Pet Rescue shelter agrees to give up animals
By: Art Barnum
Pet Rescue, the controversial Bloomingdale animal shelter, agreed today to turn over nearly 200 animals to other shelters approved by the state.
DuPage Judge Ronald Sutter signed an agreed order that calls for the shelter at 151 N. Bloomingdale Road to give its current collection of 149 cats, 29 dogs, 15 doves, two guinea pigs and one rabbit to other animal shelters that are approved by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
The state had taken away the shelter's license last year, but the operators were able to keep the animals they currently had.
Criminal charges filed in 2008 against the shelter's two operators -- Dale Armon, 74, of Berkeley, the owner of the shelter, and Penny Horak, 69, of Winfield, a director of the shelter -- are still pending.
Both of them have been charged with more than a dozen misdemeanor charges of animal neglect. The charges stem from complaints of overcrowding and insufficient treatment of the animals, resulting in some of them being euthanized.
Neither one was in court Today.
The state agriculture department took away the shelter's license last November, citing improper record maintenance of the animals in their care.
The shelter has been in operation since 1973, according to court records.
-- Art Barnum
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Daily Herald, 1/12/2010
Pet Rescue operators giving up farm animals
By: Jake Griffin, Daily Herald Staff
The operators of a controversial Bloomingdale pet shelter are giving up custody of farm animals they own and keep in upstate Hebron.
Donna Ewing, founder of the Hooved Animal Rescue and Protection Society, said her group is picking up the farm animals today and will be looking for foster farms to care for the animals. Ewing said owner Dale Armon, who runs the recently de-licensed Pet Rescue in Bloomingdale, agreed to give up custody of the farm animals on a temporary basis.
"She can take them back if she can pay for all the vet bills and feed bills," Ewing said.
Ewing's group has been caring for the animals for about a month, she said. They are all in "decent condition" considering they were found in "desperate need of water," she said.
The animals include 12 sheep and goats, two Arabian horses, four donkeys, several chickens, a miniature potbelly pig and a "huge Brown Swiss steer."
For information about providing foster care for any of the animals, call HARPS at (847) 382-0503 or visit harpsonline.org.
Arson and Pet Rescue partner Penny Horak are also on the verge of giving up custody of the animals being housed at the Bloomingdale shelter. A DuPage County judge has set a Jan. 19 deadline to come up with a relocation plan. That same day, the village's plan commission will discuss revoking the shelter's special-use permit now that it is no longer licensed by the state.
By: Jake Griffin, Daily Herald Staff
The operators of a controversial Bloomingdale pet shelter are giving up custody of farm animals they own and keep in upstate Hebron.
Donna Ewing, founder of the Hooved Animal Rescue and Protection Society, said her group is picking up the farm animals today and will be looking for foster farms to care for the animals. Ewing said owner Dale Armon, who runs the recently de-licensed Pet Rescue in Bloomingdale, agreed to give up custody of the farm animals on a temporary basis.
"She can take them back if she can pay for all the vet bills and feed bills," Ewing said.
Ewing's group has been caring for the animals for about a month, she said. They are all in "decent condition" considering they were found in "desperate need of water," she said.
The animals include 12 sheep and goats, two Arabian horses, four donkeys, several chickens, a miniature potbelly pig and a "huge Brown Swiss steer."
For information about providing foster care for any of the animals, call HARPS at (847) 382-0503 or visit harpsonline.org.
Arson and Pet Rescue partner Penny Horak are also on the verge of giving up custody of the animals being housed at the Bloomingdale shelter. A DuPage County judge has set a Jan. 19 deadline to come up with a relocation plan. That same day, the village's plan commission will discuss revoking the shelter's special-use permit now that it is no longer licensed by the state.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Daily Herald, 1/9/2010
Embattled Bloomingdale pet shelter close to giving up animals
By: Jake Griffin, Daily Herald Staff
Scores of animals being held at a controversial shelter in Bloomingdale that recently lost its state license could be relocated soon to new shelters.
A DuPage County judge ordered the operators of Pet Rescue at 151 N. Bloomingdale Road to return Jan. 19 with an agreement to find new shelters for the animals being kept there. The state took away the shelter's license in November following years of complaints by former clients and volunteers that the two women operating the shelter were hoarding animals and providing improper care. Neither woman was in court Friday.
