Animal shelter chief pleads not guilty to neglect charges
Operator of Bloomingdale facility faces 16 counts of animal neglect, cruelty
By Art Barnum | Tribune reporter
September 18, 2008
The director of a Bloomingdale animal shelter that says it is a no-kill facility has been charged with 15 new counts of animal neglect.
Penny Horak, 69, of Winfield, director of Pet Rescue, 151 N. Bloomingdale Rd., pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday before DuPage Judge Ronald Sutter, who set Nov. 19 for her next court date.
Horak was charged last month with one count of violation of owner's duties, but Assistant State's Atty.
Mandy Meindl said the 15 additional charges, comprising three misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and 12 misdemeanor counts of violation of owner's duties, have been filed. Meindl said the new charges allege mistreatment of a dozen cats and dogs.
The hearing was attended by about a dozen people opposed to the shelter's operation who have complained about its operations in recent weeks to prosecutors.
Several of those attending said that when they volunteered at the shelter, they saw animals mistreated and sick animals allowed to be adopted.
Horak declined to comment Tuesday. The shelter has been in operation about 28 years.
Cherie Travis, associate director of the Center for Animal Law at the DePaul University College of Law, who was at Tuesday's court session, called Pet Rescue "a terrible animal shelter."
abarnum@tribune.com
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Daily Herald, 9/17/08
Charges against Pet Rescue director upgraded
By Christy Gutowski
Prosecutors upgraded charges Tuesday against the director of Pet Rescue after alleging more animals at the controversial Bloomingdale shelter were mistreated.
Last month, Penny I. Horak was charged with one misdemeanor alleging she violated state law regarding animal owner's duties in failing to provide humane care for a sick cat named Mia, who had to be euthanized.
Horak, 69, of Winfield, faced up to six months in jail and a $1,500 fine if convicted.
On Tuesday, prosecutor Amanda Meindl filed 15 additional criminal allegations, 12 of which mirror the earlier charge but involve more cats and dogs. Horak also is facing three more serious misdemeanors in which she is charged with providing cruel treatment to animals. Those allegations carry a possible one-year jail term and $2,500 fine.
Horak did not outwardly react Tuesday after learning of the new charges. She pleaded not guilty when arraigned before DuPage County Associate Judge Ronald Sutter.
Her attorney, Rick Schoenfield, was unavailable for comment.
Pet Rescue, a nonprofit, no-kill shelter, has been the focus of several state investigations and civil court proceedings through the years. Former volunteers and clients who said they adopted sick animals have picketed, filed complaints and even launched an Internet site to try to force the shelter's closing.
Earlier in the summer, some volunteers worked undercover to secretly collect information to hand over to authorities. They also enlisted the help of Cherie Travis, the assistant director of the Center for Animal Law at DePaul University College of Law.
Travis applauded prosecutors and police for pursuing charges, which she called a victory for animals.
"For 28 years, various groups of concerned citizens have tried to get the authorities to take action to remedy the widespread neglect of animals at this shelter but have been largely unsuccessful," Travis said. "The director of Pet Rescue is being called to account for the deplorable conditions of the animals in her care - animals that have literally been neglected to death."
By Christy Gutowski
Prosecutors upgraded charges Tuesday against the director of Pet Rescue after alleging more animals at the controversial Bloomingdale shelter were mistreated.
Last month, Penny I. Horak was charged with one misdemeanor alleging she violated state law regarding animal owner's duties in failing to provide humane care for a sick cat named Mia, who had to be euthanized.
Horak, 69, of Winfield, faced up to six months in jail and a $1,500 fine if convicted.
On Tuesday, prosecutor Amanda Meindl filed 15 additional criminal allegations, 12 of which mirror the earlier charge but involve more cats and dogs. Horak also is facing three more serious misdemeanors in which she is charged with providing cruel treatment to animals. Those allegations carry a possible one-year jail term and $2,500 fine.
