours, with residents and officials weighing in.
On Tuesday, a DuPage County judge ordered Pet Rescue operators to begin transferring the nearly 200 animals being housed there immediately to other Illinois shelters.

January 19, 2010

Judge orders embattled shelter Pet Rescue to transfer animals

By Jake Griffin Daily Herald Staff
Published: 1/19/2010 2:52 PM Updated: 1/19/2010 4:17 PM

A DuPage County judge Tuesday ordered the operators of a controversial animal shelter in Bloomingdale to begin transferring the nearly 200 animals being housed there immediately to other Illinois shelters.
Judge Ronald Sutter denied requests by the attorney for the operators of Pet Rescue to allow the two women who run the shelter to transfer the animals to facilities in Wisconsin.
Sutter sided with Assistant State's Attorney Mandy Meindl, who provided shelter attorney Rick Schoenfield with a list of state-licensed operations where the animals could be transferred.
The state recently revoked Pet Rescue's license after years of wrangling with the operators, Penny Horak and Dale Armon. The women are facing animal cruelty charges stemming from the operation of the shelter and are facing revocation of the shelter's special use permit as well by the village of Bloomingdale.
Opponents of Pet Rescue have been urging the state and county to shut down the facility for years, claiming Armon and Horak are hoarding the animals and not properly caring for them. Recently, a rescue agency dealing with farm animals took custody of Armon's array of farm animals from her ranch in upstate Hebron.
Sutter didn't specify a timeline for the transfer of the animals from Pet Rescue. When the animals are transferred, the operators have to alert the state's attorney's office within five days with the animal's name, microchip data and shelter information.
At last count, Meindl said there were 149 cats, 29 dogs and a small number of doves, guinea pigs and rabbits all being housed at the Pet Rescue shelter at 151 N. Bloomingdale Road. Meindl's list includes only "no kill" shelters like Pet Rescue purports to be.
Armon and Horak were not in court Tuesday, but they are expected back Feb. 26 for a hearing on pretrial motions in relation to the animal cruelty case against them, Sutter said.
window.

License revoked from Bloomingdale animal shelter

By Marco Santana Daily Herald Staff
Published: 11/5/2009 12:46 PM Updated: 11/5/2009 5:10 PM

A long-embattled Bloomingdale animal shelter lost its license Wednesday, effectively shutting down the controversial site at least until it goes through an appeal process.
Pet Rescue Inc. now has 30 days to appeal the administrative law judge's ruling, which said the shelter failed to provide timely records to the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
In the past, former clients and volunteers have accused the shelter of hoarding animals and providing improper care.
A complaint filed by the state in April claimed that the shelter did not provide records covering a five-month period, from August 2008 to February.
"It's a good start," said Cherie Travis, an attorney who has represented a group trying to shut down the shelter. "But I think it's taken way too long."
In a report filed as evidence at an August hearing, the department of agriculture said the shelter denied or ignored several requests for records concerning four animals. The shelter took up to nine months to provide records for another 18 animals.
Illinois Department of Agriculture Spokesman Jeff Squibb said the department has worked with local authorities to push the case forward. The revocation means the shelter cannot operate in Bloomingdale based on a zoning ordinance that requires a license.
"Our position is that Pet Rescue is no longer a licensed facility and, therefore, cannot adopt out or transfer its animals," he said.
Squibb said the facility had been on the department's radar for many years as complaints mounted.
Pet Rescue Director Penny Horak has said any denial or failed compliance was done in error. A phone call to Pet Rescue Attorney Rick Schoenfield was not returned.
The ruling is the latest in an ongoing saga concerning the shelter.
The shelter lost its license for about a month in 2008 after state officials accused Horak and owner Dale Armon of animal cruelty.
In April, a state complaint challenging the shelter's compliance with inspection reports was filed, and in September, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan accused Armon of using donated money intended to help the shelter for personal use.