The women, Pet Rescue President Dale Armon and director Penny Horak, are facing a series of lawsuits, including one filed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Madigan sued Armon in September after accusing her of spending at least $70,000 of the nonprofit group's funds for personal use since 2007.
For example, the lawsuit alleges, Armon paid her Cook County property tax bill for a house in Berkeley in 2008 with shelter assets. Authorities accused her of improperly spending more funds at restaurants, stores and motels in the Hebron, Woodstock and Lake Geneva areas.
Armon, 75, also lives rent free in a Pet Rescue-owned home in Hebron, the suit states.
The shelter is also facing having its special-use permit revoked by Bloomingdale. A plan commission hearing is also scheduled for the evening of Jan. 19. Village Administrator Dan Wennerholm said now that the shelter no longer has a state license it is in violation of the permit.
The village had talked of revoking the permit a year ago, but the issue never made it to a hearing. Wennerholm didn't know when the village board would take up the matter if revocation is recommended by the commission.
By: Jake Griffin, Daily Herald Staff
Scores of animals being held at a controversial shelter in Bloomingdale that recently lost its state license could be relocated soon to new shelters.
A DuPage County judge ordered the operators of Pet Rescue at 151 N. Bloomingdale Road to return Jan. 19 with an agreement to find new shelters for the animals being kept there. The state took away the shelter's license in November following years of complaints by former clients and volunteers that the two women operating the shelter were hoarding animals and providing improper care. Neither woman was in court Friday.
The women, Pet Rescue President Dale Armon and director Penny Horak, are facing a series of lawsuits, including one filed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Madigan sued Armon in September after accusing her of spending at least $70,000 of the nonprofit group's funds for personal use since 2007.
For example, the lawsuit alleges, Armon paid her Cook County property tax bill for a house in Berkeley in 2008 with shelter assets. Authorities accused her of improperly spending more funds at restaurants, stores and motels in the Hebron, Woodstock and Lake Geneva areas.
Armon, 75, also lives rent free in a Pet Rescue-owned home in Hebron, the suit states.
The shelter is also facing having its special-use permit revoked by Bloomingdale. A plan commission hearing is also scheduled for the evening of Jan. 19. Village Administrator Dan Wennerholm said now that the shelter no longer has a state license it is in violation of the permit.
The village had talked of revoking the permit a year ago, but the issue never made it to a hearing. Wennerholm didn't know when the village board would take up the matter if revocation is recommended by the commission.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Daily Herald, 11/5/2009
License revoked from Bloomingdale animal shelter
By: Marco Santana, Daily Herald Staff
By: Marco Santana, Daily Herald Staff
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.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Madigan goes after pet shelter operator
Daily Herald, 9/24/2009 by Christy Gutowski
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan hopes to accomplish what local, county, and other state officials before her failed to do - shutter a long-embattled Bloomingdale animal shelter for good.
In explosive allegations, Madigan sued Pet Rescue president Dale Armon after accusing her of spending at least $70,000 of the nonprofit group's funds for personal use since 2007.
For example, the lawsuit alleges, Armon paid her Cook County property tax bill for a house in Berkeley in 2008 with shelter assets. Authorities accused her of improperly spending more funds at restaurants, stores and motels in the Hebron, Woodstock and Lake Geneva areas.
Armon, 75, also lives rent free in a Pet Rescue-owned home in Hebron, the suit states.
Madigan asked a Cook County judge to freeze all Pet Rescue assets, order a thorough review of its books, bar property sales, dissolve nonprofit status, transfer assets to a "bona fide existing charity," and close the shelter.
Armon and her board of directors also are accused of allowing donations to be solicited and accepted despite the fact Pet Rescue hasn't been registered to do so since January 2008. The nonprofit group lost its registration due to incomplete 2006 financial records.
Madigan is going after Armon criminally as well by seeking to have her found in indirect civil contempt on suspicion she violated a July 2004 consent decree with the attorney general's office to comply with all accounting and reporting requirements. The consent decree grew out of a 2000 lawsuit.
Armon may face up to six months behind bars and more than $50,000 in civil fines.
At last count, state officials said, Pet Rescue has 150 cats, 50 dogs, several birds, guinea pigs and rabbits in its shelter at 151 N. Bloomingdale Road. It took in about $1.26 million in public donations between 2006 and 2007, according to attorney general officials, who said they've had access to a small portion of financial records since 2007.