Horak did not outwardly react Tuesday after learning of the new charges. She pleaded not guilty when arraigned before DuPage County Associate Judge Ronald Sutter.
Her attorney, Rick Schoenfield, was unavailable for comment.
Pet Rescue, a nonprofit, no-kill shelter, has been the focus of several state investigations and civil court proceedings through the years. Former volunteers and clients who said they adopted sick animals have picketed, filed complaints and even launched an Internet site to try to force the shelter's closing.
Earlier in the summer, some volunteers worked undercover to secretly collect information to hand over to authorities. They also enlisted the help of Cherie Travis, the assistant director of the Center for Animal Law at DePaul University College of Law.
Travis applauded prosecutors and police for pursuing charges, which she called a victory for animals.
"For 28 years, various groups of concerned citizens have tried to get the authorities to take action to remedy the widespread neglect of animals at this shelter but have been largely unsuccessful," Travis said. "The director of Pet Rescue is being called to account for the deplorable conditions of the animals in her care - animals that have literally been neglected to death."
My Suburban Life, 9/16/08
Bloomingdale shelter owner denies mistreating animals
By Dan Petrella, dpetrella@mysuburbanlife.com
Suburban Life Publications
Bloomingdale, IL -
The owner of a Bloomingdale shelter pleaded not guilty Tuesday to neglecting and mistreating animals left in her care.
Penny Horak, director of Pet Rescue, 151 N. Bloomingdale Road, was charged with animal neglect because she failed to provide adequate care for a sick cat at the shelter. She turned herself in to police in August after being charged.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture, which licenses the facility, fined Pet Rescue $200 for adopting out sick cats. A spokesman for the department said it is continuing to monitor the shelter.
In DuPage County Circuit Court on Tuesday, assistant state’s attorney Mandy Meindl told Judge Ronald Sutter that the state is filing 15 additional misdemeanor charges against Horak.
About a dozen women who were former Pet Rescue volunteers attended the short hearing, and outside the courtroom they were outspoken about the mistreatment and neglect they say the witnessed when working at the shelter, some as far back as 1989.
Some of the women were in tears as they discussed the treatment, which they said is still occurring.
Donna Kowalski of Schaumburg volunteered at the shelter for about a year, ending in July. She detailed the poor treatment animals received while flipping through a stack of photographs showing several cats with skin problems and dogs leashed to tables and refrigerators.
“They don’t even humanely euthanize (sick animals),” Kowalski said. “They wait for them to suffer and die on their own.”
Cherie Travis is associate director of the Center for Animal Law at DePaul University in Chicago. She said she became involved in the case after her veterinarian told her about allegations of mistreatment at the shelter.
“For about 28 years, people in the Bloomingdale area have been trying to shut the place down because the conditions for the animals are atrocious,” Travis said. “Now it is what it should be, a criminal case.”
If convicted, Horak faces up to 364 days in DuPage County Jail and thousands of dollars in fines. She is scheduled to return to court Nov. 19.
By Dan Petrella, dpetrella@mysuburbanlife.com
Suburban Life Publications
Bloomingdale, IL -
The owner of a Bloomingdale shelter pleaded not guilty Tuesday to neglecting and mistreating animals left in her care.
Penny Horak, director of Pet Rescue, 151 N. Bloomingdale Road, was charged with animal neglect because she failed to provide adequate care for a sick cat at the shelter. She turned herself in to police in August after being charged.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture, which licenses the facility, fined Pet Rescue $200 for adopting out sick cats. A spokesman for the department said it is continuing to monitor the shelter.
In DuPage County Circuit Court on Tuesday, assistant state’s attorney Mandy Meindl told Judge Ronald Sutter that the state is filing 15 additional misdemeanor charges against Horak.
About a dozen women who were former Pet Rescue volunteers attended the short hearing, and outside the courtroom they were outspoken about the mistreatment and neglect they say the witnessed when working at the shelter, some as far back as 1989.