The no-kill animal shelter, in operation since 1973, long has been the subject of controversy as former clients, volunteers and workers accused the elderly operators of hoarding animals and providing improper care rather than adopting them out to suitable homes.
Various efforts to revoke the shelter's operating license and special-use permit have repeatedly stalled. One year ago, DuPage prosecutors charged Armon and her director, Penny I. Horak, 70, with misdemeanor animal cruelty and violation of their duties after several cats and dogs became sick, some to the point they had to be euthanized.
Their trial was supposed to begin Monday and, after it was delayed, critics who have argued authorities are turning a blind eye as animals suffer in silence staged a peaceful courthouse protest. In the meantime, the judge in the case earlier ordered regular inspections a few times a month to ensure the animals are receiving proper care.
Neither Armon nor Horak have responded in recent years to Daily Herald telephone requests for comment. Both are fighting the misdemeanor charges in court. Pet Rescue attorney Rick Schoenfield has repeatedly denied criticism that the animals are receiving improper care. He also submitted financial records in June to state officials, but they said that information was incomplete.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan hopes to accomplish what local, county, and other state officials before her failed to do - shutter a long-embattled Bloomingdale animal shelter for good.
In explosive allegations, Madigan sued Pet Rescue president Dale Armon after accusing her of spending at least $70,000 of the nonprofit group's funds for personal use since 2007.
For example, the lawsuit alleges, Armon paid her Cook County property tax bill for a house in Berkeley in 2008 with shelter assets. Authorities accused her of improperly spending more funds at restaurants, stores and motels in the Hebron, Woodstock and Lake Geneva areas.
Armon, 75, also lives rent free in a Pet Rescue-owned home in Hebron, the suit states.
Madigan asked a Cook County judge to freeze all Pet Rescue assets, order a thorough review of its books, bar property sales, dissolve nonprofit status, transfer assets to a "bona fide existing charity," and close the shelter.
Armon and her board of directors also are accused of allowing donations to be solicited and accepted despite the fact Pet Rescue hasn't been registered to do so since January 2008. The nonprofit group lost its registration due to incomplete 2006 financial records.
Madigan is going after Armon criminally as well by seeking to have her found in indirect civil contempt on suspicion she violated a July 2004 consent decree with the attorney general's office to comply with all accounting and reporting requirements. The consent decree grew out of a 2000 lawsuit.
Armon may face up to six months behind bars and more than $50,000 in civil fines.
At last count, state officials said, Pet Rescue has 150 cats, 50 dogs, several birds, guinea pigs and rabbits in its shelter at 151 N. Bloomingdale Road. It took in about $1.26 million in public donations between 2006 and 2007, according to attorney general officials, who said they've had access to a small portion of financial records since 2007.
The no-kill animal shelter, in operation since 1973, long has been the subject of controversy as former clients, volunteers and workers accused the elderly operators of hoarding animals and providing improper care rather than adopting them out to suitable homes.
Various efforts to revoke the shelter's operating license and special-use permit have repeatedly stalled. One year ago, DuPage prosecutors charged Armon and her director, Penny I. Horak, 70, with misdemeanor animal cruelty and violation of their duties after several cats and dogs became sick, some to the point they had to be euthanized.
Their trial was supposed to begin Monday and, after it was delayed, critics who have argued authorities are turning a blind eye as animals suffer in silence staged a peaceful courthouse protest. In the meantime, the judge in the case earlier ordered regular inspections a few times a month to ensure the animals are receiving proper care.
Neither Armon nor Horak have responded in recent years to Daily Herald telephone requests for comment. Both are fighting the misdemeanor charges in court. Pet Rescue attorney Rick Schoenfield has repeatedly denied criticism that the animals are receiving improper care. He also submitted financial records in June to state officials, but they said that information was incomplete.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Fox News Chicago, 9/22/2009
Attorney General Takes Action Against Animal Shelter
Updated: Tuesday, 22 Sep 2009, 10:47 PM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 22 Sep 2009, 10:41 PM CDT
By Mark Saxenmeyer
Tonight, a Fox Chicago investigation gets results... The State Attorney General's Office is seeking civil and criminal sanctions against a Dupage County animal shelter. The action comes after we brought to light allegations of animal abuse, neglect and other misconduct. Mark Saxenmeyer has the exclusive details.
**************
It is images like this: angry dogs kept in cages in complete darkness…emaciated cats losing their fur...animals in desperate need of medical attention that rarely, if ever, comes, according to former workers at Pet Rescue Inc.
But now, the State Attorney General's Office says there are even more troubling issues here--financial ones. In these new complaints, the State Attorney General says Pet Rescue's owner, Dale Armon, and members of her board of directors, have been illegally soliciting donations for the shelter. As we first reported a year ago, they shouldn't be accepting any money as a charity because the shelter has failed to file audited financial records with the state, a requirement of all non-profit organizations.
The State Attorney General goes on to claim that in the last two and a half years Armon has put 70,000 dollars donated to help the animals in her care at Pet Rescue into her own pockets. The complaint claims she spent 7,000 dollars at restaurants, stores and hotels, more than 5,000 dollars at Walgreens alone, and nearly 4,000 dollars to pay property taxes on her personal home.
News of the Attorney General's action thrills those who have worked tirelessly to try and shut down the shelter.
“They take in plenty of money in cash but didn't hire a vet, renovated the facility, or hired staff. What did they do? They went out and bought property. And where do they live? On that property. The whole thing has been, it's been a fraud on the public “ Said Animal Welfare Activist Cherie Travis. “The animals should have been seized from the beginning”
In the meantime, shelter critics are livid that a judge has granted a defense motion to delay the criminal trial of Armon and shelter manager Penny Horak in Dupage County. Both women face 20 counts of animal cruelty.
The State Department of Agriculture also charged Pet Rescue Inc. with dozens of violations of the State Animal Welfare Act months ago, but it too has yet to make a ruling on any of them.
“These women are walking free while these animals are rotting in cages right now” added Travis.
Legal experts say the Attorney General's actions today send a strong message to not just Pet Rescue Inc. but to all Illinois charities. If you solicit money for a certain cause and it doesn't go to that cause, you can expect a knock on your door. The attorney for Dale Armon didn’t respond tonight to our request for comment.
Updated: Tuesday, 22 Sep 2009, 10:47 PM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 22 Sep 2009, 10:41 PM CDT
By Mark Saxenmeyer
Tonight, a Fox Chicago investigation gets results... The State Attorney General's Office is seeking civil and criminal sanctions against a Dupage County animal shelter. The action comes after we brought to light allegations of animal abuse, neglect and other misconduct. Mark Saxenmeyer has the exclusive details.
**************
It is images like this: angry dogs kept in cages in complete darkness…emaciated cats losing their fur...animals in desperate need of medical attention that rarely, if ever, comes, according to former workers at Pet Rescue Inc.
But now, the State Attorney General's Office says there are even more troubling issues here--financial ones. In these new complaints, the State Attorney General says Pet Rescue's owner, Dale Armon, and members of her board of directors, have been illegally soliciting donations for the shelter. As we first reported a year ago, they shouldn't be accepting any money as a charity because the shelter has failed to file audited financial records with the state, a requirement of all non-profit organizations.
The State Attorney General goes on to claim that in the last two and a half years Armon has put 70,000 dollars donated to help the animals in her care at Pet Rescue into her own pockets. The complaint claims she spent 7,000 dollars at restaurants, stores and hotels, more than 5,000 dollars at Walgreens alone, and nearly 4,000 dollars to pay property taxes on her personal home.
News of the Attorney General's action thrills those who have worked tirelessly to try and shut down the shelter.
“They take in plenty of money in cash but didn't hire a vet, renovated the facility, or hired staff. What did they do? They went out and bought property. And where do they live? On that property. The whole thing has been, it's been a fraud on the public “ Said Animal Welfare Activist Cherie Travis. “The animals should have been seized from the beginning”
In the meantime, shelter critics are livid that a judge has granted a defense motion to delay the criminal trial of Armon and shelter manager Penny Horak in Dupage County. Both women face 20 counts of animal cruelty.
The State Department of Agriculture also charged Pet Rescue Inc. with dozens of violations of the State Animal Welfare Act months ago, but it too has yet to make a ruling on any of them.
“These women are walking free while these animals are rotting in cages right now” added Travis.
Legal experts say the Attorney General's actions today send a strong message to not just Pet Rescue Inc. but to all Illinois charities. If you solicit money for a certain cause and it doesn't go to that cause, you can expect a knock on your door. The attorney for Dale Armon didn’t respond tonight to our request for comment.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Daily Herald, 9/22/2009
Pet Rescue operators' trial delayed again, much to protesters' chagrin
by Christy Gutowski, Daily Herald Staff
A trial for operators of Bloomingdale's Pet Rescue was postponed again Monday, sparking protest from critics who argue neglected cats and dogs are "rotting in cages" amid delay after delay.