Some of the women were in tears as they discussed the treatment, which they said is still occurring.
Donna Kowalski of Schaumburg volunteered at the shelter for about a year, ending in July. She detailed the poor treatment animals received while flipping through a stack of photographs showing several cats with skin problems and dogs leashed to tables and refrigerators.
“They don’t even humanely euthanize (sick animals),” Kowalski said. “They wait for them to suffer and die on their own.”
Cherie Travis is associate director of the Center for Animal Law at DePaul University in Chicago. She said she became involved in the case after her veterinarian told her about allegations of mistreatment at the shelter.
“For about 28 years, people in the Bloomingdale area have been trying to shut the place down because the conditions for the animals are atrocious,” Travis said. “Now it is what it should be, a criminal case.”
If convicted, Horak faces up to 364 days in DuPage County Jail and thousands of dollars in fines. She is scheduled to return to court Nov. 19.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
What you can do.
Please thank Joe Birkett.
The DuPage County State's Attorney's office has put a great amount of time and effort into this case. Please thank Joe Birkett for the cooperation of his attorneys, David Friedland and Amanda Meindl.
Joe Birkett, DuPage County State's Attorney
503 N. County Farm Road
Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone:(630) 407-8000
Fax:(630) 407-8151
stsattn@dupageco.org
Please ask the Department of Agriculture why nothing is being done.
Despite DuPage County bringing 15 criminal violations against Penny Horak, the Illinois Department of Agriculture doesn't seem to think there's a problem at Pet Rescue and has only found 1 violation of the Illinois Animal Welfare Act.
Please write to Acting Director Tom Jennings and ask why the Department of Agriculture hasn't investigated the dozens of complaints that have been brought to their attention over the past several months.
Thomas Jennings
Director, Illinois Department of Agriculture
tom.jennings@illinois.gov
(217) 782-2172
State of Illinois Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 19281, State Fairgrounds
Springfield, IL 62794-9281
The DuPage County State's Attorney's office has put a great amount of time and effort into this case. Please thank Joe Birkett for the cooperation of his attorneys, David Friedland and Amanda Meindl.
Joe Birkett, DuPage County State's Attorney
503 N. County Farm Road
Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone:(630) 407-8000
Fax:(630) 407-8151
stsattn@dupageco.org
Please ask the Department of Agriculture why nothing is being done.
Despite DuPage County bringing 15 criminal violations against Penny Horak, the Illinois Department of Agriculture doesn't seem to think there's a problem at Pet Rescue and has only found 1 violation of the Illinois Animal Welfare Act.
Please write to Acting Director Tom Jennings and ask why the Department of Agriculture hasn't investigated the dozens of complaints that have been brought to their attention over the past several months.
Thomas Jennings
Director, Illinois Department of Agriculture
tom.jennings@illinois.gov
(217) 782-2172
State of Illinois Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 19281, State Fairgrounds
Springfield, IL 62794-9281
The Case against Penny Horak
This morning in court, the DuPage County State's Attorney's office added 14 new charges to the one first filed by the Bloomingdale Police in early August. The original charge was upgraded. Three of the charges were Class A misdemeanors--punishable by up to 1 year in jail each--and the other twelve were Class B misdemeanors--punishable by up to six months in jail per violation.
Horak's next court date is November 19, 2008 at 8:30am in Courtroom 4007 at the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton.
Horak's next court date is November 19, 2008 at 8:30am in Courtroom 4007 at the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Fundraiser Sat., Sept. 27 at 7 PM
Please join us for a fundraiser: Saturday, September 27, 7 pm
Candlelight Bowl, AMF Hoffman Lanes, 80 W. Higgins, Hoffman Estates
Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by calling Chris at 630-542-1854 or email specialk19@sbcglobal.net
Candlelight Bowl, AMF Hoffman Lanes, 80 W. Higgins, Hoffman Estates
Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by calling Chris at 630-542-1854 or email specialk19@sbcglobal.net
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