Toting signs such as "No Justice for the Animals," about one dozen peaceful demonstrators took authorities to task for allowing the misdemeanor case to drag on in court for more than a year.
The no-kill animal shelter, in operation more than three decades, long has been the subject of controversy as former clients, volunteers and workers accused the operators of hoarding animals and providing improper care rather than adopting them out to suitable homes.
One year ago, prosecutors charged Pet Rescue President Dale Armon and her director Penny I. Horak with misdemeanor animal cruelty and violation of their duties after several cats and dogs became sick, some to the point they had to be euthanized.
Both women maintain their innocence.
So far, DuPage Associate Judge Ronald Sutter has allowed two trial delays. On Monday, he granted a continuance to allow the defense time to respond to new evidence the prosecution said it uncovered during a recent witness interviews.
"We feel it has gone on far too long," said Kris Nesheim, a protest organizer. "It's beyond frustrating. It is clearly a blatant disregard for the law."
Sutter earlier ordered regular inspections of the shelter at 151 N. Bloomingdale Road. State agriculture officials said they inspect the shelter with a licensed veterinarian two to three times a month.
"I agree this case has dragged on too long," DuPage State's Attorney Joseph Birkett responded, "but my assistants are duty bound to disclose all additional information they uncovered to the defense."
The state agriculture department also has tried to revoke Pet Rescue's operating license, but its administrative hearings on the matter also often have been postponed. And Bloomingdale officials planned a public hearing in December 2008 to revoke Pet Rescue's special-use permit, but the hearing never took place because local officials thought it best not to interfere with the state investigation.
Critics, many of whom said they witnessed atrocities first hand, argue local, county and state officials have allowed the situation to fester far too long.
"This case is completely out of control," said attorney Cherie Travis, who represents those behind the effort to shutter the shelter. "It is absolutely unacceptable that the animals are rotting in cages with the county veterinarian taking care of them and the trial postponed indefinitely."
by Christy Gutowski, Daily Herald Staff
A trial for operators of Bloomingdale's Pet Rescue was postponed again Monday, sparking protest from critics who argue neglected cats and dogs are "rotting in cages" amid delay after delay.
Toting signs such as "No Justice for the Animals," about one dozen peaceful demonstrators took authorities to task for allowing the misdemeanor case to drag on in court for more than a year.
The no-kill animal shelter, in operation more than three decades, long has been the subject of controversy as former clients, volunteers and workers accused the operators of hoarding animals and providing improper care rather than adopting them out to suitable homes.
One year ago, prosecutors charged Pet Rescue President Dale Armon and her director Penny I. Horak with misdemeanor animal cruelty and violation of their duties after several cats and dogs became sick, some to the point they had to be euthanized.
Both women maintain their innocence.
So far, DuPage Associate Judge Ronald Sutter has allowed two trial delays. On Monday, he granted a continuance to allow the defense time to respond to new evidence the prosecution said it uncovered during a recent witness interviews.
"We feel it has gone on far too long," said Kris Nesheim, a protest organizer. "It's beyond frustrating. It is clearly a blatant disregard for the law."
Sutter earlier ordered regular inspections of the shelter at 151 N. Bloomingdale Road. State agriculture officials said they inspect the shelter with a licensed veterinarian two to three times a month.
"I agree this case has dragged on too long," DuPage State's Attorney Joseph Birkett responded, "but my assistants are duty bound to disclose all additional information they uncovered to the defense."
The state agriculture department also has tried to revoke Pet Rescue's operating license, but its administrative hearings on the matter also often have been postponed. And Bloomingdale officials planned a public hearing in December 2008 to revoke Pet Rescue's special-use permit, but the hearing never took place because local officials thought it best not to interfere with the state investigation.
Critics, many of whom said they witnessed atrocities first hand, argue local, county and state officials have allowed the situation to fester far too long.
"This case is completely out of control," said attorney Cherie Travis, who represents those behind the effort to shutter the shelter. "It is absolutely unacceptable that the animals are rotting in cages with the county veterinarian taking care of them and the trial postponed indefinitely."
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